Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1894-05-12
EMPTY PREACHING.
Republican Rant on tho Changing senti-
ment of the Country.


themselves the gratuitous duty Of in.
forming the democratic majority In
congress that 1t should abandon ito Of.
tort 10 reform the tariff, pass tho ap-
preparation bills and go home. The
reason given for this advice Is that the
sentiment If the country has changed,
rs evidenced by the protests that have
been made against tariff legislation.
and the admitted fact that democratic
political prospects next November are
not exactly rose-colored. OF course,
our republican friends have not the
least notion that their advice will be
taken. r.s s4 rz... s-s
But 1t may not be out Of place TO re-
mind these seif-appointed advisers that
the course they are recommending,
oven assuming that the advice Is given
In good faith and for the oest 'nterssfs
Of the country. 10 ops which political
parties are not at all likely TO follow.
No better illustration o. this could be
ionnd than the comparatively r.
cent experience Of the republican |
party. In 1883 . republican victory |
was won upon . large scale BY
pledges given In the west that an hon
est revision of the tariff would be
made by the republicans If they ware
given the power to act 1t was reaog-
nised by the republicans IN all OF the
states Of tho Mississippi valley that
there was growing demand for
change from the old high tax princioles
Of the war tariff-that the people
wanted tariff reform. But 1t waa said
-and this was said ON the stump 10
1855 in scores OF western congressional
districts-that tariff revision should be
made, not by the enemies, but ny the
friends, Of protection. Duties are un-
doubtedly too high. and the taxes i'm
posed in consequence OF them too
onerous, but IL is we'll that the protec-
ton system should be gradually
changed by those who have for years
past supported it. and that 1t should
not be suddenly destroyed by those
who have always opposed it
Itwas upon these grounds that the
republican victory was won Evidence
can be obtained that quite number
of western republican congressman
went to attend the first session OF the
Fifty frat congress with the belief that
the tariff was to be revised by cutting
the duties down. and who found, to
their surprise and disgust, after the
session had opened, that the combina-
ton of republican congressional lead
ers, under Messrs. Reed and Mckinley,
were determined that this course should
should not be taken, and that, instead
Of lowering the barrier Of protection,
the height of that barrier was to be
, increased. One of the leading western
congressman, a republican OF national
reputation, said in the summer OF 1890:
"Our party is betraying its trust, and,
under the whip Of party discipline, l
shall be compelled to vote for meas
. ure which is almost q complete repudia'
ton of the pledges made to my con-
stituents. and that my western associ-
ates made their constituents at the
time they were elected. We supposed.
and they supposed, that the tariff was
: to be revised downward, and not up
, ward, but we have now discovered oul
, mistake: our people are already in
censed against us; and vet there Is
nothing to do but follow the bidding OF
; those who are recognized as the party
i leaders in and out of congress, and who
!. have definitely committed themselves
p to this line OF policy"
This we say, was personal state
ment made by man holding an excep'
4 tional position. and one who paid the
a penalty that he knew awaited him by
q defeat in the fall of 1890. There was,
. 1t is true, no financial panic to compli'
I. cate the situation, but throughout the
country there were protests raised
y against the enactment OF the Mckinley
bill. The republicans in the west and
o northwest denounced the measure as
[ betrayal of trust, and 1t was predicted
r as inevitable that the party that was
: responsible for this legislati ton would
e be Overwhelmingly defeated in the No
: vember election. The handwriting on
the wall was not in mystical characters
On the contrary. it WAS easy OF inter
:, pretation TO an one who was not blind
:. ed oy interest or preconceived ideas
The leading rotectionists, 1t Is true
n did hot sdmit at'the time the Mckinley
bill was uader discussion, and al the
- time It was enacted. that the country
n was soon to repndiate them and theii
O measure; but the fact was evident u
l., everyone else. when they asserted
i that the election Of 1890. which re
: suited in such an overwhelming deeea'
n for them, was due to a misunderstood
y ing Of the benefits of the protective
n tariff, it needed only the second defea'
;. In 1892, after two years Of experience
i with McKinleyism. to make 1t eviden
/. that the Judgment Of these gentlemen
n as political prophets was not in thu
;. least to be depended upon; that they
). predicted what they desired TO SET
brought about without the least regart
!, TO obvious facts Now the proper
course for the republican majority il
=, congress in the spring aud summer o
. 1880, when it found chat the sentimeut
Oh CHe Pctplc NEtV ave- ~ W ''NA>'o''s
y ism, wa. either to have abandoned al
l. effort TO revise the tariff or to hav'
= taken up revision upon the principle o
: lowering duties But they did not de
anything Of this kind. Boston Herald
g Has any promise that has eve
u been made by protectionist to tn
" ;. wool-growers ~ this country ever beel
~ fulfilled? Did they not get highe
~ prices for wool under three-cent dut
Ia than under six.cent duty? Did the
not get higher price under SIX
r. cent duty than under ten'cen
:, duty?. Did they not get higher prc
under a ten-cent duty than they al
ID getting now under al eleven-cent duty
Is thee a wool-buyer in the counr,
Mt who is not an enthusiastic advocate q
7s protection, willing to spend larG
ef amounts Of money to have 1t contil
or ued? DO mcn usually enthusiastical
ed advocate and contribute enormous co
ce ruption funds to keep up the price
ne tnat which they have to buy, whs
y, their yearly profits and their busine
ru depends upon their buying cheap al
pe selling dears-N. y. World.
hn --Referring to the wool schedu
Mr. Voorhees, said: "ll believed VIC