New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-08
a PROTECTIVE TARIFF WANTED.
EMPHATIC CONDENSATION OF THE CLEVELAND
POLICY sHOLI.n BE followed Ply prrr.nN

POLICY SHOULD BE FOLLOWED BY RETURN
TO REPUBLICAN PRACTICES
To the Editor OF The Tribune
Sir; When the Republicans in the Congressional
elections OF 1894 swept the country. East. West.
North and South. by unprecedented majorities
choosing PIG members, against lei Democrats
ana / ppulists. what did II mean? When the az
gregate Republican plurality of votes for Con-
gresham cast in those elections reached the
enormous sum OF 1.354.Ota as against an aggregate
/ Democratic and Populist combined plurality of
Sil'Vw giving net Republican plurality of 1.0t3 coo,
which Is about 10000 greater than the plurality
given Mr. Mckinley in the late election what did
1t mean? nen every election OF State and National
Importance held since 1852 has shown tremendous
ana reiterated Republican victories large Re-
publican gains what do they mean When the
masses OF the Republican party spontaneously
as one man and demanded the nomination of
William Mckinley for the Presidency rather than
Mr. Reed. Mr. Morton, Mr. Allison or Mr. Cullom
what did it mean?
1t is evident that these multiplied popular ver-
dicts meant Mt least one thing-emphatic con-
demnation or the Cleveland tariff policy as ex-
pressed In the Wilson-G ormar act. The Cleveland
Administration has developed other policy than
this affecting the interests OF all classes -laborin
manufacturing. financial and commercial Its
financial policy. In its important features. has
been upon Republican lines-for sound money and
the preservation OF National credit. Its foreign
Venezuela case. where It was patriotic and
courageous has aroused no popular antagonism
Its tariff policy, therefore, has been the burning
issue in all these elections which have so emphatic
ally turned down the Administration and the Demo-
cratic party. The Wilson bill has been on trial.
and the popular verdict has been overwhelmingly
against II. IL has been tried in the balance and
found wanting. The people have compared tho
splendid results OF Protection the wonderful pros
perity OF the whole land under the Harrison Ad-
ministration. when the Mckinley tariff came 10
turn our harvests into gold and our workshops
into mints with wreck and ruin, the bankruptcies
and poverty the want and misery wrought by
the Wilson tariff for revenue only" An out
ragged and indignant people have stamped their
seal OF condemnation in plain and deeply imprinted
letters all over this act for moderate protection
and revenue" for such the Wilson Tariff act was
and is. The people will have none OF It. They
repudiate It with ar emphasis that is irresistible
And what do the masses of the Republican party
now demand Of Congress? Do they not demand
A return to the Republican policy of Protection?
Did not the overwhelming nomination of Mr. Nc
Kinley mean popular Endorsement Of his tariff
which had become the very talisman OF National
prosperity? Did II not imply n demand for the
re-enactmeat OF that very Mckinley BILL" 50
wisely and wonderfully made or the formation
OF a tariff upon protection lines not a whit
less pronounced and effective No other con-
structon can be given that splendid nomination.
No other meaning he attached to the en-
phatic Republican majorities since 1902 than that
the masses of our people earnestly desire n return
to tina; Republican policy which has been the glory
OF the Nation
Il is becoming fashionable for the gold wing Of
the free-trade Democracy claim that without
the gold" vote in the late Presidential election
Mr. Mckinley would have been showed under"
But we have In hand Roland worth two such
divers. Had it not been for the strong promise
Of the 81. Louis platform that the Republican
give the Nation prosperity under Protection; had
II not been for Mr.. McKinley's ringing speeches
made daily during the campaign. and FOR his
sterling letter Of acceptance in all OF which he
took firm ground In favor Of Protection; had II
not been for these reiterated assurances that the
Republican party would be true 10 the people II
the people TO IT, Mr.. Mckinley would
have been buried under a snowbank Of ballots 50
deep that all the golden OF golden
Democracy would not have suficed 10 thaw him
out in a half century's time. ~
Nothing saved the Republican party from utter
rout and humiliation at the polls last November
save its pledge for Protection. While. therefore,
we may acknowledge with suitable gratitude the
votes cast for Mr. Mckinley by forlorn
Democracy. turned out-of-doors by it's own man
ayers. and may confess an admiration for its good
sense and patriotism under trying conditions, We
forget that for every such vote brought 70
votes cast by Republicans because he pledged
to support policy Of ample and thorough pro-
pared with this solid support Of thoroughgoing
Republicanism. the contribution from the gold
Democracy figures Ike the small dust in the |
The elections of 1893. 1894 and 1895. for Con-
gressiona and State candidates. proved clearly /
that very considerable element in the Demo- /
ment, united vita the Republican party in lSoi /
gave Coffin. the Republican candidate for Gov I
OF more than 100 AT the same time cecting
Morton Governor of New-York by plurality ex-
necfic1t and New-York in 1896 would have carried
those states overwhelmingly for tho Republicans
without the aid Of a single gilt" free-trade ballot /
The same conditions existed throughout the East (
and Middle West: The large Democratc clement /
favoring Protection in New,fork New-Jersey' /
Maryland Delaware. Ohio. Indiana Illinois low.
united with the Renublicans would have made ali .
those States safe for Mckinley had there never I
been rumpus in the chicago convention nor IN
Tha Renubican party f. under no obligation
lead it 10 waver 70" moment in its demand Of
the present Congress for "a tariff which will pro-
Nothing could be falser to the verdicts given in
ak our. popular elections within the Iast four four
ministration Of tariff on any other lines than
prmaTy OF tb be o tn and pra
tice OF tariff for revenue There - no Re
pubc9nism in such a policy. From 1861 70 1893 the
enunciate and stand by The prin .lpe OF protection
nerience that Protection always assures revenue.
To-day the only line OF demarcatioa which sepa-
rates the Republican from the Democracy party IS
the line drawn between Protection and revenue.
When the Republican party abdndonS the doc
trin. OF Protection as OF first import lnce in any
tariff and places revenues before II. its days are
nunb ered IL ceases be the Republican party,
IL comes 70 the level of Democracy, and is unde-
serving Of popular support
These thoughts are suggested by the efforts ap-
IA reutv now making in Com ress 10 construct
now tariff with revenue AZ the prime object and
the secondary. There are loud whisper
,nss that this new tariff Is be moderate" in its
protec, I've features. thai IL Is to BE- 'conserya-
i've" ana so adjusted to the nerves OF tariff
formers and Conservative Republicans 10
disarnl their active opposition. This abandonment
OF tho Republican principle is deemed essential 20
the nasslge OF such tariff through Senate
r. here Democratic votes may be needed
we mistake the temper OF Mr.. Mckinley and or
the Republican Congress which IS 10 come into
mower March { II such hybrid tariff IS that
.nnarantIv contemplated by Mr. Dngley will meet
with any considerable degree OF approval NO
rroacfior less effective than that afforded by the
deal Mckinley 'arf will command the indorsr-
mont ~ the 700 0OO Republican voters who cast
hetr b1llota for Mckinley Indeed. the re-enact-
mt ~ the Mckinley tariff itself. without the
81 ma