Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1897-07-16
essrs County grrala'
ISLAND PoxD. VT, July 16.


Theories 20 be Tested.
There are infiuencrs natural and art'-
fetal oDerating ia national interest IN
times Of peace rs important as any o.
curing in the storms of war. great
transition awaits Us now. \ test Is soon
10 he made. A new system of tantf IS
about to be inaugurated. Much mas
bern promised for il. All the good that
has been predicted on the wave when
marty spirit ran high will not I've tulhiIed.
Some times a law is not fairly tested
when judged by its results alone hut
that is the basis on which the people are
APT TO place a verdict. This is especially
true of any tariff system. A revenue sys-
TEN starts out usually in conjunction
with raturalcauses, and when prosperity
follows it is difficult 10 tell how much
.of the blessing should be imputed to nat
uraI causes and how much to the tariii
system. On the other hand it a system
starts opposed by natural causes and
adversely follows it is equally difficult to
apportion it to the system and to nat
.ural causes. The present system seems
to start in indifferent conditions, which
is an open field. No time has been in the
present generation in which fairer test
of the protective system could be made.
There are no powerful natural influences
n, Pant IN
interrupt or vary the natural results OF
the system. If business is low and stag
,nant it is fair condition in which to
test its workings. lift proves to be in
Operative then it's defenders must yield
the argument, for the secondary PROPOSE
ton IN their syllogism asserts that it
will be, lit becomes beneticially opera
tive then all opposition to it will be
silenced and it will become a permanent
and conceded theory of the government.
But the test should be properly observed
with right views OF what ought to be
expected Oft. 1t ought not to be eX-
pected to operate instantaneously, be-
cause trade, commerce, manufactures and
intercourse are not things Of fancy but OF
necessity, growth, habit and continuity.
At the start all conditions should be
closely considered, the condition of trade
in every direction and the volume of re-
cent trade currents, like the recent rush
of goods on the frontier. The people
never as studiously applied themselves
to the study of national matters and
issues as they did during the last pres
dental campaign, and probably o more
intelligent ballot was never had in this
country than then. Through lively study
intensified by the fiery masters of the
campaign, the people became fit critics Il
Judge of the merits of system which
it tul6ls half the promises made in its be
half will be indicated permanently. Il
must not be expected to create material
nor to perform labor, but only to Great
conditions favorable to the development
OF material and performance of labor
Tie people will not be blinded by the fac
that some lazy, vicious and designin;
are favored, nor that some individual
prosper and some do not, nor by the fac
that the machinery of which the tart
system is a part gives opportunity t.
some to grow undeservedly rich so as t.
look with cheap contempt upon torme
conditions, because the system has notl
ing to do with that, nor will those chea
floating substances, though exciting rid
cule, ever vary the workings of a syster
which is soon to work such intelligen
and industrious conditions as to eithe
make the country and it's government
not an opportunity for cheap men t
suddenly rise to affluence and insolenc
but mighty inspiration to all as or
man to rise and feel the current in whic
each man, woman and child will feel an
seem to share in the tolls, cares, anxietit
and benefits of common country.