New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-12-16
A Prophetic WIRNT.NG.
alone.


Warming sometimes becomes prophecy so keen
and telling that the utcrcrs anxiOusly try 10
forget IL. Hardly Il month ago. November H.
The New-York Herald uttered Il warning To
its Free Trade friends which full Of the
spirit Of truth that it may be read to-day with
profit as n singing rcbukc OF the Wilson bill.
For The Herald then sad In its leading cdi-
torlal:
The country has just escaped panic and Is now
emerging from a period OF depression which has
taxed It severely Any reckless tariff legsla ton.
any sudden or sweeping changes. would unsette
business and industry and bring panic. The
effect OF this would be the return. OF the Repubi,-
20 power In 1886 with overwhelming majorities.
Only ten days after this most sensible advice
was published the Democratic secret conclave
brought forth the new tariff bill. which utterly
disrcgar,lcd the existing depression, and did at
once unsctile industry. Within two weeks there
after the people expressed their opinion Of II
with overwhelming majorilcs even in New
Jersey. 1900 In New-York and 10000 in Ohio.
showing that I'm a Presidential election on that
issue the Democrats would not have carried Il
single Northern State. Rarely has warning
been followed by more swift or more complete
Justification But THE uerah' went on 10
say:
Any preclpitate extreme action would quickly
disturb industries upset values. demoralize bust
ness close factories and throw workingmer out
OF employment.
The bill reported just ten days later was Of
such character that IT has already disturbed
business everywhere. upset values of wool and
cotton and their products. AMI of pig-iron and
prnlucfs closed and f,lt out
IRON silk and glove and hat factories, and many
others. caused thousands Of workingmcn 10 lose
employment, and several hundred thousand to
accept large reduction of wages in order 10
secure any employment whatever Again the
warning passed into prophecy.
1t would doubtless please THE Herald
greatly IL its sound advice against exactly such
n bill as the Democratic conclavc produced had
not been followed SO swiftly by disaster and
by overwhelming public rcbukc But il has
seemed good 10 that journal. nevertheless, to
turn its back upon It's own wise counscls. 10
dissent from the verdict Of the people and TO
measure which ought 10 be- passed. and thus
again 10 emphasize the fact that the destructive
forces which are driving the Democratic party
OH 10 ruin are mlghtcr than its most capable adj
visers In fact, those forces are mighty enough
10 make even such advisers commend and bless
a measure which. but for rcsistlcss forces
behind them, they would have instantly con-
dcmncd In the same article "'rhe Herald"
said
Any protracteJ discussion or delay would. as
in the case OF silver repeal, prolong the suspense
and have injurious effect. 1t Is also OF vital
ton for from three to SIX months after it passes.
But the Wilson bill was originally drawn To
20 into effect March l. when one could have
expected its passage through both houses much
before that date, and now, discussion having
been deferred in the House until January by
the strong protest Of Democrats against such
RECKLESS legislation IL is proposed that the
measure shall go into cffcci June I. Probably
the whole Of January will be required to pass
1t in the House. and ut the very least two
months more will be required for its free dis
clissIon In the Senate. so that II il now intended
to take effect within two months after the earli-
In this. as I'm other things. the Free Trade IA
natcs have been deaf TO wise advisers and so
powerful is the greed Of importing interests
and foreign manufacturers. which forces for
ward the party In power, that even "'rhe
Herald itself does not now venture TO hope
that the bill can be defeated, reckless us ii X.