The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-03-25
THE PnBLIAINARYSK OVER
THE TARIFF.

The protest filed by the democratic con-
gre ssmen in lieu of a bi: for revenue
only and trayersing the principle N pro-
tectivc tariG as exen.pliiied by Mr. Din
gLy's tariG bill, IL moderate and cor
rect statement of the doctrine the dem
ocratic party has held from its organiza-
tlsn until this good hour
Mr. Bailey's exposition Of the fallacics
of the Dngley bill is clear and explicit,
show ing now dangerous the principle Of
protection as main feature OF n tariff
bill il and has been to the country. As
Mr. Bailey remarked, President Jackson,
Old Hickory, regarded a surplus which is
accumulated alone by n protective tariff
AS dangerous 70 the country as stand
ing army, and he very pertinently demoa-
strated that Of late days protection has
become much more dangerous than mt
that time on account Of the fact that
II has also become the prolific parent Of
the great trusts that are crushing out
all competition, which the democracy be
leve il the life of trade.
The democrats in congress could have
done nothing more than present this pro
test announcing their opposition to the
bill. az not n single day was given them
to prepare amendments. The protest de-
clarcs that congress convened on the 10Th
of March and the Dingley bill was pre-
scented the same day and ordered to be
reported to the house on Thursday, the
18th of the same month, which bin had
been in course Of preparation ever since
the election of Mr.. Mckinley had been
announced. and which action prccludod
any careful preparation of amendments
cmbodying democratic principles. The
failure, however, to prepare democratic
tariff measure in time does not mean that
the Dngley bill will not be fought at
every step of its progress by democratic
representatives, and the fight will not
be, lost by the democrats. 1t will give
notice to the country that a republican
congress, taking advantage of the repub-
lican administration and majority in con
has rcpudiated the will of the people OPP
posed to f protective tariff as expressed
in two notable elections, when that doc
trine was the only issue; and upon what
slight and flimsy preteXts that popular
will has been violated in order to saddle
upon the country pet measure Of the
republican party that enables the party
to recoup the manufacturers of the cOun-
try for their contributions to tho rcpub-
lican campaign fund.
The moment that Bailey was made the
democratic leader in the house of repre-
senta ives the country was put upon no.
ticc that the DinGley tariff bill would
not quietly be submitted to by the democ-
racy, but that il would be fought with
all the force and eloquencc of the gallant
young leader and others of the democrat
ic force in the house. and in obedience
to the sentiment of the democracy of the
The republicans will in all prob
ability triumph by passing the Dingley
bill, but, the battle over, the bill will be
and when they again go be-
fore the people they will find that the
final victory is not always to the strong
but that n day of rctribution has come
in the dcnunciation by ballots of party
fosting upon the country protective
tariff in the face of the fact that il has
been twice repudiated by the voters of
the country.