The National tribune., 1893-05-04
WHAT MAY BE FEARED.

| will it doe That is what the country Is
anxiously iuquiring. That is something the
veterans are asking each other with the
deepes. solieitude.
We have got to look the situation squarely
in the face, and reason about it calmly, with
the help of all the liz ht we can get.
There were three important issues before
the people during the last campaign: The
Tariff, Pensions and Silver All three were
holly discussed, and pensions were savasely
denounced from one end of the land to the
| other. Now Congress will be expected to do
something in the direction of the utterances
of the successful candidateson the stump last
Fall. Grave difficulties stand in the way
Of any decided action on either the
tariff or the silver question. While de-
nouncng Protection in the abstract, each
candidate had to make reservations in
favor of the particular products in which his
eOnstituents-or these he wanted 10 be his
consti uehts-were interested. Forexample,
no matter how odious a South Carolinian
may think the tariff "a whole, he is very de-
eided in his belief that rice must be protected
even TO the extent of barring uat all foreign
rice. He is also very likely TO think that there
should he a duty laid on Egyptian cotton,
which comes into Injurious competition
with the Sea Island products. TIE Florida
Representatives are unanimous in the opin-
ion that there should he no tampering with
The duties on foreign fruits, nuts aud to-
bacco. The Georgia Representatives are
deeply interested ia rice, tobacco fruits and
cotton manufactures The Alabama Repre-
sentatives are anxious that their growing
iron and cotton manu- fac: uring interests shall
net be injured by unwise tariff legislation,
and have also some concern about fruits and
rice The Louisiauians are deeply concerned
about rice and sugar; the Texans about rice,
wool, tobacco, sugar, and fruits; the Ken
tGckisEs, Yirg iniaas, Trnness~esns, and Mis-
Sonrians over tobaero, wool. hemp, and iron
manufactures; the West y,rgiuians ov. T
lumber, wool. aud lion manufactures; the
Californians about foreign fruits, wines, eac,;
the New Erglanders about tobacco and
manufactures generally; the New Y rkers
about tobacco, dairy products, hay, eggs,
hops, barley, ctr; the Wisconsin Congress
men about HOPS, tobacco, etc; the Dakotans
about barley AID beet sugar, and so on TO
the end of the chapter. Every Representa-
tive has some sp~c. al interest taat be wants
protected, and, aS he VIII INST he allowed 10
cat down some one else's protection without
his own suffering. it may be that there will
be little done with the tariff the good ex-
cuse being that in the present condition of
the worlds finances the Nation needs all
the revenue tha: il can get.
II is harily necessary to expztiate oB the
horelessusss of any derifed action on the
silver question There is such wide d.
yergence Of views among Congressman on
tins issue, and each ore i SO determined in
his attitude. that it seems impossible that
they should arrive az any agreement.
All This greatly increases the danger that
they may concentrate upon pensions, and
make great shcwinsof doing sone,hingby
a terrific raid upon thea. Tisy have much |
to encourage III m to saeh course Of the |
356 Representatives 116 come frsn the old |
slave States Among sheai We have scarcely |
a friend. Nearly all Of them are open, |
avowed, and relentless enemies of the whole |
pension system. They could not commend |
themselves better to their constituents han |
by work to destroy the whsie pension system,
except that PARTON relating TO the MEXICAN
war. In some portions oil the commercial aud |
manufacturing sections which have been |
filed by foreigners Navigating hifher
since the war, the veterans are relatively
almost as scanty as they are in The Saath,
and have as little political in6ueHce. II
would seem work Of little difficulty, start
Ing with the Southern delegation as a basis,
To get 179 Representatives majority of
the Housewife will vote for any legisla-
ton injurious TO pensions
The Senate consists of SO members, of
whom 40 are majority. OF these 80 are |
from the old slave States. But one of them
may be regarded as favorable to pensions, so
that the pensioB-haters have only TO get IA
more to pass any bill they wish.
II is thus easily seen that the situation il
very critical. 1t behooves US to be stirring
very actively if we would avert an over
xbelming disaster. 1t must be kept in
mind, too, that disaster now will be ire
parable. If one wing or the other OF the
silver men he defeated, or if protection re-
ceives a crushing blow, the defeated ones
eau look forward to repairing the damage
by victory at the next election. We can
little hope of this We are too old to look
very far into the future. What may