Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1894-08-02
SPIRIT OF THE HOUR.
THE COUNTRY DlSGUSTED WITH THE
TARIFF NONSENSE.

A Measure of Policy and Not Patriotism; of
Reward For Party Friends and Punish
ment For Party Foes; "A Product of Stock
Jobbing and Bribery.
If the public newspapers of the coun-
try voice the sentiment of the people,
there never was a time in the history Of
party government when those in author
ity were SO held up to public condemna-
tion. The country is tired, sick and dis
gusted with what may justly be called
tariff foolery. Policy and not patriotism
seems to be the moving principle of the
revising committee.
Truly tariff reform, as illustrated in
this Democratic congress, is fearfully
and wonderfully made. Its friends do
not recognize it. Its enemies loathe to
become acquainted with it. 1t is a meas
ure without patronage. Its qualities are
deprecated in the house of its friends.
Each one who casts his vote for it does
so disclaiming that it is all wrong, but
it is the best that he can get. This Dem
ocratic tariff promises the country moth
ing bat trouble.
The principles that inspired it first
have been thrown aside, and in their
place now stands a tariff for trusts and
m~onopolies. 1t is not a new tariff bill,
but it is the concentrated perfidy of
southern tariff reformers, whose chief
business is the breaking down of all
AIn% &, xonl and e,hst;t-t ,n - SIC ,1onn
that which is clamored for by a few who
can afford TO make the sacrifice to a
purely revenue tariff bill.
Strange as it may appear, the Demo-
cratic papers throughout the country
all profess to be satisfied with the Viii.
son bill as it passed the house. Now,
after two months of waiting, with more
than 800 amendments to the same bill,
scarcely a vestige of its former condi-
ton remaining unchanged, the Dem
ocratic press, in loyalty to the purpose,
denounce it, while leading Democrats all
profess to be satisied-the best that
they can get under the circumstances.
Truly it may be said to be a bill for tar
iff changes, not for tariff reform. II has
been shaped simply to suit the wishes of
selfish and money making representa-
tives whose private interests have been
able to subvert the stronger and better
elements of the senate ON tho Demo-
cratic side.
The members of the finance commit
tee are almost forced to confess that it
is not a tariff for revenue; that it is not
a tariff for protection; that it is for the
reward of its party friends and the pun
ishment Of its party foes. 1t is a penal
measure, because il is a measure to re.
wards measure of bribery. This prod
net of stock jobbing and open bribery,
devoid of principle, consistency, stepped
in selfishness, maligning in its intended
workings upon northern industry, is
nnt forward in the name of reform.
Shame TO those wsose effrontery
would dare have this sickening and dis,
heartening spectacle of imbecility and
corruption placed in the stead of an hon
orable statute worthy of a great political
party! The people cannot afford to fur.
ther wait the revolution that this meas.
ure must produce, but as one man all
good citizens must stand and demand
hat it be laid aside forever, for no such
measure can go upon our statute books
and remain with peace and harmony as
n result