The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-11-22
pEMOcRACY,s INCOMPErENCY.

DEMOCkAClS IStOMPEtENCi.J y
The report has goae forth that the
Democratic leaders have decided that
the issue to be forced before the people
during the next three years is to be the
tariff, the reason being given that the
silver question so divides the Demo-
cratic party that it must be showed into
the back ground and kept out of sight.
Unfortunately for the Democracy there
will be no necessity for attempting to
make the tariff an issue for it makes it.
self the leading question of the day.
But equally unfortunate for the Dem
ocracy is the fact that the silver question
will not down at its bidding. The
people want in power party that can
grapple with more than one question at
time This vast country, with its
diversified interests, is naturally inter
ested in all the great questions affect
ing the welfare Of the people.
The Democracy first chose the silver
question as the one whose shoulders
must bear the brunt Of the business
depression. Yet it was unable to deal
with the question and but for the loyal
efforts of the Republicans the Demo
cratic majority would still be struggling
with this important matter. Hiving re-
peeled the silver purchase clause, the Re-
publican party realising that it was in the
minority In congress, awaited the will Of
tho majority in presenting solution of
this question. 1t is needless to remark
that it is still waiting while the Democ-
racy Is fioundering about hope
lessly without any practical
substitute to offer. Realising the
hopelessness OF its task it cowardly at
tempts to throw il one side and force
ahead the matter of tariff. One natur-
ally looks to the chief of the treasury
department for some inkling as to the
administration intentions towards the
silver question. Last night Secretary
Carlisle delivered u public address be-
fore the New York Chamber OF Conn
merce, but we look in vain through his
speech to find any indication of the pro-
posed administrative policy.
In general terms he assures the public
that 'this country could not long main
tain its present position as one of the
most conspicuous aud important men,
bers OF the great community Of CON-
mercial nations which now controls the
trade of the world unless to preserve a
monetary system substantially, at least,
in accord with the monetary
systems Of the other principal nations"
which means absolutely nothing under
the present circumstances for it does
not outline in any way how we are to re-
tain such position. What the public
have right to know is, how and in
what way we are to recognize silver as
money metal, for both parties stand
committed to such a recognition OF
silver.
So far as the tariff is concerned the
Democracy stands pledged merely to a
revenue tariff. True its ways and
means committee has prepared a tariff
bill and has been busy with "sched-
ules /" that are at present vague and
meaningless. Wherever they have ar.
ranged for duties on manufactured
articles it will be found
that these duties have been
so arranged as TO yield the
greatest amount Of revenue possible.
That is, the duties have been so lowered
as to place the foreign made article on
such basis that 1t can readily compete
with American made goods, and the
duties are low enough to excite imports
tremendous quantities. There is no
desire to preserve the American protec-
tive system, only desire to secure
revenue.
But the people Of this country have
signfied their intention of retaining the
protective system and will entrust the
work of tariff revision to the party
which formulated and put into sue
cesstul operation the protective system.