The Saint Paul globe., 1896-11-30
RIVER AT s A. M.
GAN UNREASONABLE DEMAND -

The Milwaukee Sentinel is one of the
Republican papers which have been
very frank in admitting the obligation
their party is under to those Democrats
who made possible the election of a Re-
publican president, and which have ex-
pressed desire that the obligation be
requited by moderation in tariff legis-
lation. AS the approach Of a congress
sional session and a new administra-
tion forces a practical consideration of
this2 question, generalities no longer
serve and particulars become essential
Under this pressure the conciliatory
spirit is weakening, and McKinleyism
is stiffening it's back. The Sentinel
divides the gold standard Democrats
into two classes, one Of which believes
in tariff for revenue with incidental
protection, between whom and the Re-
publicans the differences, it says, "are
not irrecOnciIable." The other class
tasks us not to make a reasonable
compromise, but to surrender uncondi-
tionally." What this unconditional
surrender" is is a demand that we
leave the existing tariff alone and ig-
more customs duties as a means of
producing additional revenue which
the country needs" "This," the Sem
tinel says, ''is plainly an unreasonable
demand"
Proceeding in it's sketch of what Re-
publicans might consent to as their
tender of a reasonable compromise, ="
the Sentinel recalls the tariff plank re-
ported to the Chicago convention in
1892, and rejected, which, it says, was
understood to have been inspired by
Mr.. Cleveland and to represent his
views more closely than did the sub
stitute adopted. That plank made the
basis Of tariff "the difference be-
tween the cost of labor here and
abroad, when such difference exists"
as fully measuring "any possible bene-
fit to labor" The stone that was re-
Jected by the Democrats in Chicago
was taken by the Republicans in Min
neapolis and made the "head stone of
the corner" That read: eve believe
that on all imports coming into
competition with the products of Amer
lean labor there should be levied duties
equal to the difference in wages abroad d
and at home" 1t is from those Demo-
Gratis VINO believe in the plank thrown
out at Chicago that Republicans ex-
pect advice and help in the construc-
tion of tariff and cit is with these
Democrats that We are willing to con-
fer"
The Sentinel errs in it's classification
OF the gold standard Democrats. With
hardly an exception they regard the
German act as the president did who
refused it his signature They do not
regard tariff whose average rate on
duuable imports is but or per cent
less than was that Of the Mckinley
Dill as either q fulfillment of the re-
Jected plank or Of the Minneanolis
plank. We believe there is not one of
them who would object to. not one of
them but would heartily welcome one
framed in strict compliance with the
spirit of either plank We will go
farther and say that there is not a
free trader who would not be willing
to accept tariff act based on the diff
ference III the labor cost of foreign i'm
ports and domestic products of the
same kind.
we doubted the sincerity of the Min
neapolis plank, and we doubt the sin.
cerity of any pretense of making it the
basis Of any legislation by the Fifty
fifth congress. With, even under the
prejudiced statistics gathered by Com
missioner Porter, the average labor
cost of American manufactures a little
less than 25 per cent Of the product
and with the actual difference less than
~ per cent, it is useless to try to meet
In spirit Of compromise men who re.
gard the present rate of over 40 pel
cent as inadequate No Democrat Of
whom we are aware is asking for the
retention Of the German act as a final
ity. What they are asking is that IFS
average shall not be increased, aid
that, in any revision by the next con.
gress, the pledge made at Minneanolis
shall be redeemed. On that basis they