The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-12-22
Let the Congrcssmen Investigate.

hSCt tHC SohS'NoS"Nh hhNN''s"'Ns
The holiday vacation OF Congress will
give the Democratic members an oppor-
tunity to find out the sentiment OF their
constituents toward Prof WILSON'S Tariff
bill. IL they arc not sufficiently informed
as to the matter. so that they can return to
Washington prepared To treat the measure
in accordance with the popular will.
II they employ tho coming recess in this
way. they will make their holidays more
useful to the Democratic party than II they
had spent the time In working over legis-
lation at the Capitol. 1t is proper and
necessary also that they should thus con-
suit the opinion OF the people whose in
dustries would be affected by the WILSON
tariff. constitutional tariff for revenue
only would require no such consultation.
1t would DO constructed In accordance with
a principle whose just application could
be determined by Congress without aid
from any outside sources. 1t would pro-
vide the revenue necessary for tho Govern
ment by equal and uniform taxation. OF
which there could be no just popular criti-
cism. The WILSON tariff, however. dis
eliminates between industries In the meas
ure OF its taxation. and sacrifices revenue
ton. As revenue measure. 1t makes no.
pretence OF carrying out the pledge Of
the Chicago platform. The revenue it pro-
vides for is confessedly less than the needs
Of the Government. by from $50. 0O0. 900 to
$75.OOO. 900. 1t Is defensible only ms pro-
tective tariff aDd 1t can be successful only
so far rs 1t affords protection.
II the Democratic party Is going to vio-
Al
ing such q tariff. let 1t go about the job in
businessllke way. II the people are to be
betrayed by 1t. let them not also be ruined.
II they are to have protection. 1t must be
comprehensive. or IL will be disastrous.
The measure OF protection to which
each industry is In justice entitled un-
der such an unconstitutional system. is
a practical question. TO be decided after q
fair and careful examination OF its necessi-
ties. 1t is not q merely theoretical problem
which can be solved in the study OF pro-
fessor OF political economy. Its answer
must be sought in the workshops. The
people engaged In the industries Of every
Congress district know better what would
be- the effect on them OF Prof. WILSON'S
tariff. than he can imagine as he sits by
his midnight lamp In his library.
Democratic Congressman. accordingly.
can fit themselves for coming To a wise
decision as to such tariff. only by studying
what would be- its actual effects on the in
dustries OF their several districts. When
they get to their homes for the Christmas
holidays they will find that the mere intro
duction OF 1t has reduced wages and filled
every manufacturing community with q
multitude OF unemployed laborers great be-
yond precedent. 80 that the problem OF sup
plying the needs OF poverty during the win
ter Is now more serious than ever before
They will find critics Of the WILSON tariff
among the people. but no advocates OF it. |
They can attend crowded meetings called
TO protest against it. but there will be none
in its favor They will find no industries
content with it. and many industries
bitterly opposed TO it. They will dis
cover that this opposition is as strong
among Democrats as among Republicans.
among free traders and the believers in a |
tariff for revenue only. as among the pro-
tectionists themselves. They will lind that |
among the people the WILsoS tariff has no |
friends; thnt the Democrats arc not taking |
the trouble to defend it; that it is satisfac- |
tory to no one. Il outrages Democratic prin- |
Nllli'' his'l NIpluNNo pthlCNNlOhloJ pIlHtlplt.
After the Democratic Congressman have
made this personal investigation aud have
thus come into contact with Democratic
sentiment. they will be better able TO de-
eide on their course as to the WILSON bill
when it comes up for discussion next
month. They will be fortified with tho
courage 10 deal with it as it deserves. as IA |
measure which defies and Outrages Demo- |
cratic principle. and would involve the |
ruin Of the Democratic party if il became |
law 10y Democratic enactment.
Throw out the unconstitutional WILSON |
Tariff bill. aud pass the constitutional tariff |
for revenue only. which tho Democratic
party promised. Thus the ruinOus uncor-
tainty Of tho present situation would be
II tho WILSON bill il adhered to,
the uncertainty will continue for six months.
and this session Of Congress will proceed
during period Of disaster which will make
Il hateful in the memories of the people
Tha NVlat-EaI An A. Haaa