New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-16
THE NEW MESSAGE AND TARIFF.

The new era begins, as il ought, with quick
sharp work One half day sufficed to organize
Republican Congress- TO receive from a Repub-
ljcan President short business Message, and TO
have presented a well-matured Tariff bill for i'm
mediate action Platudes and formalities have
gone. Work 10 repair the harm done by four
years Of error begins on the instant, as mighty
machine starts into action at the touch Of an
electric button. The contrast will impress the
minds of men of action and men of work every
where.
The President wastes not one word in intro
ductlon. He shows that the Nation. with unllm-
tied resources at command yet presents the re-
markable spectacle Of borrowing money 10 meet
ordinary OUTLAWS. He cites the records: lS9z,
surplus S9914.4 54. and S40,51o46S debt paid;
1898. surplus 81 341 Ga 1894, deficit S69 S03,26l
1895 deficit S42 SOj. ODD; 1896. deficit S2J,2o3,24G
1897. eight months deficit S4S,249,S5O; in three
years and eight months. deficit SlSG,O6l. oS6
money borrowed. S293 4542S5, by issue of bonds
for S262 315 400 increasing the annual interest
charge 81 1914. or more than one-haf since
1892 Then he says: Ample means must be sup
piled not only for the ordinary expenses OF the
Government but for the prompt payment OF
liberal pen sons and the liquidation of the prn
"cpal and interest Of the public debt ana he
closes: Before other business Is transacted. let
"us first provide sufficient revenue TO faithfully
administer the Government without the con
"tractng Of further debt or the continued disturb
lance Of our finances
Not one word about other topics: no waste or
rhetoric on questions which are not the business
of the hour But on the mode Of increasing rev
enue the President Is just as frank, manly and
explicit as he was every day at Canton when adj
dressing the people:
Duties should be so levied upon foreign products
AS TO preserve the home market, so far as pos
sible, to our own producers; TO revive and In
crease manufactures; TO relieve and encourage
agriculture: TO increase our domestic and foreign
commerce: 10 aid and develop mining and build
ing and TO render to labor in every field OF useful
occupation the liberal wages and adequate re-
wards to which skill and industry are justly en-
titled.
There is not trace Of small anxiety about the
restoration of particular duties. but not a shade
OF hesitation in tho proposal that the Tariff Of
1897 shall do for the country, in the conditions
that now exist, precisely what the Tariff Of 1890
did do for the country. II different schedules
will now reach the same or better results then
different schedules. At any rate, public prosper
ity by protection and upbuilding OF home indus
tries. This is the first Message OF President Nc
Kinley to Congress- be 1t remembered. The utter
absence OF fuss or formality, Of partsanshp, or
even of argument regarding the principles for
which the people have decided, is the character
istIc feature of this opening Of a new era. May
1t not be said with reason that In its very man.
ner of going to work there is inspiration?
Congress also acts, and for one half day at
least does not talk. 1t elects Mr.. Reed Speaker
with a decisive vote sustaining the rules which
give him power to get work done. Then 1t TO