The evening times., 1897-03-16
TUESDAY. MARCH le.
The Dinpler Tariff Bill.

Inc Dn2leg 1ar1ff Bill.
Sometimes an important national meas
ure like a general tariff bin is open to the
study and analysis to uncover and make
clear its true intent and meaning. Moth
ing like that justly could be SAID against
the Dingley protective tariff yesterday
presented TO the Congress The instrument
in question is an elaborate affair Of many
strings, an harmoniousy tuned TO the note
OF trust 1t is an AeOlian harp, which
will sing to the kissing OF any breeze but
a sea breeze. Automatically il aboliEhes
the use Of the sea breeze, and sounds the
knell OF our own merchant marine, or rather
OF what little in that line we have left,
which surely is not much.
We have the authority OF its distinguished
authors, that il is a measure demanded by
the American people. The great tribune
of the people, the autocrat OF the House.
has said so. Undoubtedly it is framed in
the interests OF some of the people. They
every other respect they have shown them
selves TO he majority, or its equivalent
in terms of influence, coercion and pur-
chase. In the sense that they have swal-
lowed the people they may be said to rep
resent, because ofcourse they Include them
From this strictly Republican point OF view
we are cheerfully willing to conoede that
the Dingley bin expresses the will and de
mand of the people, for whose benefit it
plainly is designed, and whose indifference
70 any probable opposition is TOO supreme
Co warrant ambiguity or concealment of
the high purpose involved Naturally that
is to fatten all the contributUry trusts to
the extreme limit.
In the course Of the debate on this fruit
ful production, we must pect to hear a
good deal about the beauties Of an Ameri-
can tariff and its assumed disastrous ef-
fects upon the competition Of British ch heap
labor. We shall be told, in many columns
OF the Congressional Record, that il is
the mailed gauntlet OF true national indie
pendence flung in the face OF the sordid
English manufacturer, and all for the Ten
eft OF the noble American workingman.
II would be impossible to prevent or check
this flow Of eloquence. Bathos, cannon
and spinach all are on the free list, ana
will have TO come in; but they cannot be
Inassed high enough TO conceal what is
behind.
IL is too apparent that the scheme has |
been prepared as well in general British |
as in particular American interests Great /
Britain, without doubt. would like free |
trade, but willingly surrendered that ad-
vantage in supporting he Republican cam
paign last autumn, for the greater one OF
the single gold standard. Give Great Brit
ain that, and the assurance, in effect sol-
EMMY pledged in this BILL that an American
commercial marine never shall exist, and
Lord Salisbury will be well enough pleased
to let his impoverished friends, Rockefeller,
Haveme yer. Carnegie and the rest. make
what money they can out OF the situation
In whatever way we may regard this
great party measure, it must appear 10
be grand and consistent fulfillment OF
prophecy, and full payment for the sery-
ices rendered ny "the best elements of So
ciety'' IN the struggle OF 1896
1t is the negation OF every Democratic
thought, hope, ideal, or principle 1t at
tacks and destroys every Democratic con-
ception of fiscal legislation devoted to
revenue, the good of the country, or ma
tional prosperity. Nevertheless, it is said
that Democratic Senators and members
will refrain from opposingit lest i n doing SO
they might enibarrass President Mckinley
and defeat his desire to commit his Ad- |
ninistration to a single issue, which was
not the issue upon which be came into |
power. This is kind OF complacency and
invertebracy, y,nottocallit anything stronger
that i 6 almost too bad to be believed