The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-01-07
Recommit the Wilson Bill.

| The only course consistent with states
manship, with political principle. and wi tn
| due regard for the safety OF the Demo-
cratic party. which the Democratic major
| ity in the House OF Representatives can
pursue toward the WILSON Tariff bill, is
forthwith to recommit the measure to the
| Committee on Ways and Means. with in
structions to prepare in its place the tariff
for revenue only demanded and pledged by
the Chicago platform.
| 1t Is also the only course consistent with
a patriotic. and even decent regard for the
moral and material welfare OF the people.
II this illogical. unjust. injurious. unconstl-
tutional. treacherous. and indefensibe bill
be allowed to remain before Congress, the
delay and uncertainty OF tariff legislation.
which are now paralyzinK all business and
industrial activity. will continue for many
months to come. II. when Congress
| adjourns, any tariff bill at all has been
passed, it will be measure which in none
OF its particulars and not even in its general
theory. can be foreseen and prepared for
| by the productive industry and the bust
ness enterprise of the Union.
In this whole WILSON tariff there is
scarcely schedule. scarcely an item
| which reasonable and sensible debate in
| Congress would not change. No interest
affected by it. and it affects all interests
whatsoever and every citizen. can now
prognosticate or even imagine what
its precise character would be after
| it had passed through that purging and re-
filming process. The protests against its
inefficiency aud inequality have only begun
to pour in on Congress. II it be suffered to
| remain there as a basis Of legislation. the
long. labOrlOus. minute. and judicial exam
ination necessary TO discover and determine
the particular. general. and relative effects
OF a protective tariff. must yet be CONT
through with. TO satisfy the ends OF Justice
TO every interest ii touches.
II the Democratic party violates its
pledges TO the people by imposing on them
an unconstitutional tariff it must be a Just
tariff on that forbidden theory. The DEM
ocratic party must never take away protec-
tiOn from the wool grower. the lumberman
the miners Of iron and coal. when it keeps
protection for the manufacturers OF prod
ucts using the materials Of their industry
II it gives protection. it must give protec-
tion all around; aud it must be fair and
sufficient protection. or it is OF no avail
IL the Democratic Congress were deter
mined TO betray the Democratic party and
outrage the Constitution by passing pro-
tectiye tariff, it would have no need of the
WILSON bill, That would be only in its
way, prolonging the ruinous uncertainty
which the introduction OF the measure has
caused. It would be better policy to take
the existing MCKINLEY tariff as the basis
for legislation. making in it only such
changes as are necessary to render it more
evenly protective. A new scheme OF pro-
lection is only embarrassing and conducive
10 dangerous delay The particular changes
in the present tariff demanded by business
could be made in a short time. Even il no
changes were made. and the whole subject
OF tariff legislation were dropped. the in
dustrial situation would be far better than