The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-11-14
The Future of the Tariff.


The expected has happened. Be-
cause The Tribune, one day after it
knew to a certainty that Republican
control of congress was to be restored,
frankly admitted that those Republi-
cans who expected radical tariff tinker
ing in an opposite direction from that
of the Democracy which the country
so Indignantly repudiated would be
doomed to disappointment, DEM
ocratic local organ chirrups forth the
assertion that this journal has reversed
itself. OF course, it has done nothing
of the sort, and nobody knows this bet
ter than the Democratic local organ.
If the Democrats had stopped at the
amended Wilson bill, bad as it was,
scandalous as was the history of its en-
actment and 'perfidious and dishonor-
able" as were the circumstances attend
ing its consummation, it is reasonable
to suppose that they would have Jared
decidedly better than they did fare,
one week ago. To be sure, they
would still have reeked of incompe-
tence and smacked loudly of demon
strated incapacity to govern. But they
would at least have enjoyed the tacti-
cal advantage of offering to the coun-
try, after much turmoil and travail an
economic finality-a basis upon which
unsettled business could establish its
readjustments. Instead of this, they
foolishly faced the nation with threats
of new disturbance and with deliberate
promises of prolonged warfare and sus-
pense, until in sheer desperation the
goaded business instincts of the Ameri
can people revolted with indignant pro-
test and buried the warriors Of agita
ton almost to man.
1t was and is a cardinal principle in
Republicanism's creed that the welfare
of the people should at all times be su-
perior to the trial of u theory or the
fate of a particular bill. 1t promised
American business interests that the
crusade which meant their undoing
should give way to stability and peace.
1t is prepared to redeem that pledge.
But the Mckinley bill today is only a
memory. It's principle survives, with
increased luster and power; but it's
demonstrated errors of detail belong
to the irreclaimable past. In strict ac-
cordance with this view, which is
shared alike by Thomas B. Reed, rep
resenting the extreme East, and Sena-
tor Allison of Iowa, who may be as
sumed fifty to typify the West, comes
the following significant expression
from the Nestor of the American sem
ate, John Sherman, of Ohio:
l do not regard the present result as an
Endorsement of the Mckinley bill or de-
mand on the part of the people for rad
ical tariff legislation. There will
undoubtedly be some members who will
regard 1t as such, but / hardly believe the
party will enter into any extreme legis-
lation of this kind. OF course they can
not do 1t during the next session of con-
gress, because the president would not
allow anything of that nature to become
law, and the effort would prove fruitless.
l would not favor any great increase of
| duties. On the stump in the campaign
| said very plainly that i was a moderate
protectionist, and wanted only such duties
as would insure q fair rate of wages for
| the workingmen of this country. Some
| protectonists would have foreign goods
| absolutely excluded by high tariff.
| do not believe in this, as it would give a
monopoly to our home manufacturers
and bring on contests between capital
and labor. l believe in so placing the du-
ties as to allow healthy competition. If
| l should see that any duty was making a
monopoly l would take that duty off.
This is the voice of prudent and sober
Republicanism. 1t is in line with the
| original principles of the party and ii
points the only safe way to the con-
tinued confidence of the American peo-
pie. America was not made for a pro-
tective tariff. A protective tariff was
made for America; and it must be sc
framed that it can be conservatively
modified from time to time, as condi-
tions change, without bringing upon the
nation intermittent panics like that
| WHICH mas just SlSldllZeu DelHOCTaCy
unhalowed effort to fit America to its
impossible free trade theory. Republi.
canism is nothing if not expansive
nothing if not flexible, nothing If not
progressive. The men who never Learn
and never forget should honor some
other organization with their embar.
RAISING presence. Up-to-date Republic
canism Is prepared to sit down heavily
on the extremists and chevaliers who
try to practice Bourbonism inside Its
battle lines.