The sun., 1893-08-01
The Passing Crisis.

inc RAISING Srlss.
No radical change In the method Of Inn
posing and collecting Government taxes
can be made without temporary inconvcn-
ience aud individual loss. This Is regret
table, but II Is unavoidable One system OF
Federal taxation, In use for thirty years,
cannot be superseded by another system,
radically different. without violent and
widespread monetary fluctuations. Some
OF our Republican friends are now REFER
ring. with protence OF satisfaction which
does them little credit. to these difficulties
ss permanent. In ono OF the documents
still circulated by them. American Tariffs
1920 to 1891" wo find this reference to the
panic OF 1857. following the last material re-
duction Of tariff duties on the lines OF the
Chicago deliverance OF 1892:
.Ths customs duties already too low. again
duesd 10 the lowest rates wo have had since the adop
tion Of the Constitution and again financial revou-
tion. appalling In Its widespread severity and
distfesA involved the nation. impoverished tho
people, aud exhausted their resources Both OF these
tAr6s (Iyt7 and 1851 were intended &C tariffs for
revenue only: from l9k7 to 1851 tho expenditures OF
the Government exceeded its revenues by 10000.
600. and the pubic debt iAcroasod by 100000 600"
BY such references to previous experience
In tariff readjustments, these Republicans
hope to Justify their position on the subject.
despite the public disapproval OF 1t by
enormous majoritles at the polls. The
fact OF the matter Is that a change
from ono system to another. not q
change OF schedules. but O radical change
OF method. must necessarily entail tempo
rarY losses and cause ephemeral dam
ago. The MORRILL, tariff was adopted
L.. h,r ha han Tor ho
first time In full control Of the Federal
government. as the Democrats now are
for the first time since 1861. During the
thirty-one years succeeding. until Novem-
ber. 1892. when the people declared that
they would have no more Of the Republi-
can system OF tariff protection. that plan
OF levying duties became engrafted upon
the business Of the country.
The Democratic National Convention OF
1884. indeed. declared that many indus
tries have come to rely upon legislation
for successful continuance. 80 that any
change Of law must be at every step regard
full Of the labor and capital thus involved"
Tho Democratic National Convention OF
1ss2 omitted to say anything OF the kind.
It held out no such assurance Of mitl-
CATION. 1t said that tho whole tariff
system was robbery and fraud. 1t
suid further that the Democracy would
wipe 1t out like chalk marks from q
slate. and substitute In place OF 1t tariff
for revenue only. Of undlscriminatlng du-
ties upon all Custom House entries.
This radical change. after thirty years Of
tho protective system. involves. as We have
said. . complete readjustment Of business
and Of wages. as we'll as Of values. It
must affect adversely very many interests
ct first. Necessarily some factories will
close, some mills will shut down. and some
shops will work half time. while credits
will become contracted. In those lines OF
business which have enjoyed the protec-
ton to which the Democratic Conven-
ton Of 1884 referred. For instance. the
silk manufacturer. who up to November
last. considered himself protected by the
tariT OF 90 per cent. on the product Of
American looms, will with the prospect OF
reduction to 80 per cent. ad raLoren,. be
likely to diminish the measure OF his busi-
ness. the number Of hands he employs.
and the output he will throw upon tho
market. But. on the other hand. tho cor
nor groceryman. who now sells untaxed
sugar to his customers for their daily do
mestic use, will be In no hurry to dispose Of
his stock II. as Is indicated. there is to be
90 per cent. tariff on sugar. which will en-
able him to charge moro pound for
what he has.
Tho transitory period Of distress with
its consequent reAdjustments. alarms, and
surprises. Is preparatory to the adoption OF
tho now system. which. as Its advocates
contend. will be worth all 1t costs In
temporary loss and Inconvenience. Under
the new system OF a tariff for revenue
only. business will boom, shuttles will
rattle. machine wheels will revolve, con-
fidence will revive. public improvements
will be resumed ana extended. and without
any oppressive reduction OF wages. the
cost Of commodities will be reduced.
Toward these beneficent results patience
points the way. Tho future Is bright with
the promise Of prosperity. Whether or not
these expectations will be realized fully,
or only In part. cannot now be pre-
dicted. Besides. 1t is irrelevant. By their
votes the people have decided upon
change In the system Of taxation: and
present evils and Inconvenience cannot
be permitted to outweigh or to frustrate
tho popular wish for a new system. that
will bo impregnably constitutional.