Evening journal., 1893-12-23
NOT OBJECTIONABLE ENOUGH.

NO ! ObJEC lONAbLE ENOUGH.
As matter of policy; as measure
TO meet the necessities Of the case; and,
as piece Of honest legislation in the
direction Of a reduction of the tariff from
a robbery 20 a revenue basis, the minor
ity report does not attack the Wilson
bill. IL practically admits that the VIII
son bill is an honest and sensible, just
and reasonable effort to reduce the
tariff.
The Wilson bill is not radical mea-
sure; It is moderately protective
measure
A radical and universal reduction
would have little chance of success The
chief aim Of the Committee of Ways and
Means was to formulate measure which
would correct the worst abuses Of the
vicious Mckinley bin and stin not be in
danger of the serious opposition
which free trade measure would
encounter. Like wise physicians
they begin giving small doses to patient
who is depleted in strength and suffering
from an@mia. Hence when OK Speaker
Reed tried Co invent objections TO It. as
for party reasons he was compelled to do,
he says
All the objections so often urged by
the dominant party against the existing
system, we repent lie against this bill.
The difference Is only one of degree If
the present.system be robbery, as these
men have iterated and reiterated, the
proposed system is precisely the same.
Thus Mr. Reed admits that the Wilson
bill is modified protection or a less degree
Of robbery If, as he says. the Wilson
bin merits "all the objections so often
urged against the existing sys-
tenn, IL must contain all the virtues Of
the Mckinley law-exoept in degree
That is all we ask or propose just now.
It is impraeticable, or impossible to tear
out the roots Of this economic cancer at
once. The patient must be prepared and
the parts must be etherized
After making that illogical objection
on the proposition, that, if we have pro-
tectlon at ALL we must have radical pro
lection all the time and a plenty Of It,
Mr. Reed says.
The doctrine Of the Democratic plat
form that protection is robbery and
should be abolished, is comprehenslble
and sturdy. The new movement on be
half of mitigated and sporadic robbery Is
contrary alike TO good morals and public
faith. All false pretences are unwise
contrary TO Sound policy and sound
q fu Nau
are sure that the Democratic platform is
utterly untrue admitted its straight
forwardness and directness.
That shows how difficult is the task of
obiecting, perfunctorily, to an unobjec
tlonable measure simply because another
party inven IT, Mr.. Reed report objects
to the Wilson bill because lt is not OBJ
iectionable enough. lit were mere obiec
tionable, more Democratic, he would not
have 30 much objection to it.
He and his party have been fighting
shadow, a ghost Of universal annihila-
tioni and when the Democrats Introduce
the real bill-a moderate and wise
measure-they cry, "false pretences."
declare that they have been deceived. and
appeal TO the majority to stick to the
Democratic platform, which, If their
were true, would
destroy the industries of the country.
They expected a serpent; they feel com.
PEELED to be offended when they find
loaf of bread instead.
The minority report is, in effect, an
appeal for the passage OF the Wilson
bill. Ex-Speaker Reeds sarcasm is EN-.
ployed because there are no real argu
ments against the tsriE reform move
ment Mr. Reed and every other
honest Republican. admits that the Nc
kinley bin was a mistage; that it con-
tains errors; that there is a greater mr.
gency for revising it, than there was
necessity for revising the tariff Of 1888
with IL. II that were not So Mr.. Reed
might still be Speaker Of the House and
his party would not be in the minority.
ISingswood's Mus teal Program.