The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-05-19
Grover Cleveland and the Tariff
Fight.

ADMINISTRATION III fSsp6Ct 10 tuo pio-
gress of the tariff struggle in the
Senate. So far as Gan be judged, not
La particle of pressure has been
brought to zeal upon Senators to
vote for the bill. The President goes
fishing. Dan Lamont covertiy gives
aid and comfort to the protectionists
and the rest of the Cabinet attends to
routine business and let's the great
fight take care OF itself.
More than one observant critic has
drawn a lively contrast between this
state of affairs and the activity that
was shown in the fight for uncon-
ditional repeal of the silver purchase
e~nactlnents. In that fight, the Presi-
dent took a firm stand. He refused
to reeede from it in the smallest de-
gree. He served notice on democrats
and republicans alike that his views
must prevail, and he managed to
make those who were inclined TO
oppose him see that it would do them
much harm and no sort of good to
stand in opposition to the g~reatleader
and head of the Democratic regime.
Much was expected of President
Cleveland in the silver matter. The
great majority of the people expected
him to act just as he did. He was
called on by his entire record, by all
his principles. by the confidence
which the thinking public reposed in
him to act just as he did. But if he
was under strong obligations in that
regard, how much stronger is his re-
sponsibility in respect to tariff re-
form?<
If forever Cleveland stands for any
one thing in public policy it is for a
reduction of the burdens on trade, for
a reimbursement of the burden of taxa
ton in the interest of the consumer
primarily, and s~econdarily in that OF
our farmers who need broader foreign
markets for their produce. 1t is true
that the Democracy preached tariff
reform before Grover Cleveland be-
came its acknowledged chief; but the
u had a new birth from the date
of his great tariff message, and since
that epoch tariff reform has come to
the very front place as the cardinal
and typical party doctrine, thus TAX
ing the place of other issues which
had become worn out or of second
rate Importance. In the last Presi-
Dental election, the tariff issue al
most suberdinated all others 1t was
c~ertaialy the most prominent one in
the public mind. Above all it was
the phase of the fight which was most
closely identified by the voters with
Mr.. Cleveland's personality. and it
wa the special mission which every
enc considered he was entering the
White House to perform.
1t is natural, therefore, thatNpeople
should wonder why the President
holds aloof, now that the struggle is
in progress and at its critical period.
The curse pursued in the silver fight
shows that the Inactivity is not the
result of principle. On occasion, the
President is willing to influence legis-
lation TO the full extent OF his power.
Then, what is the meaning of the
situation?
We incline to think that the Presi-
dent has in contemplation a great and
decided coup. We incline to think
that, if the Tariff bill passes in any
such abortive shape as now seems
probable, ne will veto it, and in doing
so call down the vengeance of the peo-
pie upon such traitors to the Demo-
cratic cause as David B. Hill, Arthur
Pew German, Calvin s. Brice and
James Smith, Jr., whose personal
prejudices and selfish interests have
been gratified until the party has been
brought to the verge of ruin and the
prosperity of the entire country re-
tarded by entire years. It is by no
means out of keeping with the char
acter and history of the President that
he should exercise a policy OF sever
reserve until the moment came for q
masrer stroke. When the weak and
the wicked have combined to impose
upon the people a reform bill which
hardly creates even the shadow OF re-
form, he may see the way to realizing
the party pledges by exposing and de-
molishing the sham. and then holding
Congress In session all summer, II
necessary, to enact a bill embodying
the well-established Democratic ideas
of free raw materials and proportion
ately dimished duties upon manufac-
tured products.
If we suspected President Cleveland
of e~ntertaing such . design as this for
his own personal g~loriacation, we
would consider it far below the stand
ard Of his life. and we would deeply
lament his position. But in truth,
this may be the only course through
which he can accomplish any con-
siderable result. There is no basis on
which the President could enter
into a compromise ordeal with David
d. Hill. Open warts the only pos
sible relation between them. and