The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-05-12
Protection Should BE Master.
Brooklyn Time

/
When the Republican party starts ont Il
frame tariff bill IL is simply guide,
| by its policy OF protection. 1t gives L
every industry. in the country the rate o
protection that will enable it to compel,
in the home market with goods made il
Europe by underpaid labor. There are no fire.,
trade Republican Representatives or Senators
who need To be psciicd by the insertion of 4
free trade schedule here and there. The party
stands as a unit. Justice TO the American
laborer and manufacturer is all that /,
sodght
When tho Democratic party starts out 10
frame a tariff bill. difficulties spring nm
that are almost insurmountable. Its mem
bcrs are not united as to belief in the
soundness OF any one policy. Some are
bald free traders. Some are lukewarm pro-
tectionists Some are high protectionists.
The Wilson bill has passed through four
stages, each of which has sought TO satisfy
one of these three classes. Tie change
has generally resulted each time in gaining
the vote of one, only to lose the vote of
another. When the bill first made its an.
pearance, ii reduced the protective duties
on many. Northern articles In the manufac
ture of which large capital Is applied I'm the
North. Senator Mills and his coterie of
southern free traders were delighted. Sem
ators Hill, Smith and other Northern DEM
ocrats became greatly excited and threatened
determined opposition. Then several of
the powerful trusts put in their protests
and demanded that the duties be raised.
The duties have been accordingly raised
and tho support OF the Northern Senator'S
IL is claimed, has been restored TO the hill
But what does the Democratic party experi-
ence as a result? Mills and his followirg @ arc
beginning TO grumbie because their visions NJ
free trade begin to vanish. When schedule
is raised, Southern heart sinks with desp,ir.
when schedule is lowered, a Northern heart
sinks with despair.
All this serves to teach the nation that De.
has no settled opinion on the tariff
question. None OF its policies is defini,o.
Each Is negative OF what exists in
legislation. II has dominant majority
within the party that wants free trade nure
and simple. and that forced such n policy
on the party at Chicago. With the free trade
as its foundation it Is trying to re-
'oncile all It's discordant elements and draw
up the result In the form of tariff bill. The
ask Is herculean.
'"is 'e'Hh hsn. Una, is going on In the /
senate should show condition that Is not |
ufhcienuy well recoeyjzed. That the Repub- |
leans are not In control OF Congress IL
Iuite evident. That the Democrats arc tho
masters Is not true. The fact is that neither
'arty has the mastery. The mastery H.
eally held by protectionists, and were
hey only united the death OF the Wilson
Ill would be assured. The Republicans
re all protectionists. The Northern Dem
erats are nearly all protectionists and
'ere elected ms such. To gain victory North.
rn Democrats repudiated the free trade
lank OF their party's platform. protectlon
olds the mastery of the Senate, ana were ,ts
'ldiers united the forces OF free trade would
rswept from the field.