New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-06-25
ATTACKING THE PRESIDENT.
VAIN EFFORTS OF FREE TRADERS TO DlsCRED1T
THE TARIFF BILL

VAIN EFFORTS OF FREE TRADERS ~ DiSNhf>Dll
THE TARIFF BILL.
To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: Since President McKinleys election the free
traders havo done all they TO dlscredit tho
President and his policy. Mr.. Bishop. in a recent
article IN The Forum" "A New Form Of Gov
ernment" says: Debts were incurred which were
paid off IN various ways after Mr.. Mckinney be-
came President" He was elected on the issue or
sound money and currency reform. not on that OF
q high tariff. The Tariff bill. which had al
ready been prepared. was rot measure for rails
ing revenue. but for increasing the burdens Of
taxation in the interests Of protected manufactur-
ers Like the Mckinley tariff OF 1890. 1t had TO
be enacted TO pay campaign debts"
Now II Mr.. Bishop does not know what we have
quoted Is absolutely false. without even the most
minute tinge OF truth. he Is not competent TO
write on a new any other form OF government
He must know that tho principal issue in the cleo
ton was protection to the countrys industries.
This was the burden Of Mr.. Mckinleys veranda
speeches This was the chief plank In the Repub-
l!can platform. The mass OF the people supported
Mr. Mckinley because his name represented to the
noonle more than any other name. the principle OF
protection.
Rourke Cochran, in a recent speech In Boston.
said: With eyes wide open we voted for a pro-
tectionist and believe should now be ready. II
necessary. stand protection as the policy of the
Government. All that was promised from Mr..
McKInley's election that every man might
have an opportunity to improve his own condition
nv industry and thrift. The wheels Of progress
have already begun to revolve. Already there is
nm increase in the volume OF production. which Will
steadily grow broaden and widen"
The Tariff bill was not ALREADY prepared" at the
time Of Mr. McKiney's election, and Is not now
readv for enactment. The platform which was
odopted in the National Convention by sl2ia llOa
does not mention currency reform" 1t simply
saws what has been repeated by the Republican
standard must be maintained. and all silver and
gold" To cover up the real lssue-the protection
of our ndustrles-the free traders like Mr.. Bishop
forced the silver issue. but that did not work as
they calculated 1t would and Mr.. Mckinley was
elected. Mr. Bishop and other free traders know
absolutely that the question OF revenue has been
kept steadily In view by those who have done
the work the new tariff. To say that the only
excuse for the existence OF the Tariff bill Is
to pay political debts IL az false as anything can
be .
The trainers OF the bill have found that the
protected manufacturers are not nearly as anxious
for high duties az the Narmers and other working
people currency reform was not during the
campaign nor is 1t now Republican issue. The
great Of Republicans believe that with an
adequate revenue there Will be no trouble with the
, currency
Free Traders and freo-trade journals constantly
assert and reiteratc the assertion that the masses
arc burdcned with protectvc-tarin taxes TO help
manufacturers, when they know that the people.
tho great body of consumers. need not and gen
orally do not pay particle OF tax or duty on the
products that they consume. The universal cry
OF the people during the Presidential campaign
Senator Vest. In an attack on the bill now before
We Senate. said: We know the desperate condi-