New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-02-02
IS 1T DODGTNG.

As il by concert. or at the instieaton Of a
superior power several Democratic papers
break out in declarations obviously intended
10 relieve the party from the responsibility OF
making thorough revision of the tariff this
year. One points ont that the condition of the
Treasury, with gold going out of the country
and large additions every month to the paper
circulation and revenues scarcely equal to APP
piopriationS must render it extremely difficult
for Democratic Congress to revise the tariff
in accordance with It's beliefs and pledges.
What it might have done with safety, it is
said, when the Treasury held large surplus,
and the revenue exceeded expenditures, and
gold was coming in, cannot now be done with
out the greatest risk under the altered cOndi-
tons In effeot, the people who care for Free
Trade more than for anything else are warned
that they may get no progress in that dlrec-
ton unless silver purchases can first be stopped
More cautiously, but with the same obvious
intent, "The New-York Times edtorially
argues that tariff reform is al present less i'm
portant than settlement Of the silver Ques-
ton. "Mr. Clevcland,' it says, cannot help
desiring that this imperative condition to order
and prosperity shall be promptly fulfilled be-
fore the more complex task of tariff reform is
TAX en- up" 1t then startles the souls of ardent
reformers by such declarations as these:
The tariff Is not n matter OF immediate and vital
consequence. It's evils have been endured for MANY
years and In their aCutest form for more tDan two
years. and they be endured another wear or so II
necessary. Delay in stopping The purchase Of
silver is in Itself bring a check to enterprise
ana industry serious than probable delay In
dealing with the tariff The action OF The Demo
cratic party Is to the tariff while Its direction Will
not De doubtful and It's ultimate aim will be kept con
stanty IN view will be deliberate and jdcions and In
no sense revolutionary. But straight across this
patlwav 10 a fortunate future stands the ugly and
threatening barrier Of demoralIzed BY the
continued buying Of silver.
1t is an interesting admission that the " evils
Of Protective Tariff "can be endured another
wear or two if necessary When one rcmcm-
bers how often the Mckinley bill has been
pronounced absolutely unendurablc how often
it has been asserted that this cdious measure
crushed agriculture and Frustrated all sorts OF
industries and robbed the people OF from
500, OOO,O0 to $1,000, 100000 yearly, 1t
seems amazingly cool to remark that this state
of things can be endured for another year or
two. Have these FREQ Traders never believed
any of their charges against this most maligned
measure? Or have they become convinced, as
other people have been by the marvellous pros
pcriiy realized since the Mckinley tariff went
into effect, that the longer they let it alone
the longer their Administration will have the
advantage of active trade, thriving industries
and rising wages?
Straight across the pathway stands the ugly
and threatening barrier of a currency dcmoral-
ization. SAYS THE Times" But by what pos
siblc distortion of reasoning can it be said that
this grave evil, only apprehcnded as yet but
by no means certain to be realized can be u
barrier to the removal of those outrageous
and intolerable burdens" amounting to from
S7OO,O00 900 to 81 900, 900 900 yearly. which
the people have to bear? If the Free Traders
have been telling any truth whatever in all
these years, if they have even supposed them
selves to be telling any truth, they must look
upon the removal of tariff burdens as a GER
tain and wonderfully powerful stimulus to pub
lie prosperity, sufficient far to outweigh any
disadvantages or losses which can result from
the present Outgo of gold.
These uttcrances OF Democratic journals 90
far to support the impression that Mr.. Cleve-
land and his closest advisers have found the
tariff question 50 dangerous to touch that they
are striving hard to manufacture an excuse for
DIFFERING all action thereon. Even in their
own minds, perhaps, they are not yet ready to
admit that the Mckinley bill has brought
prosperity so genera! and gratifying that
they cannot afford to disturb it. But that is
the way the people will surely interpret their
action or refusal to act, if they follow the
course foIeshadowed by some Democratic
journals.