New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-12-08
TALKING WITHOUT AUTHORITY.

Chairman Babcock, of the Republican Con-
gressiona Committee, is quoted rs saying that
the tariff of 1890 was not desired by one Re
publican out of five and was IN UNREASONABLE
imposition by manufacturers and that the couii-
try will not in any case 30 BACK 10 II. before
considering whether he is right or wrong he
NAV profitably reflect that he is furnishing wei
come ammunition to the Democrats, and that
no one officially representing the Republican
party in any capacity whatever has the slight
est authority for such statement. Up 10 date
the latest form of tariff framed and formally
approved by the Republican party as whole
whether in Congress or in convention. is the
act of 1890, and the party was victorious on
that issue in 1894. just as much as II was beat
en- on that issue in 1892 The Republican lead
ers may frame better. when they have
opportunity. but they have not selected a chair
man of their Congressional Committee to in
form them what they should do. or 10 tell the
country that their latest work was deserving
of censurc.
The tariff of 1890 is not fetch. TO be stupid
" worshppcd But it is the plain fact that II
gave the country greater prosperity on the
whole than has ever been known under any
other tariff and the man who ignores that fact
|
licans. The defects OF that measure may profit
ably be explained. and corrected when the OPP
portunity comes but this is not a time at all
events. TO say that it did not express the wishes
Of the party which resolved in its last National
convention that the prosperous condition 81
"our country was largely due To the wise reve
emo legislation Of the Republican Congress"
Whenever power comes from The people 10
"
proye on the act of 1890 as far as they can and
under the altered circumstances there Is 10
doubt that they will find some improvements
advisable But they will be fortunate II thcy
attain under new legislation greater prosperity
than came in 1892 as result OF the tlrn WHICH
Mr. Babcock would like 10 rcpudate
1t is n notion Of Mugwumps That they pun
ished the Republican party in 1899 for going too
FAR in the tariff Of 1890. and then punished HE
Democrats in 1894 for their errors in the pres
ent tariff The fly on the coachwheei always
has his own point Of view. Republicans do not
befool themselves with the notion that the pco-
nlc carry in their minds some ideal tariff which
neither party has yet attained. 1hcy p'heVe
that the half-milllon voters who supported Mr..
Cleveland in 1892 in Northern States between
the Atlantic and the Mississippi and who have
NOtPu lith''N III i'''' "'''
by practical experience that the departure from
the Republican policy has brought them grave
disaster. Men who know this best must also
know that the falseboods and the preJndlces
which influenced mutitudes in 1897 have been
dispersed TO a surprising extent by experience.
, Exactly what the people want IL not now the
question: 10y their votes a Democratic Ircsl-
dent is still in office But they plainly prefer a
return to the Republican policy as whole IN
Mace Of the policy Democrats have developed.
II Is lust as well to quit the notion that the
| American people meant I'm 1894 exactly what
they meant i'm 1892 The change operated
nightly and he is dolt who does not see II.
Whatever the verdict Of 1892 meant. we may
be entirely sure that the verdict OF 1874 means
not only something different. but on the whole
something directly opposite The people nave
tried Democracy and do not like H. Their dis
| tinct change Of purpose not necessarily a
demand for a return to exactly the act or lS'o'
| but II did plainly declare for the principles OF
that measure against the principles OF the latest
| Democratic tariff 1t will he for Republican
statesmen hereafter to put into form the enact
ment which may best express the decision 10
which certain years Of disaster have forced the
| people but il Is not precisely Mr. BabcocK
| mission i'm the world to inform the Republican
party what it ought to do or 20 inform It's al
versaries that It bundered in 1890.