Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-01-11
CARNEGIE ON THE TARIFF
He Says Pass the Wilson Bill and
Do 1t Now.


Would Rather iiavo Modcrat, Demo-
cratic Tariff Than n High Republican
TarlG
The following letter from Andrew
Carnegie appears in Mondays New York
Tribune:
Upon the eve OF sailing should like
to say a few words TO my lellow.mlnu.
facturers upon the position Of the tarih
question.
confess that had some hopes that
President Cleveland, with his usual
good Judgment, would realize the situa
ton and decide that, owing to existing
conditions, tho nation, us patient, Is
not in condition TO undergo a surgical
operation, even from the point of view
Of those who think that an operation Is
required for its permanent health. Thl'
mas not been done, and the patient is to
be operated upon Immediately.
Whatever difference of opinion may
exist as to the wisdom of this decision,
all will agree that "It 'twere done, when
It's done, then 'twere well that twere
done quickly" Every days delay will
alarm and exhaust the patient Six
months discussion of the Wilson bill,
with its varying fortunes, means six
mouths of stagnation in business, and
perhaps such brood Of failures as we
have not yet seen.
Rather than encounter this | believe
the Democratic party would make
reasonable notifications in the Wilson
bill. There are quite enough Demo.
cratic Senators who would unite with
the Republicans upon the platform Of
moderate concessions, and the danger to
the peace of the country, in my opinion,
lies chiefly in the fact that some Repub-
lican Senators may refuse to cooperate
with these. The question with some will
naturally be: Is it good party policy?
do not assume to speak for the
manufacturers of the United States, but
know speak for some of them when
respectfully urge that it would be in
finitely better to have u moderately salts
factory tariff bill passed by the Demo-
cratic party than even more satisfac-
tory bill passed by the Republican
party.
1t must be acknowledged that large
number of the people have been led to
believe that the present tariff is unjust;
that il favors the few at the expense OF
the many. Employers and employed
have been set at variance, and much i'll
| feeling has been aroused. 1t is not a
| sufficient answer to say that this dis
satisfaction is groundless. 1t is sufficient
that il exists; and what / wish to admit
to my brother manufacturers is that the
| first consideration should be the total
obliterution of this dissatisfaction. Is il
not far better for manufacturers, as q
class, to have the party which has opposed
the present tariff frame a tariff which
| shall pass as just to all interests, and
for which it is responsibility Should the
Democratic party pass a tariff bill, il
will be its own work, and it will be
estopped from attacking it as made fol
the few and not for the general interest!
OF the nation. The question would b.
removed from politics for many years
The party who made IL could not attach
it, aud the other party would have NJ
disposition to do so.
submit that it is far better to Obtain
a modern Democratic tariff bill, secur
ing us stability and permanence salts
factory to all, rather than high pro
tective bill passed by the Republican
party, and certain TO be the object o
continual political attack. We all knoy
that uncertainty in regard to impor
duties is ruinous to our interests.
Partsanship is all very well, bu
when the question before us, as we al
believe, involves the prosperity of on
country, no supposed party advantage
should be allowed 10 prevent settle
ment, which, If not all that could be de
sired, would yet be most desirable undo
the circumstances.
am not without grounds for beliey
ing that it is in the power Of the Repub
licaRs in the Senate TO obtain the neces
sary notifications required in til
Wilson bill to make it one such as GU
industrial system can adapt itself tC
and prosper under. The position tina
the Republican party took as 10 its dut,
10 support President Cleveland's silve
policy believe to be its duty to take il
regard to the tariff.
What seems most desirable in the in
terests Of manufacturers of the Unitet
States is that tariff bill should b
passed by the Democratic party, ant
thereby, that the suspicion that even ON
"robber tariff baron" exists in the broa
domain of the republic cannot renal
in the mind of the most ignorant cit
zen. ] for one am quite ready to accer
greatly reduced dutie3-judiciuusl
framed-to accomplish this result.
Yours very truly,
} ANDREW CARNEGIE.