Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-11-26
sbouia Be SLOW q MAKE ! change.

Sbouid ne SLOW 70 Make Change.
That radical tariff changes should
not follow as one OF the results voted
for at the recent election IL the opinion
Of Harper's Weekly. 1t says.
II II Is as revenue raising device
that tariff bill is to be framed, 1t GER
tainly would seem wise to find out what
the Wilson law will accomplish under
favorable or normal conditions. Every
one knows that 1t has been denounced
for the sins OF the free silver agitation,
and a good many people who know
something OF Treasury operations
expect that, with the currency question
settled so far as free coinage 10 con-
cerned, the present law will raise abun-
dant revenues And II the present law
does raise sufficient revenue, there will
be no immediate danger Of any effort
to increase our tariff taxes. IL is well
nigh certain that tariff rates will never
again equal those of the Mckinley act.
the oppression, rank dishonesty, and
injustice Of which resulted 30 disas-
trously to the Republican party in 1899.
And 1t ought to be as certain that
success shall not follow any attempt,
such as Is made in the Dingley bill, to
restore duties on raw materials that
have once been placed on the free list.
Manufacturers have adjusted their
business to the exciting tariff, and they
and the producers have the right to
demand that they shall enjoy all the
benefits OF the law until it has bsen
demonstrated that the law, under
normal and heathful conditions, can
not furnish adequate revenue. And
it should also be borne in mind that not
only should all purely selfish tariff agi.
tation cease, not only should business be
left at peace, not only should the law
have a fair trial, but that the people OF
the country have not yet expressed an
adverse opinion on the Wilson law, as
they did on the Mckinley law, no matter
what political protectionists may say to
the contrary.
This is sound reasoning, land there
are many facts that endorse the very
convincing arguments SCI forth by the
Weekly in the editorial extract above
quoted. For instance, it is known that
the wooden manufacturers OF New Eng
land are opposed to restoration of the
OLD duties on wool, aH proposed by the
Dingley bill. On the other hand,
people in Chester county, Pa, and
elsewhere, SO it is reported, are buying
wool for speculative purposes. feeling
convinced that the Dingley bill, or some
other tariff measure, will bs enacted. in
consequence OF which wool will COM
mand higher prices. The manufact.
urers, therefore, would be obliged to
pay more for raw material, solely to
put money in the pockets of few
spectators.
1t should also be borne in mind that
as far as the deficit in the Treasury
under the Wilson bill is concerned, no
attempt has ever been made to over
come it by ordinary economy on the
part of Congress, as has on several
occasions been pointed out by Every
Evening. "By Topping off extrayagant
appropriations" truly remarks the
Philadelphia Record, "there would be
no deficit in the Treasury now,n And
why should there not be little
economy, instead Of an increase of duty
taxesG The Record favors a specific
OF one cent pound on sugar, which
would raise $4,000, 200 year more
than is realized from the present duty
a specific duty Of four cents pound or
coffee, which would yield revenue o.
S24, 600, 600. and specific duty of eight
cents pound on tea, which would yiet
Sc, AGO. 600. These additions woult
amount to nearly $40, 900, 900, quite
enough to cover the deficit. But i
economy on the part Of Congress- would
produce the same result, there would b,
no need Of imposing taxes on sugar
coffee and tea, which are almost amons
the necessaries of life, and are largsl,
used by the people.
1t is apparent, however, that th
tariff beneficiaries are going 10 make
tariff crusade upon Congress, with tn
purpose of securing, an far as possible
restoration of Mckinley rates. Thei
crusade should be resolutely resisted
There is no real occasion for wha
they will demand. There is no princi
pie involved in their movement and i
should DO defeated.