The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-07-22
Cause for Anxiety.

The tariff situation causes a feeling OF
uneasiness not only among the democrats
in congress but throughout the country.
/ The wisest of the democratic leaders
view it with anxiety. At present they
do not see how the radical differences be
! tween the two houses are to be adjusted
The country is impatient for the
/ passage of the tariff bill Business men
and trade bodies are holding meetings
and urging congress to act on the tariff
bill quickly, so that the way may be
clear for the fall trade. The
outlook is that there will be a long strug-
gle between the House and the Senate,
with chance that no agreement will be
reached and that the bill that has OBJ
structed business for six months will be
defeated.
The whole trouble is caused by half
dozen democratic senators who insist
upon such bill as they want. What
they contend for is against the tariff doc
trines of the Democratic party. They
virtually admit that such is the case, but
they say they are speaking for their con-
stituents, and that if the Democratic
party does not yield TO their demands
there will be no tariff bill
On the other hand the President, who
undoubtedly speaks for the Democratic
party, and whose utterances are in &C
cord with democratic principles, declares
that it would be better to have the tariff
bill fail than to abandon the tariff prin-
ciples of the party.
That is the situation at present. And
it is an alarming one. There is no cues
ton that the Presidents letter is in har-
mony with the tariff policy as expressed
in the national democratic platform. But
did he act wisely in interfering in the
tariff situation! There is a great differ
ence of opinion in respect to that ques-
ton. The truth ought always to be help
full in the solution of difficulties. however
unacceptable it may be.
But il is asserted that the Presidents
letter has made it more difficult to reach
an agreement, because it strengthens the
House in its purpose to insist upon the
original Wilson bill, and makes the half
dozen senators more determined to have
the bill as the Senate amended it, or no
bill at all. This view of the situation,
dent had not written the letter the half
dozen senators would have been as deter
mined in the position they have taken as
they are now. Their condemnation
by the President has not made
them more firm in resisting the
demands of the House, and
they do not dare to say it has. To ad-
nit that it has would be confession that
they are willing to sacrifice the vast in
terests of the country merely to show
their independence of the President, and
would be convincing proof of their I'M
fitness for the trust the people have con-
fded to them.
1t is sincerely to be regretted that
democrats have reached a disagreement
upon party doctrine That is what
renders the situation so grave. The
party has all along commended for free
raw materials The democratic senator's
who are blocking tariff legislation
virtually say that the manufacturers
shall not have free raw materials.
1t looks as if there would have to be a
compromise. If there must be a com
promise let us have it quickly There is
no use wasting another month on the tar
i'll bill and then agreeing to a compromise
If the House has to yield something let it
do so at once, and depend upon the people
to send men TO the Senate who will legis-
late in accordance with the principles of
the Democratic party.