The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-12-19
Throw IL Awayi

Throw IL Awayi
Meetings OF workingmcn in many trades
are now held nightly in different parts OF
the Union to protest against Prof WILSON s
Tariff bill lie and his colleagues OF the
| Ways and Means Committee are worn out
with the opportunities OF opposing delega-
tions Of producers and manufacturers. and
with the complaints Of Democratic Con-
gressmen Who in their turn. are prodded
| by angry constituents.
Meanwhile the Tariff bill remains In the
COMMITTEES, and the Secretary of the Treas
ury is compelled to hold back his report un-
til the completion Of the bill shall enable him
| TO base his estimates and recommendations
on it, SO far from it's being for tariff
| for revenue only, 1t does not even
provide the necessary revenue 1t leaves
deficiency Of revenue amounting To be-
tween 1000. 900 and $4,000. 900. The tariff s
framed on the principle of protection, but it
does not protect. and Prof. WILSON'S viola
tlon OF the Democratic pledge gives the pro-
tectcd Industries good reason for demand
ing that lie shall go to tho logical extreme
OF the unconstitutional principle. They say.
very truly. that il there is to be Demo-
cratic protection 1t must be scientific.
10 Udht IL InlS, IIOl NlLSON > COHlUllJ-
tee must laboriously investigate and con-
slider the needs Of every industry. both in
dependently and relatively to every other.
as affected by the protective system. In
other words. he must go back and build
anew. He must follow the old Republican
plan in constructing a protective tariff
IL he Is to satisfy these reasonable de-
mnnds. After having spent months of
toll in getting up tariff. either he or the
House or the Senate must do tho work all
over again from the very beginning.
under pain OF dire punishment OF the
Democratic party at the hands of
the dissatisfied industries. From top to
bottom the published tariff OF tho Ways
and Means Committee has been condemned.
1t pleases nobody The producers of raw
materials put on its free list are up in arms
against the measure. but they are not more
violent in their opposition than the manu-
facturers for whose benefit the materials
were made free.
A large part Of tho Democrats in the
House OF Representatives are distressed by
the thought that party discipline may force
them to vote for n measure which will rele
gate them to private life after the next
Congress elections. II ia II measure. too.
which they canEot defend before their Dem
ocratic constituents. for IL is based on the
very principle they were elected toopposc as
unconstitutional. They cannot defend it as
tariff for revenue to meet the needs Of an
honest administration of tho Government,
for it falls far short in its revenue. and the
Democratic Government which established
1t would be- dishonest. 1t would be false to
its pledges. Candidates FOR Congress can
only remain silent under the just denuncia-
tions OF their deceived constituents. For
such treachery. there Is no apology.
What is to be done. then. in this cxtraor-
binary and most notifying situation?
How Is tho Democratic party to escape tho
dishonor that threatens it at the very be-
ginning OF its control OF the Government
which for generation before had contin-
ued in tine hands OF its political enemies?
Let the Democratic Congress throw away
the dishonorablc patchwork of the WILSON
committee. aud demand from that commit
tee the tariff for revenue only to which II is
pledged! BY SO doing. it will both save its
reputation for political principle and hasten
the completion OF the new tariff in accord
ance with the necessities of trade. now
crushed by doubt ana delay. A constitu-
tional tariff can be framed forthwith. and it |
can be made law in quarter OF the time
which must be expended in tinkerng
Prof. WILSON'S unconstitutional contriv-
ance. Having made so poor n fist at it. let
him burn the document. instead Of re-
porting it to Congress. and then proceed 10
make tariff consistent with his'own and
Democratic principle. lie can havei it ready !
as soon as the other. Then trade can bank
on certainty. The bastard Tariff bill. on
which he is now spending sleepless nights |
and distraught days. would only prolong
ruinous uncertainty through many months
OF controversy and alteration in the House
and the Senate.