The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1894-08-21
COMMENTS ON THE NEW TARIFF.

senator walsh Says that il is n Great
Advance on the Mckinley Law, and
is the Best that Could be Obtained
Under the Circumstances.
Senator Patrick Walsh. of Georgia.
has commented as follows upon the
tariff legislation
1.-The Senate bill is essentially
compromise measure. Itrepresents the
best that could be attained during the
present session and the attainable
should always be accepted by conserva-
tive mon in matters of legislation.
This bill is such an Improvement on
the Mckinley law that there ought to
be no question among tariff rcformcrs
as to its beneficial effect upon the busi-
ness interests of the country.
"Thc Senate bill is Il long step in
the direction of the removal of pro-
tective duties. 1t is the Begin
reform. 1t is Il compliance with the
spirit of the pledges of the Democratic
party and the contest will go on until
the letter is also fulfilled. No Demo
crat should fail to accept the Senate
bill us the very best thing in tho shape
of tariff legislation that could be OBJ
tanned from the Senate as at present
constituted. With the parties so even
ly divided in the Senate ! rejoice that
even such substantial progress should
have been made in the reduction of
duties and the removal Of commercial
restrictions.
Had tho Democrats been united it
was possible that the Republicans
could have iilibustered indefinitely
and thus have prevented tariff lcgisla-
tion during the present session. In
place Of damning the Senate bill with
faint praise. and bringing it into
ridicule aud contempt. the Democratic
press should use its influence to create
just public opinion as to the real
merits of the Senate bill. When prop
erly presented as the best measure of
tariff reform attainable the conserva-
tive sentiment of the country will set
tie down to the conviction that very
substantial progress has been made in
the direction Of real tariff reform and
free trade among the nations.
"Those who have been denouncng
the Senate bill as McKinlcyism in a
modified form should bear inmind that
it was impossible for the Democratic
majority to do otherwise than adopt II
compromise measure. Great reforms
are not accomplished in day Pro-
lection has been in existence for thirty
three years and it will take time to re-
| move it. The tree has been Topped Of
it's branches and limbs. The trunk and
| the roots will be cut down and uproot
ed before the Administration Of lresi-
| dent Cleveland draws to II close. The
Democratic Congress reports substanti-
| al progress and will ask the people for.
leave to sit again. The Democratic
| party will go before the country on tho
record it has made, and it is confident
| ly believed that it will be triumphant-
| ly endorsed by the popular verdict at
the polls in the election this fall for
members of Congress"
Governor Tillman, in an interview at
the solicitation of the Now York Her
aid. gave the following views on the
tartil question:
| 1.-The settlement of the tariff Qucs-
tion by the passage Of the amended
| Wilson bill must necessarily prove
beneficial to business, as manufactures
now have basis of action and the
state Of uncertainty no longer exists.
But the disease which is sappng the
life blood of the country and is the
cause of the stagnatiOn and widespread
business depression is our iniquitous
financial system. Tariff tinkcring up
or down, McKinlcyism accentuatcd, or
free trade, neither will relieve the dis
| ease.
|
producers cannot prosper while we
have 30 cents wheat and Scents cotton.
Tho farmers are simply too poor to buy
the products of the manufacturers, and
they represent 30, 600. 900 of our people,
onc-half OF the Eoasted home market.
"The war on silver, the contraction
of the currency and the congestion OF
money at the business centres, its i'm
proper distribution and manipulation
under our banking system-thcsc arc
the blights which must he removed
or changed before there will be any re-
turr of general prosperity. From Il
political standpoint Clcvcland's boss
ism has met a stinging defeat, while
the Democratic party is in the throes
of political dissolution. / would say ii
had committed hari-kari were there
not indubitable proofs of it having
eben assassinated by Mr.. Cleveland
and other trusted leaders.
"The bluster in the letter to Chair
man Wilson and the plea for an ad
herence to party honor and pledges
were refreshing after the President
had by every enginery of his great
Office destroyed the morale of the
Democratic army by securing its de-
feat through the instrumentality O.
the traitors Yhom he led to Join forces