The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-08-31
srArrIx. rHrasDAr. ser. 81.
A NOTE OF ALARM.


The Rochester e.. " Hsyoid 10 an able
Democratic paper which has resently been
moved BY the stringeney Of the situation
to urge upon tbs Democracy Of the EN-
plrs state in its conduct OF the fall cam
paign to leave the tariff alone" Il 10
sound political advice from the Demo-
cratic campaign standpoint: Il IL as sound
as Gen. Buffers view that when you
called on family who had lost member
by legal execution. 1t was neither cour-
teous nor polite to Immediately talk about
rope.
The difficulty With the situation Is that
all the familiar object lessons of the hour
In shape of unemployed labor At the East
and the prospect of destructive tariff legis-
lation At Washington City, will force the
tariff question 70 the front as much in
New York as in Ohio. IL is useless to
preach the policy OF "ieaving the tariff
alone and combining yourself to the dis
eussIon OF state Issues, when the recent
reorganization of the ways and means
committee OF the national house means
the enactment of a tariff smashing policy.
The appointment on the ways and means
committee by Speaker Crisp of Messrs.
Wilson of Virginia. McMillin Of Tennes-
see, Turner OF Georgia, Montgomery of
Kentucky. Breckinridge Of Arkansas,
Bynam of Indiana, Tarsney OF Missouri
and Bryan of Nebraska, some of whom as
sisted In framing the Mills bills of 1883,
and all OF whom are pronounced anti
protecii onists, indicates that the commit
tee has been formed with special reference
20 smashing the tariff. Springer. who is
a salty, tenporiz.ng man, has been
dropped and replaced by Wilson. who Is q
frantic. uncofnpromising FREQ trader. The
free trade South sits in the saddle of this
committee. and II Is morally certain that
the rsscal beade of the free trade Democ-
racy does not mean 10 hold his bloody
hand from tho throat of the protective
tariff.
With the unemployed in protected in-
dustries beginning to crowd the streets of
the East. 1. win be impossible to eonfine
the discussion Of the campaign In New
York this fall to state issues. In Ohio the
and HAYS answered the nomination Of
Gov. Mckinley by the nomination Of q
simon-pure free trader, Neal the author
of the tariff for-revcnue plank in the DEM
ocratic national platform.
BY the time the fall campaigns In New
York and Ohio are we'll afoos the financial
issue will be disposed of as far as the re-
peal Of silver purchase legislation is con-
eerned. With this repeat contaminated
there viii nnquestionably come the un-
locking Of boarded currency and renewed
activity on the part Of banks, but as long
as the tariff is clearly threatened with
attack by tbs free trade Democracy there
can be no perfec: dissipation Of the busi-
hess depression tina: is now upon the
conat-y.
The repeal of the silver purchase policy
Is essential 20 q renewal Of the faith Of the
capital of Europe and America that the
United States will not pay It's obligations
in debased currency or sink TO a silver
standard. So lar. so good, but above aud
beyond all this there Is a second formid-
able uncertainty 10 be removed. and that 9
concerning the tariff. Business men will
not lay in their usual stocks for fall. winter
and spring trade until they know ALSO
lutsiy what the Democratic scheme OF
tarifE reform is TO be. To stock up without
this knowledge would be 20 run the risk Of
ruin: they might not only be caught With
q stock OF deprecated goods on hand.
but with an enormous falling eff In de-
fnand owing 10 the growing multitude OF
discharged wage workers
Unless confidence IN the stability of
prices can be restored the retail dealers
will not buy. aud wholesale dealers can.
not place orders with the agents Of the
mills, Therefore hand to mouth policy
N al protected industries will be adopted
until the Democratic tarisi scheme is de.
nnea.
Unless congress shall he impressed with
tho necessity Of taking some action ex.
pressing its determination 10 Leave the
tariff alone there will surely he hard
times. II not absolute suffering in the East.
ern manufacturing regions this winter.
We do not expect that this Democratic
congress Is likely 20 be impressed with any
disposition io leave the tariff alone excep,
by ga object lesson Of unasaal. une rreesed
defeat: II Ohio should re-elect Mckinley
BY an unexsmpled majority: 10 the De-
mocEscy should have a close squeak for
success in New York. IL Is poSslhls that
the Democratic congress NIGH. leave the
tariff alone"
Cader these circumstances. 20 expect
taa; the political campaign in ohio or
NeN York thgs fall can possibly he con-
fined 20 state issues is absurd
phlo and New York are sure this fall %
warn the Democracy against the fate THAI
1. in store Cor sasEn Il they persist in their
atiset upon the American policy % PRO-
lection. As the situation stands to-day,
President Cleveland means TO keep the
pledge Of the Chicago platform; Chairman
Wilson. 81 she committee Of ways and
means, IS sure to keep that pledge Sor
can The Republican party fairly blame
President Cleveland or his Democrats ma
.ss.iy. The eounsry voted for change;