New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-05-29
An OBVTOUS REMEDY SPURNED.

| An OBVIOUS REMEDY SPCRNED.
The most remarkable feature of the present
deplorable business situation is that remedy
for it lies right at hand, under cverybody's face
and eyes. with no prospect of its being used
| 1t is now well known that the diagnosis of the
| Democratic fnancicrs and political economists
at the beginning Of the Cleveland Administra
ticn which attributed business depression and
| financial disturbance to the operation Of the
| Silver Purchase law and prescribed the repeal
| of that provision as Il sure cure. was entirely
| erroneous The law has been repealed in
| compliance with Mr.. Cleycland's prescription,
though Republican votes were necessary 10
carry il through a special session of n Demo
cratic Congress called for that sole purpose
| Instead Of revival Of business the conditions
| have been daily growing worse, until now they
are so dlscouraging that 1t is thought necessary
to hold public meetings in all our large cities
10 bring pressure from the people TO bear upon
Congress to hasten legislation Of some sort.
"Of some Sort That is the cry. Everywhere
the people are saying: why doesn't Congress
do something anything-to relieve the uncer-
tainty and start the wheels Of enterprise? No
matter what it does; 1t ought 10 do something
to end the suspense, than which nothing can
be worse" 1t is the cry OF desperation: OF n
measure by the fact that all thcir business in.
teres,s are in the hands Of men not only lncom-
petcnt to handle them skilfully but unable 10
let them alone. With this situation confronting
Congress there is as we have said, n simple
remedy at hand, one which every member
knows would be efiicacious If applied; and the
party In control does not dare resort 10 II. be-
cause TO do so would be n confession Of fall
bility and weakness.
What is the remedy? Ask any business man,
manufacturer tradesman. banker or broker,
Democrat or Republican. what the effect would
be If the party in control Of the Senate should
within the next twcnty-four hours signify
purpose TO drop the Tariff bill upon which they
are wasting so much time and energy and
temper In vain endeavors TO harmonic, and
proceed to the consideration OF other pending
measures. Or what would be the effect II the
majority In the Senate should simply vote to
postpone further consideration Of the bill until
next December? Not one business man in ten
thousand would hesitate a moment 10 say that.
in his Judgment, such action would be followed
| by revival Of confidence everywhere which
| in few days would set wheels and spindles
| In motion in silent mills kindle fires in dead
furnaces and FORCES. start again the prosperous
music OF hammer and anvil, put new life into
all the currents Of trade and commerce and
| change the whole aspect OF affairs. Candid
| Free Traders md revenue reformcrs will make
| the admission, though perhaps reluctantly. that
| the effect of n cessation or suspension Of the
| tariff agitation In Congress would be n speedy
revival in business Why Is It not done? Sim
| ply because the Democratic party now in con-
troll of Congress has committed itself to certain
notions Of tariff reform. and Is obstinatcly bent
on the experiment Of putting them In practice
at whatever cost 10 the country. The leaders
who have made hobby Of tariff reform, and
are no doubt sincere IN their belief that tariff
| for revenue only will eventually promote the
general welfare, are welded to their theories,
and having now. as they think, the opportunity,
which may never come again, TO put them In
practice, are determined not to lose 1t, what
ever may be the temporary distress II Occa-
siOns. They admit that the treatment Is drastic,
but insist that at some time In the remote
future 1t will prove to be the true economic
policy and the best thing for the country.
Meantime business is pretty nearly at n stand
still, awaiting the result Of the wrangling and
bargaining and dealing. out Of which something
is expected TO come that will furnish a definite
basis upon which for the next two three
years capital may be invested and labor en-
ployed No harm can come TO any one by the
postponement OF the tariff discussion until
after the Congressional elections next Novem-
Der. If the people are Of the same mind that
the Democratic leaders say they were at the
last election, and are DESTROYS OF repeal Of
the Mckinley law and the passage OF tariff
for revenue only. they will signify it by return
ing q Democratic majority Fortified by such
renewal Of confidence, the present Congress will
find fewer impediments TO carrying out the
popular will in December. And II will not be
long to wait. If, on the other hand, as is feared
the people signify by the election Of n Repub-
lican majority that they favor Protective in
stead Of Revenue tariff, the Democratic party
will not have 10 answer for the blunder OF
saddng unpopular legislation on the country
as their first important act after returning 10
power. All that anybody asks OF the party In
power is to postpone action upon this question
until the country can be polled and the will Of
the people ascertaincd. 1t is a reasonable re-
quest for only n few months delay. And 1t is
strengthened by the undeniabe fact that II
granted Ii will have most beneficial effect
upon the business interests Of the whole coun-
try and the welfare Of the whole people. To
pursue the present purpose In obstinate disre-
gard Of these considerations is more than a
blunder; 1t Is a political crime The party In
power is confronted by most distressing sit
uation, for which the remedy is simple and
obvious. 1t consists merely in assuring the
people that during the next six months 1t will
refrain from trying experiments. No possible