The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-12-06
REPUBLICAN OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
CMEAsURES.

The New York Nation makes the fol-
lowing comments upon the new Demo-
cratic protective-tariff-for-d eiiciency-o
bill:
Republican comments on the tariff bill
| are very far from coming up 10 Brown
| ing's twenty-nne distinct plantations,
/ one sure il the other fails. Governor
| Mckinley, it is true, considered the bill
"a very sweeping one" and one which
paid mo heed TO the pleas and necessl-
ties of domestic industries; but then,
he confessed that he had not read IT, and
for a damning on general principles his
remarks certainly lack Vgor Ex-Speaker
Reed started out with the view that 1.-THE
bill is about as bad as could De reasonably
imagined" but roared most gently in the
rest Of his observations This was no
doubt owing TO his having made the slip
of combining himself TO what could
reasonably" be imagined. He could have
been much fiercer if not restrained in that
way. EX- Governor Ames thought the bill
ridiculous" though he had TO admit
that it contained two excellent features
excellent because he had long contended
for them-free coal and free iron ore.
Ex-Governor Long thought the changes
would be "a direct benefit 10 New Eng
land" but deplored the breaking down of
the system" which, it would seem, must
be maintained even If it wipes out all
New England industries.
This restrained Republican Indignation
is no doubt due. In part, to the reelection
that the Wilson bill is only a carrying out
of the professed Republican policy on the
tariff Of ten years ago, before Mckinley
and Reed and Dolan and the Trusts ran
away with the party. In fact, the fu-
tariff bill and not closely observing its
date, might be excused for thinking It a
Republican measure proposed in pursu-
ance Of the recommendations Of the
party leaders in 1882 and 1883. In
the former year the Republican
tariff commission said: early
in it's deliberations the commission be-
came Convinced that substantial reduc-
tion Of tariff duties is demanded, not by
mere indiscriminate popular clamor.
but by the best conservative opinion OF
the country" President Arthur, In his
message of December 4, 1882, recommended
IAN enlargement OF the free list, a simpli-
fcation Of the complex and inconsistent
| schedule of duties upon certain manu-
| features particularly those of cotton
| iron, and steel. and substantial reduc-
ton Of the duties upon those articles.
and upon sugar molasses, silk. wool. and
report for 1884 he wrote; "rhe existing du-
| ties upon raw materials which are TO
be used in manufactures, should be re-
moved The duties upon the articles used
! or consumed by those who are least able
to bear the burden of taxation should be
reduced No wonder that the Republi-
cans are finding 1t rather hard to pro-
nounce a good humping anathema in 1898
upon doctrines which were a part OF their
own orthodoxy in 1883.
If the writer Of this article had looked
into the mind of The Times. he could
not have written its sentiments and opin-
ions more accurately than he has done
in it. The Wilson bill is Republican pro-
lection with that part Of the protection
which is unnecessary stricken of. but
Republican protection still. 1t is neither
more nor less than this, and it ought TO
be defeated. 1t is not Democratic meas
ure.