New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-08-17
TILE REPERLICIN lie ".

Republicans are charged with partiSanShip In
urging the President TO veto the Tariff bill. In
reality they arc practically Indifferent. So 1ar
as the Doltjcal effect of his action Is concerned
whether he signs or vctocs IT. If he signs it they
| will use his Wilson letter as Il campaign
| document in the fall elections, convict him OF
| inconsistency and cowardicc. and arraign the
! Democratic party on his testimony OF pcihdy
| and dishonor If he yetocs it they will point to
the collapse Of tariff legislation after two years
| Of turmoil as a signal proof Of Democratic inca
pacity and folly. Either Il craven surrender to
German and the Trusts righteous veto OF
an un-Democatc and corrupt measure will fur
nish a base for destructive Republican criticism
and aggressive operations against the party Ill
power in the autumn Whether the bill be
signed or vetoed, the Republicans will carry the
next Congressional elections by sweeping ma
jOrties. The President may damage his own
reputation irretrievably by sanctioning Dill
which he has denounced in nnmcasurcd terms.
He cannot rescue his party from defeat by com
promising with his own conscience
If Republicans exclude all considerations cX-
cept selfish partisan advantage, they will pre-
fer. on the whole to have the President sign the
bill. That will complete the humiliation and
disgrace Of Democracy. The Senate has bar
gained with the Trusts. surrendered 10 powerful
Hobbies and abandoned party pledges and prin-
ciples. The House has ratified this sordid and
cowardly compact and, Mr.. Wilson being the
witness. has been guilty of betrayng constitn-
tional trust in allowing the Senate 10 lcSlslatc
on the tariff. There Is nothing left Of Demo
cratic principles and policies except the Prcsi-
dents manly protest in the Wilson letter against
treason and dishonor. and his own reputation
for courage and consistency. If he signs the
bill or allows it to become a law without his
formal consent. nothing will remain Of the tariff
reform cause except fading Renaissance OF
Senator Hills vigorous fight for principle and
good faith The President will be A spent force
in American politics. The issue which he ere
ated will have become byword and Il rcproach.
Our Democratic friends have only to put them
selves In the place of Republicans and they will
understand this preference on party grounds for
the signing Of the bill The Administration as
well as the Democratic Congress will then hc
equally dscredtcd in the sight Of the people on
the eve Of the elections: and the German tariff
will remain in operation until the Presidential
elections. cnrichihg monoposts. stimulating for
eign industries and scaling down the earnings If
American workmen. Republicans could not
have better issue than this scandaous and
unpopular tariff. which Is rcpudatcd In advance
by tariff reformcrs and the Democratic party, !
and branded 10y the President as II betrayal Of
party pledges.
But Republicans. while they Will welcome on
party grounds the Presidents sanction Of the
bill as an act Of disqualification ana dishonor /
are capable of taking n patriotic ana common
sense view Of the situation. They believe that /
a veto will be the best thing that can happen /
for the industrial and commercial interests 81 /
the Nation the cause Of honest legislation ana |
the political fortunes and fame Of the President |
Democratic corruptionists in the Senate and /
craven fainthearts in the House have earned /
the rebuke which he alone can administer 10 |
them. The atmosphere OF public life would be
purified 10y statesmanlke veto on the lines |
of the Wilson letter.