St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-05-31
LET'S HAVE SOMETHING.
Gen. johnson Wants Some Sort
of \ Tariff.

Gen. johnson Wants Some Sort
of n Tariff.
To the Editor of the Globe.
Nero tddled while Rome was burn
ing" and our congress. initiating his
lllustriOus example, is tiddling away
precious time in senselesS discussion
while the country is going from bad to
worse as the days roll by. The Repub-
leans have thrown every obstacle pos
sible in the way of legislation OH the
tariff question, but this does no. relieve
the Democratic party from the respon-
slbility in he premises, for it has had
Ct good working majority in. both houses,
and should have liked the tariff long
since. 1t is Il matter of very little im-
portance to the people at large what the
tariff is, but it is of vital Importance
to every business interest to have
a fixed tariff. and not the uncer-
ta!nty which hangs over US ard
which has already paralyzed the basi-
ness throughout the length and breadth
Of the land. Should a tariff be agreed
upon idle machinery will be put in mo-
ton, idle men will have work and bread
less families will be able to have the
necessarieS of life. and all this IN a very
short time. We would not expect it at
once, for the sea does not put on a calm
as soon as the storm has ceased, but
continues to roll for hours afterwards,
for it has been shaken to its very depths.
The return will be gradual. but sure. 1t
will take some time 20 restore the conf
dence which has been lost in the bust
mass world I,tt M fnrXr1I ri Sfnn CON Or
will be, taken until congress rises above
the plane of party and gives us some
wholesome legislation calculated to in
Spire confidence.
Idle machinery has given us a new fea-
ture TO which the country has not been
familiar. that is the coming together of
a large body of men who muster under
the name of conm0nwealerS. Scattered
broadcast over the country they are not
dangerous. LOcust-like, they swoop
down upon a town or village. and to rid
themselves of the soldiers" they are
fed and forwarded to the next town.
But when these people reach Washing
ton their number will be legion. too
great to be fed. and what then? Is it
reasonable to suppose that they will
starve amid plenty?
How short is the step from taking
something to eat to taking anything one
sees and wants. Reader, there is dam
ger ahead from these men, often called
cranks: but they are not cranks, only
starving men out OF work, and who can
get no employment. Hungry, desperate
men know no law. or Father they are a
law unto themselves" and, If needs
be, will take the law into their own
hands. and then l shudder for the con-
sequences. l am not all alarmist, but
view this matter in the light its i'm
portance demands. Nothing of So much
Importance has confronted the .Ameri-
can people since the dark, bloody days
of 1861.
Ii the election of 1892 emphasized
anything it was that the people de-
manded a revision Of the tariff whereby
the expenses of living would he greatly
reduced. The present majority in both
houses was brought about by a deter
mined constituency, and the men sent to
congress were sent for the purpose of
carrying out their will. Have they done
it? They have utterly failed. and the
party which has been cruelty betrayed
will have TO stand the consequences.
What would be the result of a national
election if held tomorrow? The party
would be buried So deep that Gabriel'S
trumpet only could resurrect it. and 1
doubt if it would be of sufficient caliber.
Gen. Grant once said that THE
Democratic party is sure to do the
wrong thing at the right time" and its
failure to pass a tariff bill is just the
wrong thing at the right time to lose
control of the government.
In the campaign Of 1892 from every
Democratic stump went forth con-
domination of 1.-The robber tariff" and
yet this same robber tariff, with a few
immaterial amendments, has been re-
yamped and proposed by the majority
in the senate to take the place of the
radically changed tariff insisted upon
by the voters in 1892. Ii those who
have been untrue to their party only suf-
fered it would be quite a different thing,
but they have carried the whole party
down with them. The president boldly
pointed the way, but they failed to do
their duty. One ought to except Mills,
of Texas. for he has been true through.
out, and shines conspicuously in the
senate as a man who, knowing his
duty, had the courage to do it as far as
in him lay. X. w. JOHNSON.