St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-09-03
"PARALYsls OF DIsQUIETUDE,,

Business disquietude is inseparable
from the system of tariff taxation. No
one denies this. and, il any one were
disposed to. lie would get scant hearing
IN the face OF the experience of the cur
rent year. No matter which way rates
20, up or down. the effect is the same.
for business men must know what will
be the cost OF the material they use or
the goods they nan die. and they will
slow down their operations until they
can proceed with certainty.
This fact Is being taken advantage of
by the followers Ut Mr.. Reed to produce
all effect In the congressional elections.
II they can persuade the great and ex-
tensive business interests of the coun-
try that a Democratic majority in con-
gress means-a renewal OF fight all
along the lines OF the tariff schedules,
they naturally expect that the votes Of
the men of business will be against the
Democratic candidates, no matter what
the party relations Of the voters. simply
because they want now period OF rest.
This Is what is meant by the jeremiads
which our Republican speakers and
editors are pouring into the ear Of the
public; only this. and nothing more.
That the Democrats do not propose
to halt in their march for freedom Of
exchange is true. That they accept the
act they extorted from a protectiOnlst
majority III the senate as finality is
absurdIy untrue. That free trade is
their ultimate object is true. This
purpose accounts for the reception ac-
corded the German bill. aud for the
presidents refusal to sign it. This fact
might as well be understood first as
last. aud the opposition are welcome to
all the capital they can make from it.
We are sure they would make much
mere capital were they able to say coll
vincingly that the efforts of the Demo-
cratic party would end with the act Mr..
German and the other Republicans
forced on them. We apprehend that the
party would dwindle rapidly in num-
beers IL that were the case.
But that there Is to be any general
onslaught on the tariff. an attack all
along the line of schedules. no Demo.
crat expects or advises. That attack
has been made, and its main object
reached. The tide of protection has
been stopped in its rise and turned
back. The enemy have been driven
within their lines and surrounded. and
now the work of sapping and mining
begins Their weakest points will be
assaulted one by one; taxes reduced
here or there as can be most readily
done, or removed entirely. We are. as
MIR. Wilson says, in position now
where we can shell the camp of monop-
oily.
If there are any men of business
whose minds have been disturbed by
the partisan assaults of the Reedites
and are apprehen sive Of "a paralysis of
disquietude" should Democrats retain
control Of the house. we ask them to
in his speech accepting denomination.
MIR. Wilson is chairman Of the commit
tee where such measures must start,
and is the leader Of the house on this
question. His assurance OF the policy
the house will pursue is worth all the
prediction and prophecy that Mr.. Reed
and his cuckoOs can illuminate.
Mr.. Wilson said: "The day of mad
protection is over in this country. Nc
Kinleyism will disappear as dark and
hideOus blight from our statute books.
The fight will 60 on. not. maybe, in such
general engagement and protracted
struggle as we have just passed through,
but with that steady and resistless
pressure that will take one after another
of the strongholds of privilege until
all shall disappear before the advance
of public opinion and public emancipa-
tion." There is nothing in this to cause
uneasiness or apprehension. but every
thing to command the support OF all
business men as the sensible and
least disturbing plan of movement to-
wards relieving them forever from the
nightmare of tariffs and their agitation.