Huntsville gazette., 1893-10-21
THE DEMOCRACY ON TRIAL.
Farcica1 Proceedings OF the Ways and
Means Committee.

The SO-called tariff hearings eAded
few days ago. 1t is no discourtesy to
the majority of the committee to say
that these hearings were permitted
only in Difference to public opinion, and
that they were never intended to in
fluence the action of the majority adj
versely to its party policy Recognize
ing this, great proportion OF the man.
ufacturers have made no effort to be
heard 1t has saved them from per-
sonal insult, or the scarcely less gall
ing contempt and Indifference of the
committee, and from much question
ing which has often seemed to have no
other motive than to force manufac-
turers to disclose their private affairs
to competitors, or else to subject them
selves to the imputation of making ex-
orbitant profits. 1t has spared them
waste of time and money. If the in
formation they could have given would
have been instructive to the public,
manufacturers in the great depart
ments have the natural feeling that, if
the experience of thirty years has not
taught voters anything, a single state
ment which no democratic newspaper
would fairly print could never break
up deeply-rooted prejudice or pene-
trate fathomless depths of ignorance,
There are many other manufacturers
who have themselves been convinced
by experience under the Mckinley
tariff that their previous hostility to its
principles was mistaken. They have
learned the folly of the clamor for free
raw materials. They have been taught
that prosperous and well-paid millions
can buy vastly more than ill-paid
workers, and thus furnish the only
basis upon which manufacturing pros
perity can rest. They have seen Won
derful progress within three years in
methods of manufacture, in kinds of
goods produced, in economy Of manu-
facture and in wages OF labor. Thou
sands of such men, although democrats
ia theory, have insensibly come to be-
lieve that their party must protect
home industry as thoroughly as the
republican party has done or it will
not deserve support. Their anxiety
has led them to seek representation be-
fore the committee. An unusual pro-
portion of the testimony this year has
come from democrats who appealed
with passionate -earnestness to their
party friends not to destroy at
once their industries and their af-
fection for their party. If these
appeals have been in vain they may
at least help to complete the enlighten-
ment of these democrats regarding the
character of their party. Many new in
dustries, or new developments in old
industries, have sought q hearing, in
the hope that the democrats of the
committee would see the unwisdom of
a backward step. These gentlemen
perhaps do not understand that the
great majority Of democratic congress
men are bound hand and foot by the
pledges they have given to constitu-
ents. They do not desire light, because
they know they cannot overcome the
prejudices they have SO long fostered
and used, and they do not dare to try.
Though evidence were more convincing
than proofs of Holy Writ, these mem
bers would have to rush furiously down
a steep place into the sea- The force
behind them, which they have labored
for many years to increase, has become
for then. irresistible. To go with it or
be trampled under foot is their only al
tentative.
1t has not seemed desirable thing
that the house committee should report
weak dilution of democracy. The
principles and purposes of the demo-
cratic party have been declared with
sufficient distinctness. But the millions
do not readily translate abstract prin-
ciples into concrete changes. 1t was
desirable that the bill to be presented
and discussed should represent the real
meaning of democratic declarations,
and put at least an appreciable part of
democratic principles into definite
changes of duty, SO that each man
could see for himself how it would af-
feet him. The day for shabby tricks
and low lodges, it has been hoped,
ended with the democratic victory of
1892. The country wants to know IN
exact terms what that party considers
a proper and constitutional tariff
for revenue only, and then voters
can determine how they like it
If such tariff cannot be passed, the
democratic party will stand coIEicted
of deliberate falsehood. 1t has the
votes, all elected upon the same ex-
plicit declaration of principle. 1t has
the strongest possible motive for exhib-
iting some of the positive and construc-
tive qualities which it has not shown
for more than thirty years. Failure or
refusal to square it's action to its pledges
will end the matter. If the country is
going to have a protective tariff, it will
decide to have that tariff framed by pro-
tectionistS The democrats in con-
gress may rest assured that lodging
and trickery will cost them something
Any compromise Or horizontal tariff
would be SO gross an anachronism, so
plain a confession of incapacity to meet
the needs of this age of the world, that
it would deserve to be Indignantly
spurned by honest men of all parties
If democratic pledges and theories
mean anything, let the country see
what they mean. If they mean moth
ing, let the next election turn upon that
fact..-N. Y. Tribune.