New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-25
TARIFF CRITICISM.

There has been a vast deal of criticism regard
Ing the Tariff bill which is of kind to influence
no one in the slightest degree. There is the crit
cism of men who started with the false asser-
ton that they had reason to believe and did be-
leve that the principles of Mckinley and Of his
party had been abandoned in the campaign. and
that no tariff conforming 10 those principles
would be offered. No criticism which exposes
itself at the start as radically dishonest in mo-
tive and spirit deserves any notice. Neither is
there the least reason 10 give attention 10 the
criticism of those who were known, before any
tariff bill had been offered. to be certain TO de-
nounce the measure as sav3gely as they could.
Men who set out with the belief that any pro-
tcctve duty whatever is necessarily failure
and a fraud, who tried TO form tariff of their
own sort made the most isnominious failure Of
the century, and passed bill crammed with
jobbcries and robberies for the benefit of favored
mOnopolics which has resulted in big yearly
deficit, are the who relieved by the
people from the task Of tariff making last No
vcmber
Some hope has been expressed that slndry
younger Democrats who are "tired Of standing
around the grave Of Calhoun and in their own
light were about to do something of imp0r-
lance. They have succeeded in nominating Mr.
Bailey, of Texas for Speaker against all the
old-fashoned party leaders. thus making him
the leader of the party In the House. Some Of
these individuals had actually declared for q
duty on cotton and a duty on sugar. and, in gen
eral against the Free-Trlde theory that all raw
material should be free. AS il became the duty
Of Mr.. Bailey and his associates in committee
TO formulate the Democratic objections to the
Dingley bill. II was supposed by some that he
might base his criticism and opposition on new
grounds. But the minority report has appeared
and Is in every respect as melancholy an Illus
tration Of standing around the grave of Cal
h0un" as ever was seen. All the objections and
criticisms suggested are precisely those Of the
men who hold that economic thought died with
Calhoun. that all the ideas which are worth hav-
Ing on the tariff question were enunciated by
him, and that no past experience nor any con-
ceivable array OF facts can ever make single
Free-Trade theory less binding upon the souls
of men.
A not improbable explanation Is that the young
leader from Texas found himself caught with
responsibility which he was not yet prepared
10 meet. He had stirred up the spirit of resist
ance against the Democracy which lives and dies
at the shrine Of Free Trade, but had not been
able as yet TO formulate the notifications which
he could expect his followers 10 support In.
stead he was obliged TO seek the signatures OF
the Old-fashlOned Democrats on the committee
and in order 10 obtain them he was obliged 10
expurgate his report Of every sentence or word
which could offend the nfamed sensibilitics OF
the most antiquated Free Trader. II IS a pity
for Mr.. Bailey. because he lost rare opportunity
of showing whether the new leaders" of De
m0cracy have any more sense than the old. who
ran the party into defeat and disruption But IL
Is to be expected that the divergence Of opinion
Will crop ont in the course Of the debates and
Will he felt in the voting certain amendments
IT Is admitted by their foes that the Repub-
licans of the House show no indication that they
have been moved In the least by the kinds Of