The sun., 1893-08-07
Tho Old and the New.

|
| There are many manufacturers" writes
| Mr.. RAFAEL II. WOLF in the August mum
Der Of the Forum, "who desire q fair revision
OF our tariff laws. but they are opposed tc
any measure hastily devised and pushed
through ut one session OF Congress" These
manufacturers and everybody else should
understand that the Democratic party has
not promised to revise" the existing
tariff. fairly or unfairly. You cannot revise
the eliminating atrocity Of class legisla-
tion." The MCKINLEY tariff Is not marked
for revision. but for destruction: and Its
place is to be taken by tariff built upon
entirely different lines and for o single pur-
pose; tariff for revenue only. A protec-
tive tariff cannot be revised into tariff for
revenue only. The process required is de-
struction OF the old tariff and tho creation
OF a new one, with no trace Of protection In
1t. Revision is mere pairing or of this
duty and screwing up OF that and monkey
ing with tho free list. No such puttering
method is possible to the Democrats. They
are not to repair but to tear down. and on
new ground to build new structure.
The notion that manufacturers nre to be
consulted especially in the preparation Of
tariff belongs to the protectionist school
Of thought. 1t is proper in connection
with the making or changing Of
q protective tariff. but in laying O
tariff for revenue only. no especial
consideration can be given to manufacture
ers or their employees. 1t Is none OF the
business OF the makers Of such q tariff to
study to save the profits OF the American
manufacturer or the wages Of the American
laborer. Aside from its constitutional
merit. the great merit OF tho tariff for rev.
enue only is its simplicity. Every other
question than that Of raising revenue for
the Government. Is irrelevant.
Mr. RAFAEL II. WOLF records the facts
that he was one Of the active members of
the Manufacturers Reform League. and
that he went to tho Democratic National
Convention OF 1884 to urge tariff reform.
He Is inclined to believe that Mr.. CLEvE-
LAND holds the same conservative views
now Us in 1884. Mr.. WOLF forgets that In
accepting the Democratic nomination In
1892 Mr.. CLEVELAND put himself upon the
Democratic platform Of 1892. In 1884 the
Democracy believed that the necessary re-
ductlon In taxation can and must be effected
without depriving American labor Of the
ability to compete successfully with foreign
labor. and without imposing lower rates of
duty than will be ample to cover any in
creased cost Of production which may exist
in consequence Of the higher rate Of wages
prevailing In this country" In 1884 the
Democracy declared that "in making re-
duction in taxes 1t is not proposed to
injure any domestic Industries. but rather
to promote their healthy growth" In 1892
these protectionist opinions had disap-
peared and protection was averred to be
unconstitutional. fraud and a robbery,
and revenue was declared to be the sole
purpose Of tariff Between
1884 and 1892 tho education OF the Demo-
cratic party In the principles OF a constitu-
tional tariff made great advance. Mr..
WOLF has not kept up in his studies. He
is belated tariff reformer Of the days OF
1884 and 1885, and what right has he to as
sumo that Mr.. CLEVELAND is behind the
times and out OF sympathy with the declara-
tions by means Of which he was elected?
One more whimsy of this obsolete tariff
Mr.. WOLF. He writes:
"Ibslisve that the work Of drawing . nsw tarin
bill ought TO DO intrused to carefully selected com.
rsted business men OF high standing, and to them
might bo added afew Congressmsn who arc familiar
with tariu legislation This commission should meet
In the principal cities Of the country and give tbe
aud business every opportunity to
1e heard before It, and due notice should given that
'very one who desires to appear before tho commits
zion must prepare himself with figures and facts ro-
ating to the same kind of business in Europe"
What has Europe to do with the matter ? |
This talk OF Europe shows that Mr. WoTE
las not got rid of protection notions yet.
Besides. the work Of the Tariff Commission
If 1889 proved to be fruitless. and its rec
were not followed. The
to unmake the MCKINLEY tariff
md make constitutional tariff meets at
Washington to-day. Let us hope that tho
men who are to. make tho tariff for revenue
'nly have freed their minds OF the protec-
lonist prejudices which survive In an OBJ
olete tariff reformer like Mr.. WOLF.