New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-04


Certain Democratic organs assume that every
Democratic Senator will be found voting against
any thorough and effective tariff for protection
| These Senators would undoubtedly have the sup
port of all the extreme partsans in that course,
If the free-trade fanatics. and of the silver de-
sfructiOnsts and the Populists whose only
chance TO accomplish anything is to cause dis
tress in the country and bankruptcy of the
Treasury. But these are not precisely reasons
certain TO influence every Democratic Senator
Some Of them represent States with large
commercial, manufacturing. mining. numbering.
sugar or wool growing interests. and may posi-,
bly, pay more attention to the demands of their
constituents than TO the beating of party gOngs.
Mr.. Hill will not be in the Senate at the next
session. nor Mr.. Germans other self from Mary
land, nor Nj. Brice. Mr.. Voorhees,. Mr.. Villas
or Mr.. Palmer. But il Is not quite certain that
Senators Murphy and Smith. Of New-Jersey: Cor
man. of Maryland: Gray. Of Delaware: Faulkner,
Of West Virginia: Mitchell. of Wisconsin, or
Lindsay. of Kentucky. will entirely disregard the
majorites in their States for the protective pol
icy. Mr.. Murphy. Mr.. Smith and Mr.. German
were of the six who forced into the Wilson tariff
several hundred amendments which were de-
handed by special interests. and were In the
last degree offensive to free-traders. Messrs.
Gray and Mitchell know what Delaware thinks
Of manufacturing and Wisconsin of iron mining
and numbering. The coming Senator from LOusi-
ana. il correctly reported. has declared that he
will satisfy sugar planters by supporting pro-
tective policy. Those who know the intense feel
ing on the Pacific Coast regarding the japanese
competition can Judge whether Senator White.
Of California. will defy it.
But there are other motives which will have
weight The shrewdest Democrats are perfectly
aware by this time. as some We're before the
last election. that 50 long as the tariff question
remains open and at the front their party has no
earthly chance OF carrying a single one Of the
solid block Of Northern States between the At
lantic and the Dakotas. which have more than
votes enough to elect President. II was for
this reason that they Joined in a desperate at
tempt to force the silver issue upon the country.
They found that not even in that way could the
protective phalanx of electoral votes he broken.
No competent Democratic leader will wish to
see his party smash itself against that solid rock
again. at least until protective tariff has been
tried, and has yielded results which dissatlsfy
the people. But they may shrewdly argue that
the measure which the people demand can be
permitted t. pass for that reason only; that the
popular demand will surely intensity SO long
1t Is refused. but that the bill proposed by the
Republicans may not improbably fail TO satisfy
some States some interests.
The position of Senator who has no voice In
public affairs and no influence in the selection
Of officials in his State for four long years Is not
one of unmixed delight. II TO this be added the
bitter denunciation Of the most influential
classes Of his constituents because he rcssts a
measure for the defence Of iron manufacture,
wool manufacture shipbuilding, iron mining.
lumber manufacturing wool or sugar growing,
or insists upon exposing his State TO direct COM
petition with japanese labor that position must
become extremely unpleasant. Ii will require a
frlghtful beating Of party gOngs to impress such
men with the desirableness of narrow and OBJ
sflnate partisanship on the tariff. The Demo
cratic Senators who put such parsanshp be-
hind them and vote to secure the Government
necessary revenue by such methods as appear
to the Republicans Indispensable will naturally
have consideration at the White House and I'm
the Senate also, and will escape the curses Of
constituents whose interests would he sacrificed
by mulish devotion to free-trade theories. 1t ia
not going TO be as easy as some imagine to hold
every Democratic Senator to resist the restora- |
ton Of prosperity. Too many OF them have
business interests of their own, and want share J