Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-10-06
PLAIN WORDS
About the Democratic TarIn.

From AA1s A.5dny SpsscR
1t recognizes, in part at least, the
Democratic doctrine OF free raw mate
rails, and IN response 20 an oVerWhelm-
ing public sentiment has appropriately
provided Tor free wool, free lumber and
free salt. 10 has largely Increased the
frse list in other directions. IL mas re-
duced the duty on coal and iron nearly
so per cent The general average re-
duction from the Mckinley rates IS
nearly 33i{ per cent. The reductions
are not deemed unreasonable. They are
20 fair aud moderate that ne manufac-
turer In the country has any excuse
whatever for reducing the wages OF MS
employees. II manufacturers assume 10
do IL, they must furnish some other rea-
son or prstense than the present moaer-
ate new tariff law.
Itmav DO safely asserted that the
new law will not cripple or em0arrass
single industry in the land, or throw
out OF employment a single working
man, or uuduly stimulate oVerprouuc-
ton on the one hand or eXorbitant I'm
variations on the other. IL will not be
prohibitory in its effect nor excessively
competitive, but with some important
raw materials made free and others
freer, with general moderate reduc-
dlIionns5 will fshGrsI5g li @s prove our Citizens
will be relieved from unnecessary taxa
tion, prosperity will dawn upon US once
more, and the general conservative
tsrlf revision OF 1898 will become more
and more acceptable to the people.
These facts should not DO overlooked
that IL largely reduces the tax on the
necesaries of life, uron the implements
OF husbandry and the wearing apparel
OF the citizen aud substitutes an addi-
tional tax upon liquors to the amount
of $50, 900, 900. IL the new tariff bill
errs at oil, IL Is ia the direction OF safe
ty and moderation and not because 1t Is
too radical. and while ardent Democrats
NAV criticise its conservatism, 1t does
not lie In the mouths Of our sdversaries
10 condemn il upon any such grounds.
The bill properly strikes blow at pa
ternslism by a6rogating the vicious
system OF bounties TO producers OF
sugar provided for in the Mckinley
law. The true American doctriRs is
that every mans business should stand
unaided by governmental favors ex-
tended by bounties paid from common
treasury.
The elimination OF sugar bounties
saves 10 the American people nearly
SIS, 900, 600 annually. II II be said That
the new law in any respect is unduly
favorable TO one particular trust, my
answer is that the old law favored a
dozen trusts where this may favor one.
nj a
feet answer TO Republican critics is
that the very tariff duty complained OF
was reduced more than one-hSlt from
what was contained in the Mckinley
law. I speak for this law-unsatisfac-
tory though il may be to me in some
respects because of the objections
which I urged in the Senate, which it
is not advisable or necessary 10 reiterate
the patient consideration for fair
trial, to which In common fairness IL is
entitled. The country should under
stand that another general or extensive |
tariff revision Is NOS contemplated by
the Democratic party in the near fu-
ture.
This determination, however, does |
not preclude the desirabilitv OF redeem |
ing, by the passage OF separate bills, !
whatever pledges we have made In our |
platform, or otherwise, for free raw |
materials or the readjustment OF any |
Objectionable sugar schedule. Beyond /
this il is not wise to go much farther az !
this time unless the unforeseen neCessI- |
ties Of the treasury or the changed !
condition of the country shall warrant /
or imperatively demand it.
This is believed 20 be the true path |
10 pursue and the correct position TO |
assume at this critical juncture OF pub
lie affairs. OF course much must neces-
sarly be left-prOperiy and safely lett
to the wise discretion OF Congress, |
the efforts Of whose patriotic members
should De subserve the public good
and 10 promote the general welfare.
The country now wants and expects
industrial peace-relief from frequent
tariff changes, which so seriously affect
It's business interests and reasonable
permauency in officials. The Demo-
cratic party will not disappoint the peO-
pie in these reasonable expectations
and desires. The people will not toler-
ate any attempt at a restoration Of the
law. Let our Republican
friends present the issue II they have
the courage and recklessness so 10 do.
We shall be content. 1t is 8 most sig
nificant fact that during the whole tariff
debate in Congress not single Repub-
.ican offered or pressed the Mckinley
bill as a substitute Cor the Democratic
bill l venture the prediction that not
} single Republican statesmen, aside
rom Mr.. Mckinley himself, will ven
.ure on the stump this year to propose
)r advocate the reinstatement OF that