The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-12-27
twelve PAGES.
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER %, 1898.
PASS TIE BILL.

PASS THE BILL.
Chairman Wilson's report on the tariff
bill is a very strong appeal to the manu-
featuring interests of the country not
10 stand in the way of the moderate
and reasonable reduction of the tariff
which is made by this bill on manufac-
tured products. 1t does not claim that
the bin is what ardent tariff reform
ers want On the contrary, Mr.. VIII
son expressly says that 1t sis not Of
fered as a complete response to the
mandate of the American people," and
he defends the bill in this respect on
the theory that lin dealing with the
tariff question, as with every other long
standing abuse that has interviewer
itself with our social OF industrial sys-
TEN, the legislator must always remem-
Der that in the beginning temperate re-
form is safest. having in itself the prin-
ciple of growth" We believe that even
the extreme tariff reformers will con-
cede the wisdom Of this proposition, for
extreme tariff reformers are logical men,
end they know that a deep-seated
wrong is not easily removed, and that
an attempt to tear it out. root and
branch. is apt to produce injuries for
which a devotion to principle is not
sufficient justification. Moreover, it is
TO be remembered that even within the
democratic ranks We must encounter
more or less of that opposition which,
as Mr. Wilson truly says rallies be-
hind the intolerance of monopoly, the
power OF concentrated wealth, the in
ertia of fixed habits. and the honest
errors OF a generation Of false teach
ing"
The important thing now is to pass
e bill that cuts off the enormities Of
McKinleyism and makes a decided
start in the direction of the result which
logical tariff reform demands. If that
is once done. and the present generation.
y hich has been educated under false
system. is given an object lesson, the
subsequent steps will meet little Oppo-
sitlon as compared with that shown to
ward the present one. If the people see
for themselves the falsity Of protection
ist predictions OF disaster and ruin to
be brought about by this bill, they will
not so easily be imposed upon hereafter
This is the real motive of the opposi-
ton to this bill by republican leaders.
They fear its educational effect. They
moderate form, because they know that
they will stand convicted before the
people as false prophets and champions
Of a fallacious and injurious system.
They made their case before the peo-
pie, and the people decided against
them. Now they oppose the execution
of the peoples will in fear that even
that portion Of the people which sided
with them will forsake them. II is an
exhibition of political cowardice that
Is of itself strong evidence of their want
of sincerity and their fear Of being ex-
posed to the people as hypocrites and
pretenders who do not believe in their
own teachings.
We believe that all tariff reformers
will be impelled to more earnest sup
port Of the bill by Mr.. Wilson'S frank
admission of its defects, from his stand
point and from theirs. There is no
double dealing in his report-no claim
for the bill that is not fully justified by
the bill itself. He frankly states the
objections Of the committee to the sugar
bounty which il recommends. and SAYS
I'VE can conceive Of no circumstances
under which we would have provided for
its Introduction into our laws" But
the bounty was there. and it was treated
as an existing wrong which was TO be
dealt with in the best way practical
bic. We still believe that a tax Of l
cent per pound on all grades of sugar
would have been the better way to dis
pose Of it, but surely no tariff reformer
would let this or any other one objection
stand IN the way Of the passage of a
bin that has so much of good in it. If
q majority of congress says this change
should yet be made, well and good. If
not, let the bill be passed as ii stands
and let it be passed quickly. Action is
what is needed now. Let the obstruc-
ton and opposition come from repub-
licans.