New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-10-28
THE TINE TO PETITION.

The Tariff bill is substantially ready. Wash
ington dispatches say. If Congress remains III
session probably the bill will be presented with
in a few days, and if there Is adjournment
until December work may be expected to be-
gin on the measure as soon as the regular ses-
sion opens. In any case it IS time for the
working people throughout the country TO make
their wishes known, as many OF them nave
been doing already, by petitions to Congress.
They will have no right to complain IL they
keep silence and their representatives in Con-
gress pass q bill that prostrates their indus-
tries 1t Is not only their right. but their duty
to each other and to the country, to make their
wishes and necessities distinctly known.
Accounts about the forthcoming bill are ex-
trcmely contradictory and vague, so that II
might almost be said that nothing Is really
known about it outside the committee 1t mas
been stated that some interests are treated with
exceptional lcnlency though this has also been
denied. The industrial producers OF this coun-
try cannot afford to be divided and slaughtered
in detail. They clnnot afford to look exclusive
" at provisions affecting their Individual inter-
csts. and to self SHY refuse attention 10 the III
tercsts of each other. The policy or Free Irau
ers may very likely be to divide and conquer
70 SOLICIT certain interests for destruction first
appeasing others as far as possible by lehiehc!'
and hoping that those who lose prOhtaDle EN-
ployment will then turn round and splteluhy
helm TO make others suffer as much. Some en-
ployers and some workingmen seem to nave
given announcement to such policy by ap-
healing to Congress exclusively with regard to
ip,nc
these appeals has seemed to imply readiness
to have radical changes Of duties made, II only
their special interests are measurably exempted
from injury. Any trace Of such spirit alds
the Free Traders. and renders their warfare
against American industry more likely TO sue
coed
The only strong position for the wOrkngmen
to take is one OF principle and OF patriotic re-
gard for the welfare of all American labor.
II united in protesting against any change OF
tariff which will expose American labor TO
greater foreign competition. and especially In
protesting against any radical change in the
tariff at a time when all trade and industry are
sorcly depressed and in peculiar need OF de-
fence until they can recupcrate, the Working
mon will have irresistible power. No Congress
would dare TO pass Il Dill uSaihst WHICH 'h'
great army Of workingmen enters its deliberate
protest. The practical difficulty is to bring the
waCc-carncrs themselves to realize that their
interests are in peril, and that they can be
protected by prompt and united action.
1t has been said by many politicians that this
question has been finally decided at the polls,
the people having voted for President Cleye-
land and n Democratic Congress on platform
declaring all protective duties unconstitutional
But it is not true that the millions OF wage
carnors actually believed, when part of them
voted for Democratic candidates, that they
were deciding to destroy their own Industries
II is not true that Democratic workingmen
generally believed that Democratic Congress
and President would ever do things which can
didatcs and platform had threatened. They
imagined that some changes in duty here and
there. which would not affect their individual
interests might be made in general revision,
but took it for granted that they were some
how TO be protected rs before. Unless they
realize the danger, and take pains speedily to
make their wishes known. through petitions so
large and impressive that Congress will respect
them. the bill to be passed at this session will
bring TO many of them painful awakening
Their part is to tell Congress at once that
American labor must not be exposed to greater
and more severe foreign competition.