The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-01-24
PROBLEMS TO BE MET.

The claim OF the Republicans that
the condition Of the treasury and the
continuance OF the present depression
IL IN considerable measure due to the
Havemeyer tariff bill Is supported by
indisputable facts. The first remedy
wfach will DE proposed when the Re-
publican party assumes control OF con-
gress will be a scheme 20 provide sufli-
Gent revenue for current expenditures.
Then will follow an attempt to revise
and settle upon SAFE and satisfactory
financial policy.
The argument that the decline IN
prices OF articles OF consumption COM
pensate~ for the reduction OF wages
and the increasing inability TO obtain
employment. Is not satisfactory. 1t Is
not true that with the present low
prices OF all products the people are
as comfortably situated or as content
ed as when they were much higher
and employment was plentiful ait high
rates. Everybody knows this to be
fact.
Nor can the revenues be increased
under such conditions. The ability to
purchase must be preceded by lucra-
tive employment. The character and
amount Of articles bought will be meas
ured by the amount OF surplus left for
expenditure after the absolute ne
cessities OF life have been secured.
Obviously IL there be no such surplus
there can be no purchases. This APP
plies to imported as wen as
to domestic manufactures. 1t mat
ters not how cheaply foreign
goods may be offered In CON-
petition with home products. Neither
can find market among impoverished
people. II imported goods cannot be
sold they viii not be brought here FOR
that purpose. Thus the expected rev.
enue TO be derived from the tariff falls
Ear short and Is continually diminish
Ing.
Ordinarily reduction OF tariff
charges produces an increase of Inn
portatioIEs. II is made for that pur-
pose, and the increase in quantity Is
supposed to compensate for the de-
crease In rates. But. however true this
theory might he IN times OF plenty. II
Is a grievous failure now. The fact Is
that the Industries OF the country have
been SO passalyzed by the panic and
the change or tariff rates that people
are unable to buy at any price. The
purchases CT the consumers In this
country are now "A per cent. less than
they were three years ago. Is 1t not
Obvious that the revenue would show
a falling of. even had the tariff law
remained unchanged? The reductions
In the new law have manifestiy in
creased the ehrlnkage by just the
amount that duties were lowered.
VIVA; Is needed Is. FIRST. a declaration.
followed by affirmative action. that
the policy OF protection to American
industries and labor engaged therein,
shall be the underlying principle sctn-
atsug all tariff legislation: that this
country refuses 20 allow competition
with cheaper labor and its products
elsewhere. on even terms. in our own
markets: that our worgingmea are 10
be guaranteed such wages as will not
only furnish saszn with the necessities
buzz she comforts OF life 20 which they
have become accustomed and are en-
tilted. Then. q revision OF our NONE
sary system tending 70 ennsncSgatIon
os abe debtor ciasses-wilo are In vast
majority and by whom the major por-
tion es she nations industries are ere
ased and oaeratea-flvssn the dangers
% fiac;uatfns and especially ays,reeias.
sng values In the medium OF exchange.
by which the prices OF their products
are measured.
Thss must eventually be accom-
piishess BY the adoption OF the
automatic system &c tssnsetauM ana
the present question pressing for splsa-
tRsa is. as indicated heretofore I'm shese
columns. the ABILITY az inability % this
,ation by sakfng the lead 20 force M
ga European governments the adoption,
az pan for universal recoxniua.a Of
bssh silver ard gold as standard .s,x,as-
u-es 81 va.ae. Tire RepssblicaH party
must meet and solve This problem. II
Is universally concsfesf that such xeiu-
tscaa IL demanded not cssty by the ext
EeFsSies ~ tne national treasury. bat
ID compelled ~ she continual declsae
n valae cf ell Ercpersy and products.
decline which II ncs arrested sssuss
esensastly ssaxuste an Industry. ren-
der sasiis tAs efforts to collect sufsacsens
pubic revenues and ecrca both puSi.s