The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1895-08-17
A Tariff War Cry.


raised the tariff war cry as a means
of Republican party inspiration.
Within the past month the signs
have multiplied that the tariff bar
ons and the bullion barons in that
party have reached basis of agree
ment The tariff question is to be
revived as "the overshadowing issue
of the can paign," in the shadow of
which the silver miners are to work
toward resumption of purchases of
silver bullion for storage by the Gov
eminent Treasury.
All along the Republican lines,
now forming for next years engage.
ment, we hear nothing but the tariff
cry In view of this fact the deliv-
eranee of Senator Cullom to the as
sembled Republicans at Springfield
has more than ordinary significance.
When the Republican party gets
control again, as it will next year"
said the Senator, with some Repub-
liean for President, we will take up
that tariff act and 60 over it item by
item, and make such amendments to
it as will give reasonable protection
TO labor and American industries as
against foreign labor and foreign in
dustries The people of this country
never knew they wanted that sort of
protection they were never certain
of it until the Democrats, by mis-
take, got possession of this country
two years ago"
Who made the mistake" through
which the Democrats came into con
troll of the Government two years
ago? The people repudiated the Re
publican tariff law at the Congress
sional elections of 1890. The law
was the 'overshadowing issue" of
that campaign and its reputation
was the most emphatic on record.
If the result could then have been
characterized as a mistake" grow
ing out of imperfect information and
hasty judgment, the characterization
will certainly not apply to the re-
suits of the elections of 1892 which
confirmed and emphasized those of
two years earlier In the two years
intervening between these two sue
cessive Republican defeats on tariff
lines, the Republican tariff policy
found opportunity to demonstrate it's
capacity either for good or bad. If
it had been misunderstood and I'M
dervalued at the first election, occur
ring within month after it became
operative, the two years of practical
experiment which came between that
date and the date of the election of
1892 would have served the purpose
of its vindication and that of its
creators of the Republican party. To
assert that the people made "mis-
take in confirming in 1892 their
previous judgment of 1890, is to as
sert that they are incapable OF form
ing correct and intelligent jndg
ment on any public question.
Yet that is the attitude not only
of the Illinois Senator, but of the
party for which he stands and speaks.
1t is clear enough that we are to
have, if the Republicans carry the
country next year, another period of
tariff agitation, resulting in sweep
ing changes in existing schedules.
The Republicans used to assure us
that tariff discussion unsettles val
ues, impairs confidence, and destroys
prosperity. They used to insist that
such discussions paralyze trade and
confidence by leaving the basis of
calculation in doubt and by displac-
ing certainty with uncertainty as an
element in all business transactions.
But now, in full view of another cam.
paign, and in the full flush of CON
fidence which gives them the courage
of a candor not usually belonging to
them, they declare for more agita-
tion, more unsettled values, more i'm
paired confidence, and more paraly-
sis Of trade and commerce.
The Democratic party will accept
this challenge. 1t believes in the
people. 1t believes in the wisdom of
their final judgment on any question
Believing, as it does, that if the peo-
pie had made mistake in 1890 that
mistake would have been corrected
in 1892, it is entitled to believe that
the mistake the people made in 1894
will be corrected by them in 1896.
In an era of reviving trade and com
merce the wisdom of Democratic adj
ministration is being proved. The
Republican party was condemned in
1892 as in 1890 because in those two
years the country saw clearly that
every charge made by Democracy
against Republican administration
was justified. Democracy, condemn
ed in 1894, will be justified again by
the people when they see every false
charge brought against its admins
tration Of the Government over
whelmed in a rising tide of prosper
ity resulting from just laws wisely
administered.
Placing the Democratic party in a
false position on finance has failed to
serve the Republican purpose. That
was lie with long arms, but short
legs. The cry Of the jingoes has not
disturbed the country We will not
defend usurpers in Hawaii or cut
Threats in Nicaragua. 1t may be
extremity more than choice which
forces the Republican to return to
exploded cartridges as instruments
of political warfare, but, whether
choice or extremity, it is certainly
not policy which dictates that course.