The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-06-12
RIVER At S A. N.
WHO Is RIGHT.

AS sugar coating for the bitter
pill of the Dngley tariff act, the Pio-
neer Press has insisted and still in
sists that this legislation is an essen
tial preliminary to currency reform
This is the pretext that has done
duty in a good many editorial sane
tums where no other defense of the
outrageous duties proposed to be lev
led comes to light. Is it or is not true
that we must have such tariff
bills as the one that is progress
ing to passage before any leg
islation should be even suggested on
the financial question? The Pioneer
Press says that it is in the following
language: For even from the point
Of view Of the gold standard Demo-
Gratis, q revision of the tariff in order
to insure the revenue necessary, under
conditions always liable to recur, 10
protect the public credit and to main
tain the gold standard without issuing
bonds, is a more pressing necessity
llLcl4I any OIII6I lSldllOu
1t is rot necessary to retraverse the
ground by which it is proved that the
treasury deficit and the continued ex-
port Of gold were not caused wholly by
the existing tariff act. We have given
figures showing how far in excess Of
this deficiency it was necessary to issue
bonds as counterpoise to the operation
of the endless chain" Of the green
backs The government ought to col
lect revenue sufficient to meet it's ex-
penditures. 1t ought, also, and even
first, we may say, to reduce it's expen-
ditures to fit its revenue, and to adopt
coherent, consistent and economical
~ sound currency system. But on the
main point at issue, that a revision of
the tariff was necessary to supply the
treasury with funds, the editor of the
Pioneer Press and Senator Aldrich. the
chairman Of the senate finance commit
tee and the spokesman of his party in
the upper house, make statements ex-
actly contradictory of each other. We
will have to leave these eminent au-
thorities to settle their differences be-
tween them.
We have quoted above the position
of the Pioneer Press, that ga revision
of the tariff, in order to insure the rev.
enue necessary" is the first duty, and
that currency reform cannot be obtain
ed without it. In his remarkable speech
In the senate, introducing the finance
committees report, Mr.. Aldrich told
US that the tariff revision was for
protection purposes solely No free
trader has ever laid down the principle
that protective duties and the gather
ing of revenue are incompatible and
hostile to each other in terms as I'M
compromising as those contained in
Mr.. Aldrich's speech. We quote some
extracts from it in answer to the con-
tention Of the Pioneer Press:
In the years to come we must expect a de-
crease, rather than an increase in the Gus
toms revenue TO be derived under the princi-
pal schedules OF the tariff
with duties adequately protective upon man.
ufactures Of cotton, wool silk and flax we
may expect constantly diminished revenue
from the importation Of those products
The leg innate result of the protective policy
is TO give the American market to American
producers. When this becomes an accom-
plished TACT, the revenue growing out of pro-
tective duties disappears. It must be evident
therefore, that we must look for other sources
Of revenue
III this final admission, by repre-
sentative Republican and high priest Of
protectionism, of what has always been
the Democratic contention, there is no
room left for argument The present
revision Of the tariff, which consists
wholly in the increase of rates, must
result, and it is confessed that it is OK
pected to result, in a decrease of rev.
enue. Whatever is done with this bill
the treasury can be saved from a deficit
only by the imposition of new taxes
non-protective in their character such
as the suggested duties on tea and
beer 5r the proposed stamp taxes. The
tariff revision is for protection; the
revenue side is completely separate;