The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-05-21
Where Is Mr.. Whitney?

Mr.. WILLIAM C. WHITNEY is reported by
the Tribune as saying that 1.-THE Republican
party has disappointed the men of indie
pendence and patriotic sentiments who cut
loose from their wonted political afilia-
tions and gave it's candidates their gen.
erous support" "If such q measure" as the
Dingley bill had been outlined before the
election" added Mr.. WHITNEY, ait might
have been disastrous to Mr.. MCKINLEY's
success"
Querulous complaints like this have been
made by unreasonable Democrats who voted
for Mr.. MCKINLEY and by the cantankerous
Mugwump papers generally, but they are
30 discreditable to the intellect of those
making them that we are surprised that
they should be repeated by a gentleman
whose reputation for sobriety of judgment
is so wide as Mr.. WHITNEY's. The Demo-
Gratis who voted for Mr.. MCKINLEY cut
loose from their wonted political afhlia-
tions for 10 other reason han hat their
party had entered upon a course which led
to ruin for themselves and for the republic.
They did not support the Republican party
through generosity; there was no generosity
about 1t. They supported it simply because
thoc WOO thO ohiy way VI DCotihB
BRYAN and his destructive theory and pol
icy. They took the only means of putting
out the fire which was ut hand. Their W
party had deserted them and they had no
other refuge save in the Republican party.
They did not go to it from generosity, but
because they had to go.
Does Mr.. WHITNEY mean to infer that
If he had known that such a tariff as the
Dingley bill provides for would be the re-
suit Of the election of Mr.. MCKINLEY, he
would have voted for Mr.. BRYANT If he
does not mean that, what sense is there in
bis remarkf If he prefers free coinage at
the ratio of 16 to, / to Republican
protection, why didn't he vote for Mr..
BRYANT He had fair warning of what
the Republican party would do II it
obtained power. The platform of that
party adopted at st. Louis last June de-
clared emphatically for the policy of pro-
lection as the bulwark of American indus
trial independence" and it put upon the
platform a candidate for President especi-
ally representative of such protection as
the Dingley bill gives. No Democrat and
nobody else voted for Mr.. MCKINLEY under
any Misrepresentation as to that matter. 1t
"oo " ShotSOo Va IiCo olbdk - NV LII
BRYAN or protection INT MCKINLEY, and
there was no deception on either side.
II Mr.. WHITNEY does not prefer Bryan
ism to Republican protection, why does he
lend his voice to the encouragement of cap
tious complaints made with a view to the
obstruction Of a settlement of the tariff
question, which business and industry gen.
orally are anxious shall be completed as
speedily as possible7 The first necessity,
as every sensible man recognizes, Is to get
revenue enough to pay the expenses of
the Government. The Wilson tariff failed
to produce that sufficient revenue, but
caused a N enormous deficit, which was
disastrous both politically and materially.
A tariff which will cure that terrible blum
der Is necessary, and the sooner we get 1t
tho better; and that the tariff now under
consideration in the Senate vii. produce
the requisite sufficiency of revenue Is I'M
questionable. What does Mr.. WHITNEY
propose to the business world2 Is IL that
the Wilson tariff shall be retaincd3 Is he
against the ingley bill because 1t Is a pro-
lection measured The Wilson tariff is a
protection measure also.
Tho truth is, there Is no difference of
principle between the Democratic party
and the Republican party as to the tariff.
They arc both for protection, though In each
there is disagreement as to the exact meas
ure of protection and Its precise adjustment
In particular schedules. The Dingley bill
u ~ much Democratic as was the Wilson