The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1893-12-09

Delay Now Means Disaster.
The New York Herald, which has
the best clairi 10 being independent
sin all things-of any paper IN the
country, has what fellows to say to
to the Democrats Of the country and
in Congress'
The democratic party is now face
to face with duty more momentous
and responsibility more grave than
have confronted it since the war.
A year ago the people by an avail
anche vote called it to power to make
revision of the tariff which would
put an end to the fragrant abuses of
protection without injuring the bust
ness or industry of the country. The
time is now at hand to execute that
great trust. Failure or prolonged
delay to do it will mean disaster to
the country and sweeping condem-
nation of the democrats at the polls.
After months Of toll, patient effort
and "honest desire to discharge
their duty, purged of all faint of 10
cal and personal favoritism or pref
udice," the democratic members of
the House Ways and Means Com
mittee present bill evidently fran
ed With d view to meet the needs of
the country and the obligations i'm
posed upon the party. While it
strikes at some Of the worst evils of
protection, by putting number of
raw materials on the free list and
making material reductions in the
duties levied on many manufactured
articles, it is not a radical or aweep
ing measure, but as fair and moder-
ate as is consistent with substantial
revision. For this reason it will no
more satisfy extreme free traders
than high protectionists.
In some Of its most important pro.
visions the injurious effects of sud
den changes are guarded against by
gradual reduction Thus the boun-
ty on sugar is not swept away at
once, but is to be reduced point by
point through eight years. So slid
ing scale is added to the woollen
schedule, by which the rates are to
come down i've points with the lapse
of five years, because, as the commit
tee explains, "our manufacturers
have so long been excluded from
two thirds of the woods of the world
that they will have to learn the art
of manufacturing with free wool"
Moreover, the duties are not to be
reduced on woollen goods until raw
wool has been on the free list for four
months, and it is not to go on the
free list before the first of March
The changes proposed are far less
radical and extreme than those
made by the Mckinley law three
years ago, and are far less likely to
disturb business and industrial OPP
erations. Naturally the measure
may be somewhat improved by ju
dicious modification after fair and
intelligent consideration. Thus per-
fected its early adoption can hardly
fail to be the forerunner of renewed
prosperity for the country and better
times Tor the people, especially the
toiling masses.
To make it law at the earliest
day practicable without precipitancy
recklessness or undue haste is the
duty the democrats in Congress owe
the country and their party. Of
course the republicans will strenu
ously oppose this bill, as they will
oppose any measure which strikes
at the iniquities of protection and
the baneful trusts that have grown
up under 1t. This makes it all the
more imperative that the democrats
shall unite in its support with all
patriotism and loyalty.
Needless delay pass the bill can
only mean mischief and menace dis
aster Until it becomes law doubt,
uncertainty and suspense must pre-
vail in the business would. To pro-
long these unduly will be to invite
panic The country has just had
costly illustration of this in the de-
lay to repeal the silver law. We do
not waat another such experience.
If the democrats wrangle and dill
! ly daily over tariff revision all win
ter the consequences will be disas-
trous both to the country and them
selves. If they want to avert such
consequences and legislate for pros
perity and better times they will
lose no time in making successful
tariff revision a reality They can
not bear too clearly in mind the vital
fact that delay means disaster.
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