Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-05-28
TACTICS OF THE TARIFF SPOILERS.

Philadelphia Record.
The spirit OF the Republican enemies
OF tariff revision is expressed by Senator
Aldrich in his declaration OF Monday
that he would vote for anything II he
could thereby defeat the present meas
ure. In the opinion of these Republican
statesmen the Mckinley tariff is so per-
feet a model Of legislative wisdom that
it needs no amendment. They are re-
solved to defeat any revision OF the
tariff, not merely for the sake OF the
trusts and monopolies, but to throw
upon the Democrats the odium of fail
ure. In this spirit they oppose the
sugar schedule of the Senate bill.
While denouncing it truthfully enough
as framed. They support the McKln-
ley act, which is much more favorable
to this monopoly. The only thing that
is wanting in the position of Senator
Aldrich and his Republican associates
is an open confession that they are in
the service Of monopoly and that on
this ground they are opposed to any
and every revision of the tariff. In
view of the daily evidences Of this fact
such confession would be entirely un-
necessary.
. Yet in spite Of the attitude OF these
Senators there are many Republicans
who at heart favor revision OF the tar
iff. All through New England there
are Republicans who would gladly wit
ness the admission Of both wool and
coal to the free list. In Eastern Penn
sylvauia Republican manufacturers OF
steel have favored free iron II it could
be only made free by Democratic votes in
Congress without their cooperation. In
the want OF free ore they will cheerfully
accept the reduction OF duty to 40 cents
a ton as the next best thing. They will
then applaud Senator Aldrich and
Senator Quay for having opposed this
reduction of duty, and abuse the Demo-
Gratis for bringing ruin" on the steel
industries OF the country. All OF which
goes show that there is good deal
more Of party than business mixed with
the opposition to tariff revision.
As further step in the proof as to
the Republican attitude on this ques-
ton it will be remember that in the
platform of 1855 they soIemnly declared
for a revision of the tariff. This con-
cession was necessary in order to con-
ciiate Illinois, Minnesota, Kansas and
other Western States. Without it
they could not have elected harrison
Republican majority in Congress. They
then abused the confidence reposed in
them by enactiug the Mckinley tariff.
Will it be pretended that this gigantic
scheme of monopolistic spoliation was
adopted in the spirit of the Republican
platform promise OF tariff revision in
1888? The answer is conveyed in the
elections Of 1890 and 1892.
Yet in defiance OF the overwhelming
evidence of public opinion and OF the
latent sentimentin the Republican party
In favor Of tariff revision, the RepubH-
can Senators resist every effort to make
the slightest reduction in the scale OF
duties. While they imagine that they
are promoting the interests OF party in
serving the fairfield monopoles they
are preparing for repetition Of the
popular demonstrations OF 1890 and
1892. Whether this reaction from the
tariff panic of 1898 shall come
this fall or two years hence may depend
upon the degree OF Republican resist
ance TO the present effort TO enforce the
popular will.