The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-08-05
A JUST CONCEPTION
Ofths Dlnglsy Tar.G Hui by an Expert
Authority,


Authority,
American Wool and Cotton Reporter;
It is frequently said OF the American
people that they are too impatient This
Is. no doubt, in the main, Just criticism
The present, however, Is a time when, II
ever, they should make an attempt to
check this falling We have Just enact
ed a new tariff law, and the conditions
under which 1t goes into operation are
such as preclude any surprise, II at the
start It does not produce iust the results
which are hoped for In one particular
ana a very important one at that, II will
unquestionably accomplish, q most graf
flying result; we look for an immediate
return to a settled condition, obtaining
thereby what has been wanting for a
great many months, namely, starting
point from which to arrange future lines
OF business,
Whether or not these lines will be quite
as heavy NJ the beginning as might be
wished, Is OF course matter OF great i'm
poratnce, and II Is Just here that the ex-
erclse OF patience may be called for.
A new tarlfr law is like great Ship II
takes some time TO get Il fairly under
way. Such, however, Is the impotence
OF the American people, that they fall 10
make adequate allowance for this fact,
From one congressional election 10 an
other Is about all the time they care 10
allow tarlff measure In which to DEM
onstrate It's efficiency. This Is OF course
an absurd Limitation, General business
is for months prior 10 n change IN the
tariff, reduced TO artificial conditions,
and the results which how from these
conditions have to be recovered from De-
fore the new measure can be said TO nave
a fair show, The recovery II In the ma
ture OF the case SLOW, but this ract mas
little Influence with the mass OF the peo-
pie. II law has not, within two years
OF It's enactment, afforded many indiea-
tlons OF It's efficacy, the Impotence of the
country begins TO manifest itseii ~ no
uncertain manner. This spirit has been
witnessed q number OF times IN feeeh'
years, and the effect has been disastrous
upon business enterprises, We venture
to put In a plea for the law which mas
tust gone into operation, and urge taat u
may be accorded falrer trial than SINH
lar measures have received In this coun-
try OF late years, In fourteen years we
can count four tariff laws, which would
give an average length TO each or three
and one-half years, This Is certainly
state of affairs which waHld be tolerated
In no other country on earth,
A new tarifr Is pretty sure TO be ac-
companled by circumstances which,
though growing out OF 1t, are not a par'
OF It's legitimate effect. Such, for in
stance, was the excessive advance IN
prices when the law OF 1890 went INTO
effect. Goods were marked up beyond
all reason under the pretence OF making
them conform 10 the necessities or the
Mckinley law, whereas that measure
called for no such figures. The zeal OF
speculators Is quite likely to impair the
pubitc regard for tariff measure at the
start, but such things work their own
cure II allowed time. II is claimed by
some that the Imports In certain lines OF
goods during the last few months have
been large enough TO supply the needs
OF this country for two years. We 90 nor
believe this; but even II II Is true, then
there Is every reason why we should re-
strain our impatIence, and why we
should decline to consider any further
tariff legislation until the present law Is
seen to be In operation under normal
conditions.
our feeling Is that the new tariff law
starts into operation under more favora-
bic circumstances than have character
lied any OF Its predecessors during the
present generation. It amounts almost
TO q conviction in our mind that the
country has entered upon one OF the most
prosperous periods in It's history The
liquidation OF four years has furnished
a solid groundwork for a new prosperity,
and It looks as II great rush for our
agricultural products and an extraords'
nary increase in our gold mining Indus
try. would, during the next year. consti-
iute flood tide, the Ike OF which has
seldom been witnessed on this side OF the
Atlantic,