Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1901-06-28
CATCHING AT sTRAws.

Because Director Of the Mint Roberts,
Congressman Baboock, of Wisconsin,
Senator Beverage and some other he.
publicats have at various times ex
pressed belief that in the near future
it will be necessary to revise the Tariff
in order to adjust il to changes 10 the
industrial and commercial world. some
Of the Democratic leaders and organs
who have be n looking for an issue ever
since the last election have declared 10
favor Of reopening the controversy be-
tween Free Trade ami Protection, or at
least of beginning an agitation against
the Tariff in the hope that it can be
worked up into an effective campaign
issue and tried out in the Congressional
elections next year.
It's not surprising that some such
scheme should be advocated by Demo
cratic leaders, for drowning men catch
at straws, and since neither free silver
nor anti-imperialism, nor socialism, nor
Government ownership nor any other
plank in the Bryan platform can be
made available in another election, it
is but natural they should grasp at the
straw that appears to be floating their
way along the currents Of Tariff dis
cussion.
They are aware that under the lead Of
Cleveland they once elected President
on a Tariff reform platform, but they
have forgotten that the experience
which the country had with the Demo-
cratic Tariff has been sufficient for the
rest Of this generation.
No Tariff, however wisely devised to
suit tie requirements of particular
time, can be expected to reman IN
changed forever. Consequently it is
self-evidcnt that sooner or later Tariff
revision will have 10 be undei taken
There is, however, no need for it at this
time. 10 fact, renewal of Tariff agi-
tation. with a resultant unceitain'y a,
to what changes would be made in the
existing duties, would do more harm
han almost anything else that could
bcfali our industrial and commercial
system at this juncture. II is there
fore, not at all likely that any encour-
4gement will be given by the masses Of
the people to the mad scheme Of renew
ing the Tariff fight. Such changes as
from time to time may be advisable in
the duties must be made by the friends
Of Protection and not by the men whose
Tariff tinkering prcd1ced the Wilson
bill.
Strangely enough the only sane leader
among the Democrats at this time ap-
pears to be Senator Vest, whose erratic
and fiery temper has been cooled by age
and from whose eyes binding artisan
ship has been removed by his approach
ing retirement from politics. He was
recently interviewed on the subject Of
the parau cunt issue for the coming
campaign, and said: The issues will
be made by the conditions, and the man
will be indicated by the issues. The
issues may be brought before us in ,
week. They may come in single day.
Wall strc ct may Indicate them. Hanna
says prices in Wall street are based on
actual values. If Hanna is right and
the prosperity We now enjoy is contin-
ued up to the next election, there will
be little need for having any Democratic
policy in 1904"
That is about as accurate forecast
as can be made. Under any circum-
stances the Democrats might as well
stick to Bryan and free silver, or have
no policy at all, as 20 try 10 win Presi-
dental election again in this generation
on Fee Trade platform.