New-York tribune., 1893-12-24
TARIFF ITNKERING AN EVIi.
r G. sHAYNEs VIGOROUS WORDS ON THE
WILSON BILL.


NEEDED EY THE LEGISLATORS, AND THE
CAUSE or DEPRESSION REMOVED.
y r. shayne. a well-known Republican OF this
o,., IN sneak,ng Yesterday of the tariff question
and the Wilson bill, said:
.orhe last six months have been peculiarly un'
fortunate for manufacturers, merchants bankers.
,oohorics and laborers throughout the unted
etates What has been the cause? IL must pe
admitted that the country was prosperous u"i'"s
the last thirty years when under the cohtIoi y,
tho marty which advocates protective ariit' anu
history records that all the prosperity "hich 'i'
country has enjoyed from the foundation OF 'ne
covornnoent I'D to 1872 has been during the periooS
ybon n high protective tariff was In force' ana al
tho odversItv and hard times which we have SUI
absolutely all-have been during the periods
when the low-tariff advocates were in control.
Every man should admit the truth Every nom
est man will admit 1t. II. has been stated the
country has been prosperous under a h'eh pro'ee'
two t,r,r and the reverse when under low tarin,
then contend that the patriotic citizen should
sustain the policy that is of the greatest dement, 10
his country. Every citizen. be ne professional
business or laborng man. should SUSTAIN ,ho'e
principles which will 5enefit himself and his fain'ly.
II fair minded men admit that the country mas al
ways prospercd when the tariff was high. why
should not patriotic citizens irrespective OF party
affiliations. desire to continue that pan why
should men who claim to be patriotic. adopt any
plan which will injure the country Ana YET those
whom we expect to be protectors those whom
we have placed In power. who should leglsate ior
the benefit Of the American people are at this mo-
onacting laws which. If placed on our statute
books. will bring more distress upon the poor peo-
pie Of the country and greater loss to the business
men than has ever been known
During the recent agitation of the silver ques-
ton in Congress- the bankers. merchants. manu-
fscturers and others Interested were kept on the
ragged edge OF despair Advocates OF repeal stated
that the times would improve. and that the silver
question was the only Of the hard times
After the repeal of the Silver bill there was re-
action for a short time. business did improve. but
the cause OF the improvement was in the irnagina-
tion rather than substantial reality Let us' as
patriotic citizens be candid with each other. II any
of us have made mistakes let us acknowledge them
We have had an object lesson. and all know that
the actual cause OF the hard times and dull trade
Is the fear OF tariff legislation and the fear that
the protection to articles manufactured In America
will be removed has stopped the production OF those
articles. Manufacturers Will not make up stocks
of goods without orders. They do not az heretofore
during the last twenty-five years. when the tariff
question was a settled thing. manufacture Tor
future orders. They only manufacture goods upon
valid orders received from merchants. and mer-
chants will not order goods when there Is danger
of their being cheaper two or six months hence
consequently manufacturers have been COM
PEELED TO lay of thousands OF w~orKnen; ~
When the American workmen are Idle, money
becomes scarce The merchants do not sell
their stocks and therefore do not place orders with
manufacturers. When manufacturing interests are
idle and when merchants are doing but little Dusi-
ness the clerks salesnen and bookkeepers-WaBe
earners-lose their positions. when wage earners
are idle. money does not circulate. and the entire
difficult to collect their bills and they are com
PEELED to economize. In TACT, economy Is the order
Of the day among our people and while economy
Is good thing to practise AZ RUE me present
especially for the working people or the country.
| contend that all this misery and hard times
sustaining the principles which have built up
American industries and given employment to
mendations OF Chairman Wilson; Of II, the WAY, Ways
ard Means Committee. be adopted by the present
work people more loss OF business the country.
than has ever be n known In America. Ihis
OF representatives in Congress. why should
they act in the interest Of the country. instead
III our representatives. in Congress have not the
patriotism To egsla,e for the benefit Of the country
good OF the country heart rather than party sue
cess take Their places And Il The President hsre OF
The IDEAS which he has advocated are not the correct
ones for the maintenance Of government OF self
aetTlment he should, as a patriotic man sacrifice
cmanaring from the Executive Of the Nation, would
Command at once the respect OF the entire com
munty. and would restore confidence among our
people. 1t will be- suicidal for our rerresen!aIves
chairman Wilson. and | believe that II Will de-
grade the executive and others In authority at
Washington II they insist upon "nacting laws whlch
VIII Dee a dctrm nj 10 the country instead Or a
benefit II would be a great detrlment II the tarit
law which ~ upon our statute books. ana when
has been The cause of 50 much prosperity IN the
past. De- in'srfersl with.
Their are many honest men who really believe
that a ow tariff will be benefit but that class
az men : becoming fewer every day. Experience
Is The best teacher In lS23. and again In 1891. when
IN. country under the control OF the advocates
OF a low tariff the workmen and business men
suffered - they are suffering to-day. Having found.
after every trial thar the low tariff Is detrimental
To the country. why not abolish all idea OF low
tar.n and settle down 10 what has proved 10 be
the best thing What want for the American
people Is practlcabty. and not theory. Congress
has lnterfered entirely too much with the business
interests of the country. IL should adopt some new
issue or some other question To arGue about. IN
stead Of tamperlng with the bread-and-butor ques-
ton of the poor men. and with the business of
btnkers merchants. manufacturers and mechanics.
II rs time that the people called a halt VIII our
legislators heed ihe voice Of warning?
This being true, why should no; the people rise
In their might and insist upon Congress obeying
the urgent request Of the people. who sh )ud con-
,rol the country? The recent election throughout
the States ought 10 convince the officials AT Wash
lngton that the people have made mistake In
placing I'm power the free-rade OF low-tarn party;
And those who have advocated a low tariff should
rise above party ties and work for the best IN
tcrests OF the country"