The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1893-12-14
pelay Now Means Disaster,

Delay Now Means Disaster.
The Democratic party is now face to
face with duty more momentous and
y responsibility more grave than have
confronted it since the war.
A wear ago the people by An
avalanche vote called IL l." power to
make revision of III" Tariff which
would nut an end To the fragrant AGuses
of protection without injuring tho
business or industry ot the country.
The time i, now ut hand 10 IKE ute
that great tru-L Failure or prolonged
delay To do it will mean disaster to the
country and sweeping condemna'
ton of the Democrats at the polls.
After months OF toll, patient effort
and "honest desire to discharge their
duty, purged OF all faint OF local and
personal favoritism or prejudic," the
Democratic members Of the House
WAYS and Means Committee present
a bill evidently framed with view TO
meet the needs Of the country and the
obligations imposed upon the party.
While j, strikes al some ot the worst
owls Ut protection, by putting num- |
Ter OF raw materials on the Tree list
and making material redncLion"in the
duties levied on many Manufactured
articles, it is not radical or weeping
measure. but as fair and moderate as
| is consistent with substantial reNirlon.
For this reason it will no moro satisiiy
extreme free traders than high protec-
: tionists.
In some of its most important pro-
visions the injurious effects OF sudden
changes are guarded against by grad
3 ual reduction. Thus the bounty "n
3 sugar is not swept away At once, hut
, it is to be reduced >point by point
through eight years. So a Sliding
! scale is added to the woolen schedule,
by which the rates are to come down
a five points with the lapse of five years,
4 because. ~ the committee explains,
ssour manufacturers have 80 loug been
excluded from two thirds of the wo"ls
of the world that they will have to
6 learn the art Of manufacturers with
r free wool" Moreover, the duties are
6 not to be reduced on wooden goods until
raw wool has been OH the frt G list tour
: months, and it is not to 60 on the free
: list before t lie first of March.
n The changes proposed are far less
T. radical and extreme than those made
by the Mckinley law three years ago,
and are far less likely to disturb busl-
ness and industrial operations. Nat
Is urally the measure may be somewha.
l. improved by judicious modification
! after fair and intelligent consideration,
! Thus perfected its early adoption can
II hardly fail to be the forerunner OF re-
n newed prosperity for the country and
better times for the people, especially
the toiling masses.
Il To make it law at the earliest day
- practicable without precipitancy,
recklessness or undue haste is the
= duty the Democrats in Congress owe
= the country and their party. OF course
y the Republicans will strenuously op
pose this bill, as they will oppose. any
measure which strikes at the iniqui
ties of protection and the. banefu
:, trusts that have grown up under IT.
- This makes it all the more imperative
- that the Democrats shall unite IN It'll
- support with all patriotism and loyalty
~ If for narrow local reasonsL Louisiana
. Democrats fight the sugar bounty tea
: ture, Ohio Democrats the Tree WOO
~ ~ clause, Pennsylvania Democrats the
- iron, steel and glass schedules anC
Z. New England Democrats the reduc
~ ton on their protected ind ustries thu
80 result can only be prolonged wran
~ gle disastrous both TO the country anC
" the Democratic party. The patriotic
example set by Chairman Wilson 0
70 West Virginia in going against thu
a., sentiment OF his constituents for thu
ch good of the country, may well be fol
Ia lowed by every loyal Democrat.
90 Needless delay to pass the bill cal
he only mean mischief and menace dis
lis aster. Until it becomes law doubt
on uncertainty and suspense must prevail
~ in the business world. To prolon
as these unduly will be to invite panic
no The country has just had costly i
be lustration Of this in the delay to repes
az the silver law. We do not want ar
ii. other such experience.
" Ifthe Democrats wrangle and dill!
ldally over tariff revision all winter tn
consequences will be disastrous bot
80 to the country and themselves. II the
90 want to avert such consequences an
, ,os legislate for prosperity and better time
t to they will lose no time in making su
~ cessful tariff revision reality. The
4ho can not bear too clearly in mind tt
'1o vital fact that delays mean disaster
Man Yo..k Hcrnzd