The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1896-01-25
The New Tariff Law.

When the present tariff law was on its pas
sage in Congress its provisions were severely
criticised by free trade organs aad by many
Democrats. Few opinions were worth any
thing. for those who expressed them knew
little or nothing about the bill or its probable
effect. 1t was called the German bill by some
New York, Boston and Baltimore papers, and
some said it represented Democratic perfidy.
Since it has proved to be a bill for revenue
and has had a beneficial effect on trade and
commerce. it is called "the benefcient Demo-
cratic law and the ''Wilson law.
Mr.. Cleveland, who so bitterly denounced
the bill when it was under consideration, IN
his annual message to Congress last month
said of the law, after it had been in force fif-
teen months, that in principle it
sis based upon denial Of the right OF the
Government to obstruct the avenues to our
peoples cheap living or lessen their comfort nor.
and eontentment, for the sake of according
especial advantage to favorites, and which,
while encouraging our intercourse and trade
with other nations, recognizes the fact that
American self.reiance, thrift and ingenuity
can build M our countrys industries ana de-
yelop its resources more surely than enervat-
ing paternalism.
The plain meaning of this is that the blli is
based upon the proper principle of a tariff for
revenue; that it has cheapened living, en-
couraged trade with other nations and de-
stroved governmental paternalism. In another
mart of his message the President said the law
was producing enough reven ne to defray the
EXPENSES of government, or soon would do SO.
The New York Herald was one Of the crit
eising journals. In an article on Increased
Exports republished in this issue, it gives
some statistics to show the increase OF exports
under the present law as compared with those
under the Mckinley law, and it closes the
article with this advice to Democratic Jour
nails:
democratic newspapers should make the
country ring with the announcement OF these
statistics, which bury under an ayalanch oil
combination the plea of protection ior a
revival of the barbarous Mckinney tafin. Is
It not wise to give the Wilson tar'h ume ior
fair trial 2"
The last sentence is the advice that should
have been offered by the Herald and other
papers when the bill was on its passage and
since it became law. Had the public not been
mislead and false impression created the
democratic party would not have been dir
yided and Democratic strongholds would not
have been carried by the Republicans The
House of Representatives is Republican today
simply because the people were given false
information upon the Democratic tariff law,
and faction was created in asumber of states
because of the personal abuse heaped upon
Senators. Not only is the House Republican,
int several Democratic Senators have been
lost also, as well as state governments.
First Of all, Democrats should have upheld
the congress- and Nr, Cleveland should have
allowed the Legislative branch of government
its privilege and right to have shaped legisla-
ton, instead of attempting to force the pass
sage Of law according to his particular no.
tions. Mr.. Cleveland's position had great
influence with the mass of Democrats, but 1t
seems now, in view of the practical workings
of the new tariff that Mr.. Cleveland was mis-
taken, and he has practically acknowledged
his error in the extract above quoted from
the Presidents message.
What is passed is gone, but from the past
we may learn wisdom il we desire. Let
Democrats discard faction and unite for
Democratic principles. Let them stand by
the party organization, even if everything is
not exactly to avery individual notion. Let
them heed the advice ofthe New York Herald,
and make the country ring with the statistics
that show the great improvement in our ex-
port trade under tariff bill that has aafstr
tered trade.