The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-08-16
Comments on the Surrender.

The opinions Of those whose COM
ments on the new tariff carry weight
are amusing by reason of their diver
sity. President Cleveland, for in
stance, in letter to William l.. Will
son read in the house Of representa-
lives July 49, speaks Of the measure
passed in that house Aug. Is i'll the
following language:
Every true Democrat and every sincere
tariff reformer knows that this bill, in its
present form aud as it will be submitted to
the conference, falls far short OF the con-
summation for which we have long iabored,
for which we have suffered defeat without
discouragement, which in its anticipation
gives US Il rsllying cry in our day Of tri'
umph, and which in its promise Of accom-
plishment is SO interviewer with Demo-
cratic pledges and Democratic success that
our abandonment Of the cause or the prin7
ciple upon which it rest means PARTY
PERFIDY and PARTY DIsHoNoR. +
On the other hand, Colonel Alex
ander Mcclure, who hasn't even the
memory of an Office to be grateful for,
is really enraptured with the bill
which the chief executive branded as
fraught with "party perfidy and party
dishonor." In his Philadelphia news
paper Colonel Mcclure, speaking of
the German bill, which he inadvert-
emily designates as the "WilsOn BILL"
says that the passage Of this bill
settles the tariff policy of this government
not only for this year or next year, or for
This administration, but for all time to
come, regardless Of the mutations Of poll
tics. There will be tariff changes made as
lew necessities and variations IN business
arise, bu: the policy Of the Wilson tariff
bill will never be departed from in the
future unless it be to reduce tariff duties.
Not even Editor Singerly, with a
nomination to be thankful for and an
election to meet, is able to work him
self into an ecstacy equal to that of
his esteemed contemporary at Ninth
aud Chestnut. He bluntly asserts that
the new bill Statistics nobody" but
upon the principle that if Mr.. Cleve-
land can swallow it he ought to, the
commodore automatically adds:
A tariff bill that lifts the tax entirely
from wood, lumber, flax, hemp jute, salt
copper ana cotton ties, and cuts in two
the duty on coal and iron ore, is not to be
altogether despised. The average rate on
dutiable articles under the Mckinley act
was 1888 per cent. Under the German
bill it is 36.6S per cent. This will count
for millions Of dollars saved in the yearly
cost of living. The German bill, short as
it is of reasonable public expectation, Is
an improvement on the tariff act it dis
places. 1t repeals the sugar bounties and,
although it does not demolsh the sugar
trust, it reduces its protective profit from
80 cents per 100 pounds to 42H cents. 1t
smashes the reciprocity game Of establish
ing tax rates by treaty 1t starts the
country on the high road toward the at
tainment Of that commercial supremacy
among the nations Of the earth which the
energy OF our people and our abounding
resources place within ultimate reach.
The opinion which gets near to the
truth, however, is this one Of The Phil
adelphia Press, in which we recognize
the felicitous phrases as well as the
clear judgment and prophetic wisdom
of Charles Emory Smith:
The country wanted real settlement of
the tariff question. Such a settlement
alone could give certainty, stability and
confidence. But the German Brice sugar
trust bill settles nothing Neither party
acquiesces in it, Its very passage Is ac-
companied by the introduction Of other
5arlf measures which reopen the fight.
| The Democrats who have sullenly passed
t openly proclaim that it is only the first
step, and that they will Immediately enter
npon campaign for q more radical
measure Of so-called tariff reform" In
'tead Of treating this bill as settlement
they describe 1t as only the entering
wedge. On the other hand, the Republicans
least OF all will accept this mongre in-
inGongruous, sectional, un.American,
sugar trust bill as finality and lay down
their arms. On the contrary, they pledge
themselves anew from this hour to
tight out the battle until the triumph
of American protection and the perma-
nence or American industrial lndepen-
! dence are fully assured. There can be no
lasting settlement except the right settle
ment. This miserable makeshifG OF the
hour, born of corruption, trading and job
oery, stepped in Inconsistencies and rank
with sectlonalism, cannot endure. Its
consummation is periidy to the party and
Ereachery to the country, and its over
5hrow as soon as the people and their true
representatives can get at it is as certain
rs any event OF the future.
The new tariff bill was not called for
by the sober voice Of the people, 1t is
repugnant to the people; and it will be
tolerated by the people only until
they can elect servants fit to be trusted
with its radical amendment.