New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-09-01
A PROTEST AGAINST TIE REVISION.


A PROTEST AGAINST TIE REVISION.
ACTION OF TIE AMERICAN IRON AND STEEL
ASSOCIATION.
Washington Aug. 81 (SpecaD.-James NJ Swank
secretary of the American Iron and steel Associa-
ton has filed with Chairman wilson OF 'he ways
and Means Committee protest against Ihe p'o-
posed revision OF the tariff laws, which admirably
sets forth tie reasons why such a revision AT this
ma rticular tine is fraught with unusual danger
This country Mr. Swank argues. is now passing
through financial and industrial Crisis OF 'he
utmost severity. the end OF "hich no man VA"
foresee 1t is not necessary TO inquire into all 'he
causes of this crisis. Mr. Swank thinks. remote or
Immediate but only to state what nobody VIII deny
that one of these causes Is the Apprehension Vi
still greater commercial disaster and stagnation'
which would follow a revision OF the tariff by 'hc
present Congress. Mr. Swank Is OF the OPINION
that a general reduction Of duties has not been
asked for by the people
The issues OF the late Presidential campaign
were so many and various that 1t would not be
possible to indicate any particular issue ~ con-
shutting by itself controlling influence In that
campaign Mr. Swsnk says that the present 'arit
was undoubtedly dominant issue In some STATES
but it was a subordinate issue in others In many
States the so-called Force bill was more promi'
nent issue than the tariff question: the Republican
Illinois Wisconsin and Minnesota a local school
question excited the greatest interest among inc
voters: in many States the Homestead outbreak Al
the beginning OF the campaign diverted htteh'ion
from the discussion OF more lasting issues' ana
in all the States there was observable throughout
the campaign spirit of discomfort with existing
social conditions often finding expression in the
utterance of cOmmunistic sentiments. which con-
sttuted, from first 10 last. a political FACTOR OF
constantly growing proportions. 80 far from the
question Of tariff revision being the leading issue
of the campaign. It was indeed matter OF every
dav comment during the continuance or the cam
paign that this issue was then less earnestly and
generally discussed than in the Presidential cam
paigns Of 1880. 1884 and 1855.
In his celebrated tariff message. Mr.. Swank
thinks. President Cleveland assigned but two rea-
sons why the tariff should be revised The first
Of these related 10 the accumulation In the
Treasury of a surplus revenue which was largely
drawn from the channels OF domestic trade and In
dustry, and was therefore burden upon the coun-
trys prosperity. The second reason was based
upon the assumption that the. duties Imposed on
foreign products entering our markets are added
the prices which our people would otherwise
pay them. and that approximately g the equiva-
lent OF these duties Is added to the prices of com
peting domestic products
The first of these reasons has ceased to have
even the shadow Of an existence. The surplus
revenue hai entirely disappeared. The money OF
nels OF trade and commerce and boarded in the
Treasury So far from this being the case, the
Governments gold reserve has been trenched upon
to preserve the National credit. Mr.. Clevelands
second for desiring in 1887 n reduction OF
duties namely the relief OF the people from the
enhanced prices Of imported and competing domes-
tic products caused by the duties on the Imported
products rests upon more substantial basis
than his first reason now does. Whether or not the
prices of imported and domestic products IN TINS
country have been materially enhanced by
tariff duties beyond the prices either would have
commanded If these duties had never been i'm
posed is a question of fact which IL readily an
swered by q study of market quotations.
The facts that the prices OF all manufactured
goods much lower In this country In 1871
than they were before the adoption OF the pro-
tective policy in 1861. OF the Of this
statement there il abundant proof in the report
recently made by Senator Aldrlch. from the Senate
Committee on Finance, wages and prices for
ffty-two years.
Mr. Swank critlcses sharply Mr. CI"veland's
second inaugural address, in that 1t imputes nn-
worthy motives to those employers Of American
labor who aided by tariff legislation in securing
at least practical control OF tho home market
and lie closes his protest BY saying:
1T is amazing that President Cleveland should
assume or appear assume that the Govern
perform tGiio and that il should not concern Itself
with the employment OF the people IN other
home and resist foreign aggression. except when
1t comes in the form of industrial warfare. II
foreign iron.lads should lombard cities.
levy tribute upon them. then these ironclads are
to be~ressted but if foreign manufacturers aided
by the diplomacy of their Governments. should
assaii our markets and thus aim TO deprive our
people OF employment then no resistance IL TO
be offered. Does not MIR. Cleveland see that IN
using the highest ONCE In the gift of the people
as a lever to help industrial enemies across
the Atlantic 10 overturn the now completed fabric
OF American Industrial independenee. which was
the dream OF our fathers? Does he not realize
that foreign war with contending armies on
American soil and eontendinS ironclads on the
ocean, could not infct such lasting injury upon
the prosperity OF people as would even the
partial surrender OF our markets ~ foreign manu-
facturers?
I'm his reference TO paternalism' In the inaugu-
raj address, Mr. Cleveland reflects upon the honor
Of his countrymen in way which our history
does not Justify. II he could be induced TO study
the industrial achievements OF the American
people he would realize that We have made won
derf,,l strides in hundred years. and that
Houo done this without any other dependence
,inon our Government than Is contemplated In
he CON stituton OF the United States as II
int.rnrAtrd by those who framed it,"