The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-03-12

The Wilson bill ~ amended by the SEN
ass does not eliminate the income tax, but
IL takes sugar, coal and iron ore of the
fres list, and raises the duties established
by the house bill. 1t 10 an effort TO make
the bill tariff for revenue instead Of
tariff for deficiency az Wilson's was when 1t
was passed by the house. II the bill 30
amended was passed by the senate IL
would not probably be accepted BY the
free traders of the South and the Populist
Democracy. but the passage Of tho senate
till by the house would not settle the ques-
ton with the people. before whom 1t il be-
coming q question Of principle for psrma-
nent settlement. not bit Of political or
sectional patchwork. Even a. amended
by the senate the Wilson bill would en-
counter at the next congressional election
the opposition of both labor and capital.
Protection IL principle; that Is, protec-
ton all around for both producer and
manufacturer; and its opposite IL tariff
for revenue only. Tho people will have
one or the other: they will never be con-
tent with such hybrid tariff as the Wilson
bill. The Republicans will prevent its
passage 10y every means In their power. be-
cause the people are with them on having
the tariff question settled with degree Of
permanency. Resistance to the passage Of
the Wilson bill may cause some months Of
uncertainty, but its passage means INDUS
trial disorder and depression for the re-
mainder of Cleveland's term. The idea of
protection is a national, not local issue,
but the free trade trainers of the Wilson
bill treat protection as o concession
to local demands and to this ex-
tent only are willing to grant it and
vote for 1t. The Republican party
on the other hand holds that If protection
be good for a single industry like rice in
South Carolina it is equally good for other
industries in other states. The aim and
In tention of the Wilson bill is TO reduce
the wages of labor; labor begins to see
that what Injuries one industry Injuries all
it sees that larger import of foreign manu-
features mean smaller output of domes-
tic goods. and Of course this means smaller
wages, q smaller number of workers and
smaller demand for farm products.
Once enact the Wilson bill and you have
begun the surrender of our vast market to
Europe. and our wages must sink to the
low level of Europe. If American labor is
ready and willing to live and move and
have his being on the same low scale as
Europe very we'll; American labor can
afford TO repudiate protection and
march steadily 70 free trade through
such measures as the Wilson
bill. but unless American labor
is ready and willing to do this, American
labor and capital will destroy the Demo
cratic party at the North. There are q
half dosen Democratic senators at least
who do not desire the Wilson tariff bill to
become law in its preset shape, but with
the exception of David b. Hill. of New
York. not one of them has the courage to
seriously attempt its defeat.
The Democratic party is in congress to-
day in the hands of the Bourbon South
and tho Popniist Democracy OF the West,
who favor free trade and fool and knaye
L
that the passage of the Wilson bill will
cos, the Democracy every doubtful state
at the North, and yet. with the exception
of Hill. we doubt IL any one of them will
vote against its passage substantially In
its present form. As for the South aud
the Democratic fopaists Of the West
they are saturated with ignorance and
sectional prejudice. and care about moth
ing save the security Of their seats In
congress. They are always playing to
the pit" of their frantic and ignorant
home constituency. which is stupid
enough TO attribute the superior CONNER
cial prosperity of the North not to the
superior quality of ats people. but to what
they term 1.-The robeer Tariff" and gold
bug" finance.
1t was Or. Johnson who said that II
Was possible 10 furnish the opposition
with argument, but only God could confer
upon 1t understanding. lie who will not
he ruled by the radder will surely run
upon the rocks. The South refused
- be ruled by the rudIsr OF rea-
son. humanity and common sense be-
fore ,hs var and 50 she ran her
ship upon the rock Of = causelsss war
and reckless rebellion. She Is doing the
same stupld ialns today: with the aid of
= deaghfses Northern Democracy she is
proving herself again the architect Of
party ruin. Fool and knave socialism, fool
aud knAve finance in shape Of imitation,
- -
Of southern stasesmauship, and the VIII
son bill will ultimately become las be-
cause the headless hess.an OF Southern
Boursonisra and Western Pepal.srn msdly
ride the Democratic party stsea The
South To tie Democracy is the man on
lsekass esek,