New-York tribune., 1895-10-19
TAX rs. PROTECTION.

The story that any Republican Senator is
willing to let the present tariff stand. and with
that intent consents to bargain proposed by
the WhIskey and Sugar auctiOneers Of last year,
involving a tax on bank checks and an additional
tax on beer is doubtless a wicked invention OF
the adversary. II there were any Republican
Senator willing to betray the principles of his
party in that cold blooded fashion. he would be
instantly recognized as an instrument OF the
Sugar or Whiskey Trust, companies not partic
ularly popular with honest men Of either party.
1t has wrecked the Democratic party to sacrifice
American industries in bargain with these
monopolIes. and 1t would wreck the Republican
party to consent to perpetuation Of the infa
nous Bill of Sale. II there really is by accident
any Republican Senator who does not perceive
the fact he will surely discover 1t when he
comes to confer with associates who know the
temper OF the people.
Possibly the stories in Democratic papers that
the Administration is about to recommend these
particular taxes as mode Of raising additional
revenue may be mistaken. But 1t is certainly
true that the plan has been strongly urged upon
the President and suggested to some Republican
Senator'S in the hope that they would assent to
IL as a mode Of raising increased revenue with
sugar and duties on wool and iron ores. But
Senators who know the temper Of the Western
people are advised that it would be suicidal to
attempt any increase Of taxation without placing
on these products. in which the wool-growers of
all the Western States and the miners Of Michi-
gan. Wisconsin and Minnesota are especially in
ter lsted, reasonably protective duty. If Presi
dent Cleveland refuses to yield to their
I.N,,u for
Republican Congressman last year, the RESPONSE
bility ought to rest exclusively with him and his
party. and not at all with Republican Senator's
The obvious reason is that the substitution OF
other taxes for protective duties which are de-
monstrably needed is Il papable surrender Of
Republican principles. II the elections OF 1894
meant any thing, and they were surely emphatic
enough in ma ajorites TO have ii distinct meaning
they meant that the people demanded a reversal
Of the Democratic National policy in regard to
taxation without any unnecessary delay. 1t Is
not strange that Senators Brice and German,
who were the chief manipulators in contrvng
the Sugar and Whiskey tariff want to prolong
1t as far as they can. and il they can tell the
people next year that Republican Congress SO
far recognized It's beauty and consented to 1t
As to impose taxes which bear directly upon the
whole people, instead Of duties which defend
American Industries, largely at the cost Of for
eigncrs. they will obviously have an argument
which 1t will not be easy for Republicans to
meet
There Is not a shadow of excuse for any such
surrender of Republican principles, and If any
body should attempt it he would distinctly define
his own position as to the great monopolIes which
the present tariff was especially designed TO
benefit When the tariff comes to be overhauled
at all. II Is certain that the Infamous purchase
Of legislation by the Sugar Trust will not escape
attention. Any Republican who befriends that
monopoly will find that he cannot escape OBJ
scrvation 1t Is the one thing necessary for the
Republican party to put an end to the favors
corruply granted by the Bill OF Sale to these
great monopolics. and 1t Is safe TO predict that
no Republican Senator will venture to stand in
tho way