New-York tribune., 1894-01-08
KILL THE TARIFF BILL.
REPUBLICAN DUTY CLEAR.
,rr THE DEMOCRATS PASS 1T. IF THEY WILL.
BUT DO NOT HELP THEM


BUT DO NOT HELP THEM
From The Weekly Tribune
=, .npears from reports which reach us daily
,vom Washington that the Republican members
=, Congress are OF one accord as 10 the course
they ought to pursue with reference to the new
tariff bill. The Tribune believes their decision
wise one. They propose to fight the bill at every
stage and expose its enormities on all possible
occasions.
The principle upon which the bill is drawn is
,icious in the extreme. To defeat the entire
measure should be the aim Of every true Repub-
Iicsn.
This bill, in all its deformities, is Demo-
.r.tc measure Let the Democrats amend and
match II up as they see fit As the bill now
Glands IL meets with bitter opposition from the
democratic members Of many districts. Those
members will aim to get the bill amended so as
% save themselves. In doing this. they hope to
he aided by the solid Republican vote. They are
not entitled to that assistance. No attention Will
he paid by those Democrats to the damage which
will follow to other districts besides their own.
Those who desire to save their Democratic hides.
and who will call upon Republican members to
help them in that purpose Will not one OF them
lend hand TO amend the measure in other re-
enects when called upon by the Republicans
whose votes they seek. They have no anxiety to
amend the bill except So far as it affects their
personal interests.
Those Democratic members have examined the
provisions Of the Wilson bill. simply with regard
20 getting votes for their own reflections 1t Is
needless 10 point out to them the fact that the
whole country will be injured by the bill and that
their districts are not exceptional.
The measure is drawn. be IL remembered. so as
N injure every business man in the United
States. except perhaps few importers OF Tor
egn goods What is the use then FOR Repubii-
cans to try to improve such a bill by amend
ments? There is only one amendment that Will
reach the case and that is an amendment TO
strike out the enacting clause and leave the mon
strosity without any head. as was done with
the Morrison bin.
II Democratic members seek 70 patch up such
a BILL let them do 1t among themselves Let
them appeal to their own side OF the House
Why not?
But some one may say. suppose some Democrat
offers an amendment. which the Republicans be-
ueve will improve the bill. should they not turn
in and make the bill good as they can? That
might be expected of them If these same Demo-
Gratis would then turn in and help kill the entire
measure They propose 10 DO nothing OF the
kind The important end sought by Republicans
Is TO defeat the entire bill. Why then should they
seek to fix it up that more Democrats can
vote for It? As the bill now stands, it can never
be passed by the Senate. and 1t Will meet WIFI
strong opposition in the House.
The responsibility for the bill is entirely with
,he Democratic party. Let it remain with them.
II they insist upon passing such measure let
them do it in such form rs they prefer. GlVe
them no opportunity to claim that tins amend
ment or that amendment forced upon the
will
pure Democratic cussedness from beginning to
end
If few amendments would make the bill
good one. then the duty Of every Republican
would be plain 10 work early and late ana 10
vote persistently 70 secure such amendments.
Such however is not the case The bill is all
wrong from beginning TO end: the whole meas
IRE IS drawn upon a plan which is detective and
unpatriotic There is no remedy against It's evils
except the death of the entire measure II Is
useless to try 70 graft figs upon thistles NO
1es will mature, and the thistle will in no way
be improved.
It seems to me clear that the true course for
Republicans to pursue is TO compel the Demo-
Gratis to complete the measure among them
selves. Let the country just the kind OF a
bill they desire 10 have become a law. Expose
its deformit!es on all occasions and in every way
possible. Warn the country constantly against
its provisions Point out ;he results that must
surely follow Get the testimony OF all sections
Of the country against the passage Of such law.
Let the men whose business Is to be damaged
state the facts rs 10 each Industry. Let the
wage-earners whose wages are 10 be reduced, be
heard. Let the unemployed speak from every
part OF our Republic. Call upon the silent
machinery the motionless spindles. and the
smokeless chmneys for their evidence. Then let
the party in power pass damaging bill II they
dare If they shall do so the responsibility Will
be entirely their own The people Will then know
whom to call TO account for the havoc that
will follow. Voters will then have an object
lesson which they will be slow to forget Bookish
theories will for once be put to the test OF actual
experiment The people can then learn the differ
ence between bill drawn by practical business
men and one engineered by professor In some
one-horse college of some backwoods town
Men who organize great industrial enterprises
and who have the brains 10 push such enter
prises to success will be sent TO the rear for q
time and we shall have in the place OF theii
practical wisdom the knowledge OF bookish the
orsts who never managed any business enter
prise for an hour and who represent no manu-
featuring Industries except, perhaps. gris' nli'
or blacksmith shop. or some foreigner WIG
roasts peanuts with a revolving wheel lhes'
men have no conception of an enterprise whicf
costs millions Of dollars and which gives employ
ment to a thousand American workers. Ihes'
visionary theorists may be safe men TO manage
the enormous business interests Of this grea
and growing nation. There are those VINO douD
It. but we shall see.
have listened to the vague theories or thes'
impracticable students OF free trade literature
until am tired. If they are correct as to TN
business effects OF their theories. then am al
wrong in my Interpretation Of business facts
The country is now suffering from the mer'
threat Of their notions being enacted into law
II the Wilson bill shall be passed. we Will be IN
fair way to find out who Is right. If the countr!
make the exnerimeut let II be made VIII