New-York tribune., 1893-11-27
" HITS MY DISTRICT"

I
The Democratic statesmen who came into the
present Congress Oh the cry of Down with
the robber tariff" are beginning to see not
only how much easier ii Is TO pun down
than to build up. but, what is more important
| that the work Of pulling down Is full or danger
! to the men engaged in IT, The tariff ms Il po-
litical edincc is an offensive structure, to be
sure. for it was built up by Republicans, and is
monument to the wisdom and patriotism OF
the party. Naturally enough, Democrats cry
out Down with it," But being now in power
and in a position to deal with 1t III tne dc
structive fashion they have so long and so loud
ly advocated, they begin to be little thought
full about it. Each one of them discovers that,
bad as the tariff is unconstitutional as 1t is,
fraud" and robbery" as his party mas
called it, he has constituents who are deeply
interested in saving portions Of 1t. A wicked
piece Of work it is, to be sure, but every DEM
ocratic constituency in the country has few
bricks in it somewhere that must not be inter-
fcred with, must be left standing. Ever since
the Ways and Means Committee began It's In
vestigations Democratic members Of Congress
have been popping up In all directions clamor-
ing for exceptions in the general destruction IN
behalf of special Industries in which their con-
stiuents are interested.
From Alabama and Tennessee and West Vir-
gina protests have come up against any reduc-
ton in duties on coal and iron, and 90 Demo
Gratis from principle are asserting that changes
such as are proposed In the tarin on these
articles will be fatal TO enterprises in which
millions Of dollars have been invested, furnish
ing employment to thousands OF lnborers
Louisiana Democrats insist upon sugar being
made an exception. Virginia Democrats are
equally anxious to have the duty retained on
potatoes and farm products. Ohio Democrats
cry out against free wool And so 1t goes,
every mothers son Of them willing and anxious
for free trade in all the products Of American
industry in which their immediate constituents
are not pecuniarily interested. Great willing
ness there is to kick over everybody's basket ex
cept the one in which they happen to have eggs
of their own. And the absolute coolness win
which, while continuing to assert the " f'inda-
mental principle" Of the unconsiltutionality OF
Protection and the dcnuncation of 1t ms
fraud" and robbery they insist upon hav
ing their own constituents protected is some
thing marvellous. Some Of them openly admit
that they are actuated solely by the consdcra-
lion of partisan advantage: few attempt any
conccalment OF selfish motives or make any
prctcnce Of consistency
The latest confession Is that Of Representative
Sperry. OF Connecticut. who. in a speech made
at public dinner in Ncw-lInvcn last week.
said he presumed the Ways and Means Com
mittee would report tariff bill that he should
have TO vote against, because 1t was likely 70
contain provisions with reference TO articles
manufactured in his district and 10 tobacco
an important product Of the Connecticut valley
which were opposed 10 the interests OF MS
constituents " For instance. said he In ll,tle
post-prandial burst OF confidence. " don't want
any cheap Sumatra tobacco In my district until
after election | was told that they are going
10 decrease the tax on Sumatra tobacco by 20
cents ON the dollar Just before left Washing
ton. Now the tariff on Sumatra tobacco hits
my district, and am not Free Trader on this
subject" As to the duty on corscts. which IL II
New.Haven industry, he intimatcd tla; his col
league Pigott. OF the NcwIIavcn district. had
much the same feeling Mr.. Spcrry Is the ablcst
Democrat I'm the Connecticut delegation, ana IL
may be said In behalf OF his consistency thar he
has always been understood 10 be In favor OF
protection to the Industries In which his con-
stituents are interested. He could hardly have
been elected otherwise. But he was elected, |
and his party came into power all the same on |
n platform denouncing the Protection which |
he advocates, as unconstitutional. n " fraud y
and robbery" And he Is only one Of many. |
We cannot but admire his frankncss. but why |
does he call himself Democrat?