New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-02-14
IMPORTANT ADMISSIONS.

Mr. Croker has many faults, but inability 10
SEQ the facts when public opinion turns resist
losslv against him and his party is not one or
them In an interview at ST. Augustine, Fla.
Mr. Croker stated on Sunday that it was " I'M
fortunate that Democratic Congressman are
not allowed To vote for Protection when
noccssdrv TO the interests of their dis
tricts" This is an admission That 'hey
are not allowed to vote, ana ihat
districts which elect Democratic members OF
Congress in future must do so knowing mat
they are to be mere tools of Il party caucus coll
trolled by the South, and compelled To vote
AGAINST the interests of the district they repre-
sent A more important admission, from 'he
undisputcd master of the Democratic party In
the greatest Democratic city Of the land, can
not well he conceived.
Mr. Croker went on to say that he reared
that free wool would cause serious damage 10
many poor farmers in New-Iork. and That free
sugar would lose Louisiana to the Democratic
Marty He declared his belief that every
American industry should be moderately pro-
tcctcd" and while he thought the present 'ariir
too severe" he said that If 1t were possible
for the Republicans to pare down the
Mckinley bill to Il moderate basis they would
carry future elections and be hard to disiodge.
Coming from the master or the democratic
party in this great importing city this Is most
remarkable testimony to the popularity ana
strength of the Republican tariff. Mr.. croker
idea that the present tariff Is too severe was
doubtless that Of many voters In lS9o, ana OF
some in 1892. but experience under It's opera
tions has greatly modified their >views. me
elections last fall showed that n multitude OF
voters had changed their minds. ana had
learned from experience that while the NC
Kinley tariff gave them goods generally cheap
er than they had ever known. If 1t made few
somewhat dearcr. it also secured FOR them DETER
wages and better employment than they couiu
expect if that tariff were replaced by the Demo-
cratic partisan measure now pending.
The people are learning from experience Mr..
Croker will find it difficult TO name prices or
protected goods which have been rendered
higher by the Mckinley tariff. The people
know that prices Of such products were on the
whole lower in October. 1892 than they had
been under any tariff whatever. This fact
should suffice to convince Il man as shrcwd as
Mr. Croker that the tariff is not in fact I" too
severe or severe at all, as respects lis erect
upon the cost of products to consumers. III his
mind once grasps this fact. and couples IL WIN
the one that he has admitted that the protcc-
ton Of the needs Of different industries ana
districts has become an imperative necessity, he
will not be slow TO conclude that the present
policy Of the Democratic party Is doomed To
defeat, and tllt the Republican party VIII not
! ONLY carry future elections and he found hard
| 10 dislodge, but will control the dcstincs of
the country as long as British Free Trade con-
tinues to threaten American industries.
| This statement by Mr.. Croker was not given
out at this time without n serious purpose III
IS a warning TO Democratic Congressman who
look to his leadership for the success OF their
partv. Without the enormous ajorities which
| Mr.. Cookers organization has obtained in times
past for the Democratic party in this city and
ncighborhood the electoral votes Of NcwYork,
New.Jerscy and Connecticut would be forever
denied to Democrats. and the chance Of getting
a majority in Congress would be extremely slcn
der 1t is plainly the intention of the New York
| leader to warn the Democrats that he and his
organization can no longer promise majoritics
even in strongholds like the NINth District, II
the party persists in its present policy Whether
such warning will have any influence upon
! the votes Of Senators from this and other
| States. or whether they, like the Represent
atves, will be forced by Democratic discipline
to vote against the vital interests OF the people
| they represent, remains to be seen. But the
| warning Of the NewYOrk leader is at least as
surance to Senators and Representatives that
If they rebel against party dictation on this
issue, they will not be considered unworthy OF
| his confidence and aid.