The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1894-05-11
PREACHING VS.. PRAcTlclNo.


stpuuAlcan Journals are TAXING upon
themselves the gratuitous duty of in
forming the democratic majority in
congress that il should abandon its ef-
fort 10 reform the tariff. pass the APP
preparation bills and 60 home. The
reason given for this advice is that the
sentiment Of the coustry has changed,
As evidenced by the protests that have
been made against tariff legislation
and the admitted fact that democratic
political prospects next November are
not exactly rose-colored. OF course,
our republican friends have not the
least notion that their advice will be
taken.
But II may not be out Of place to re-
mind these self-appointed advisers that
the course they are recommending,
even assuming that the advice is given
in good faith and for the best interests
OF the country. is one which political
parties are not at all likely to follow
No better illustration of this could be
found than the comparatively re-
cent experience of the republican
party. In loss republican victory
was won upon u large scale by
pledges given in the west that an hon
est revision of the tariff would be
made by the republicans if they were
given the power to act 1t was resog-
nized by the republicans in all OF the
states of the Mississippi valley that
there was growing demand for a
change from the old high tax principles
Of the war tariff-that the people
wanted tariff reform But it was said
and this was said on the stump in
1883 in scores Of western congressiona al
districts-thas tariff revision should be
made, not by the enemies, but by the
friends, of protection. Duties are un-
doubtedly too high. and the taxes i'm
posed in consequence Of them too
onerous, but il is we'll that the protec-
ton system should be gradually
changed by those who have for years
past supported it, and that it should
not be suddenly destroyed By those
who hare always opposed it.
TWAS upon these grounds that the
republican victory was won. Evidence
can be obtained that quite mum Der
OF western republican congressman
went TO attend the first session of the
Tifty-first congress with the belief that
the tariff was to be revised by cutting
the duties down. and who found, to
their surprise and disgust. after the
session had opened. that the combina-
ton Of republican congressional lead
ers, under Messrs Reed aud Mckinley,
were determined that this course should
should not be taken. and that, instead
OF lowering the barrier of protection,
the height Of that barrier was TO be
increased. One of the leading western
congressman, a republican of national
reputation, said in the summer of $780,
''Our party is betraying its trust. and,
under the whip of party discipline.
shall be compelled to vote for a meas
ure which is almost a complete repudia-
ton of the pledges made to my con-
stituents. and that my western associ-
ates made their constituents at the
time they were elected. We supposed,
and they supposed. that the tariff was
to be revised downward, and not up
ward. but we have now discovered our
mistake; our people are already in
censcd against US; and yet there Is
nothing to do but follow the bidding Of
those who are recognized as the party
leaders in and out Of congress, and who
have definitely committed themselves
to this line Of policy"
This, we say. was personal state
ment made by q man holding an exccp-
tional position. and one who paid the
penalty that he knew awaited him by
a defeat in the fall of $780, There was,
1t is true. no financial panic 10 compli-
cate the situation, but throughout the
country there were protests raised
against the enactment of the Mckinley
bill. The republicans in the west and
northwest denounced the measure as q
betrayal of trust and IL was predicted
Is inevitable that the party that was
responsible for this legislation would
be Overwhelmingly defeated in the No
vember election. The handwriting on
the wall was not in mystical characters.
On the contrary. it was easy Of inter
probation TO anyone who was not blind
ed by interest or preconceived ideas
The leading protectionists, it Is true.
did not admit at the time the Mckinley
bill was under discussion, and al the
time IL was enacted. that the country
was soon to repudiatc them and their
measure; but the fact was evident TO
everyone else. When they asserted
that the election of 1890. which re-
suited in such an overwhelming de feat
for them. was due 10 a misunderstand-
ing of the benefits of the protective
tariff. IL needed only the second dcfca;
in 1899, after two years of experience
with Mckinlcy,sm, to make 1t evident
that the judgment Of these gentlemen
as political prophets was not in the
least to be depended upon; that they
predicted what they desired to see
brought about without the least regard
70 obvious factA Now the proper
course for the republican majority in
congress in the spring and summer Of
1890. when 1t found that the sentiments
Of the people were averse to Mckinley
ism. was either to have abandoned all
effort to revise the tariff or TO have
taken up revision upon the principle of
lowering dutics But they did not do
anything Of this kind. boston Herald.
Not Much II IL.
The Rhode Island election. in the
light OF the official returns. is more a
triumph OF the gerrymandcr than po-
litical victory. What gave it the APP
pcnrnnce Of an overwhelming demo-
cratic defeat was the fact that there
were ,03 republicans elected TO the leg