The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1897-04-24


The determination of the Demo
cratic Senators not to resort to fiji
clustering in order to prevent the
passage of the Dingley bill will re-
ceive the commentator of their par
ty throughout the country. The
people have given the Republicans
power, and it is only right that the
latter should have liberty to carry
out their policies. The people knew
when they gave the Republicans the
victory that they were voting for the
party of protection. Whether the
people have repented of the action
or not is for the Republicans of the
Senate to decide. OF course it will
be the duty of the Democrats to of
fer proper opposition to a measure
SO false in principle and iniquitous
in detail as the Dingley bill. 1t will
be their duty to expose to the public
the true nature of this Republican
tariff, which is no better than re-
ceipted bill returned to the trusts
and other beneficiaries of protection
for their campaign contributions of
money and influence to the cause
which won.
In view of the evidence which the
recent elections have given Of the
disappointment and disgust of the
people it is more than probable that
the Republicans of the Senate would
be highly gratifed privately were
the Democrats to take the response
bility of forcing radical modifica
ton, or even the defeat altogether of
the Dingley bill. The Republican
Senator'S, in common with other men
caapble of reading the meaning of
current events, doubtless perceive
that their party has erred fatally in
assuming that the American masses
we're longing for a return to McKin
leyism. .
The people have come to under
stand exactly what protection is in
practice, whatever it may be in theo-
ry. Theoretically its purpose is to
suckle infant industries, to increase
wages and build up American as
against all other interests. Prac-
tically, as the people have been
taught by experience, protection is
simply sordid game of grab, in
which those least in need of help
from the Government seize most; a
scheme for abusing the power to tax
so that revenue, instead of reaching
the public treasury, shall be depos-
tied in private pockets; device so
nourishing and strengthening to the
trusts that they are unanimous
ly enthusiastic in support of pro
lection.
At time when the country, ha-
raised by ong-eontinued hard times,
is glowing with resentment against
the ascendency of the all-absorbing
trusts in business and politics, the
Republican party has passed through
the House of Representatives a tariff
bill the like of which was never seen
in the United States before, tariff
framed at the instigation of the
trusts for the further fattening of
trusts. 1t looks like madness to do
this thing, but, remembering what
the forces are which created this
Administration and are behind it,
the party can hardly be regarded as
free agent when it comes to legis-
lation desired and commanded by
INSCRIPTIONS wealth and greed
that is as unpatriotic as tits bound
less.
The Democrats of the Senate do
well to let the Republicans tread the
Dingley wine press alone. 1t is right
as well as polite that the party of
protection should receive no out
stretched Democratic hand to help
in pulling it from the pit which it
has dug for itself. Protection is
committing suicide in full view of
the country, which it so long has
cursed.-New York Journdl