New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-01-17
AMENDMENT NOT PRACTICABLE.


What is called debate in the House has
ceased What is called amendment Of the Tar
if bill begins. but under such rulings that no
amendment can be voted upon without the con-
sent of the Democrats of the committee by
which the bill framed II is plainly intend
ed that Republicans should have no part nor
lot in this business. and it is better for them
and for the country that they have none. The
less they make themselves responsible for any
line or clause of this bill the less will their
political comfort and their sense OF duty To the
country be disturbed in time to come. 1t Is
not for them 10 say whether the Democratic
party shall so fix its partisan measure as to
spare this one or that out Of several hundred
industries, in order that this district or that
NAV be more easily cheated by Democratic
Free Trader processing to be a Protectionist.
Bad rs the bill is. it contains scores of utterly
inconsistent provisions which have no other
purpose than to defer the slaughter of some In
dustries in order to retain a chance for some
Democratic member When Mr.. HancS, of the
Troy district told the committee that he would
vote for the bill if they would so change it as
TO retain the Mckinley duty on collars and
cuffs he showed how he and other Democrats
desire to befool Northern voters next year.
If the local-issue patriots can get their own
party to help them, it will deserve whatever
credit belongs TO an attempt to deceive dis
trict by sacrificing a principle. But If THIS
change or that Is made by the aid OF RepuD-
lcan votes In the House the Democratic party
will steal credit which does not belong to it..
The last election doubtless convinced Democrats
that they would have to change their bill In
many particulars in order TO retain any North
ern members OF Congress to speak Of and the
country is prepared TO see them consent TO the
robbery" they dcnounce, provided they can
share in the pork " in numerous cases. But
it would be well to just how far the Demo
cratic party will go. even when impcllcd by
mortal fear, in the direction of sparing home
industries. There Is no need for Republicans
10 show what they desire. about this or that
provisions; the present tariff speaks for them
| 1t is hoped by many Democrats that the
| House will cut out of the bill some OF the
clauses which threaten with destruction or dis
aster the most important industries, or at least
will so alter them that they may do less harm.
But the position and purposes OF the party
have been made so plain, as respects industries
Of the first importance, by declarations before
| the people and also by votes already passed,
! that there is little ground for such hope. few
| Democrats, no doubt. will vote against the re-
| mOyal of duties on coal, iron ore or wool, but
not enough. it is probable, TO change the bill
! even if Republicans were to vote with them.
| The Democratic miners and wool growers are
! entitled to their share Of the great Objectlcsso
| for which they voted so zealously. and they are
not likely to be deprived Of it.
Behind all the conrivance and dlckcring
about particular clauses and districts there
abides the fact, which Democrats cannot escape
| If they would, that the measure must injure
and depress the industries Of the country as a
whole, and therefore must inevitably injure
even those Industries or districts which Ii most
tries to spare. The rice growers Of South Caro-
lima and the sumach producers of Virginia are
objects of Democratic favaritsm, but would
| inevitably share the loss which must bcfall all
industries when the closing of many mills and
the enforced idlenesS of many thousand work
ers diminish the consumption Of all articles.
Nobody will have as much demand for his
products, with millions Of men seeking work in
vain, as he would have enjoyed with all the
labor Of the country well employed. Thus it is
the measure as n whole which will bring down
rctribution upon. those who pass it, and not
this or that clause OF it, however cuuningly
devised