Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-09-13

the protected manufacturers are not
readily yielded up. They will give them
up only after bitter fight, in which
will be exhausted all the resources of
wealth and intelligence. They would
not see their advantages over labor
given up, and in this tariff reform battle
were easily able to bring to their
aid all the forces and resorces which
belonged to the existing order Of things
and which were created by existing con
ditions.
"Ihe protective policy has created a
privileged class, aud when the power
and self.given prerogatiyes of this class
were imperiled, all the wealth and all
that wealth can buy, the acute intelli-
gence and the power of the manufac-
turcr were brought to bear, that the
special privileges might be perpetuated.
These were the conditions that justly
challenged the attention of the people
and of the Democratic party and made
necessary reform of legislation with
respect to protection and change in
the attitude of the government of the
United States toward the protected class
interests.
"But in formulating q correction
measure it was found and deemed but
Just that something should be conceded
to the manufacturer and to the pro-
tected investor, that they and the work
ingmen in their employ might not feel
too severely tho temporary disturbance
of business, and that they might adjust
themselves to the more just and equita-
BILE business conditions sure to follow.
So that wise craftsmanship considered
it best to act cautiously in changing the
existing condition of things, to which
the effects of too radical change might
prove disastrous.
"rhe friends of reform have had a
hard fight. In the first place we have
had to contend against Senator Hills
| hostility TO the misunderstood income
tax. In the second place we have felt
the want Of rules in the Seuate by
which the majority could control its
| own affairs and expedite the business
which the people entrusted to it to per-
| form.
"All these" continued the Senator,
somewhat bitterly, "have conspired 10
complicated the situation. Yet in spite
of all in spite of Misrepresentation, OF
being misunderstood, the courage of the
tuTlll IelOTlnerS uuS NOT 1Hll6u lIell
nor have they faltered in their work,
but have accomplished their task in the
face of bitter opposition and in the
manner that they deemed best and
! wisest for the people.
"What has been accomplished is q
long and substantial step in the righ'
direction. A step in the right direction
has been taken" repeated the Delaware
statesman, "and it is the first step tina
counts and costs. Other steps must fol
low from the very nature Of things.
81 realize" he concluded, that the
impatience with which the tariff reform
ers have viewed the slow action wa:
natural. But if they will but consider
the causes of the delay they will bt
more lenient in their view. The made
quate rules, the opposition from within
the ranks, the very small majority
these and other reasons served to max,
the work Of the tariff reformers mos
hard one. But when the people retlec
on these things, when they study tn
r causes of the long delay they Will b
: more charitable towards those in til
Senate who, surrounded by dangers an,
beset by what seemed to be almost in
3 superable difficulties, endeayored to &C
: results with the means at hand best
t subserve the true interests Of til
people"