The semi-weekly messenger., 1901-11-19
LLREpUBLICANs SPLIT ON HIGH
TARIFF.

obervation, experience and trade. Some
sections in great country remain in
hopeless ignorance of real conditions
and the character OF inhabitants liv-
ing in other parts of the country from
its own. This could be easily illustrat-
ed but is not necessary here. Some poll
tcians are too greedy, too selfish, too
blind to see facts and understand
changes. Take Hanna, a man of good
q qualities, a very earnest, ag-
:. ...s-z. ; - vicious politician, but alb
solutely darkened in understanding in
so far as some great public questions
are benign institutions. the best things
for this free and enlightened country
and deserve all necessary protection
and countenance the government can
bestow. The results OF trusts, their op-
pFessions of tens of millions of toilers.
their destruction of so many smaller
Industries are not seen or considered.
So with the present great, grinding.
.,robber'' tariff, to quote a decision of
tie Supreme Court of the United States.
1t is a most gracious, wise, equal,
fist system of taxation-to make the
millions pay for the enrichment of The
thousands. and to compel home people
to pay more for American products
than the Laplander or the Chinese, or
the Europeans pay for the same goods.
This is deemed as essentially judicious.
merciful and wise for this country-for
the nabobs, money kings and mill own
ers. Hanna is so wrapt in the stolidity
of his own ignorance and selfshness.
he is heard to declare that the late cleo
tions are all in favor Of the present
re- ublican methods-trust and high
If - and is clearly against any
nge in the policy Of the republican
rty. That is Hanna's judgment and
iverance The Baltimore Sun noting
tr1 opinion of the "palitical steerer."
al the ballot box corrupter, says that
''tL .e must be no departure from the
wei established principles of the party.
The country is satisfied with existing
corditions and wants TO continue them
inc afinitely. These are the views of the
prC -ident-maker of the party in power
the man who represents the controll-
gs zation.
While Senator Hanna does not state
ir precise terms that conservatism will
be the motto of the Roosevelt admins
tr; ton, he plainly intimates as much.
He also leaves it to be inferred that all
his influence will be exerted to prevent
startling innovations by Mr.. McKinley's
successor"
Whether Hanna and his crowd can
put a curb bit in the new presidents
mouth. and keep down his personality
and known independence. will be seen
before a year passes. The president
may be willing to be 'steered" but such
a spotted politician as Hanna, or by
men of his stamp and policy, but it is
hardly probable He may turn out un-
der the superior manifestations of the
artful fellows who would rather rule
in hell than to serve in Heaven" to be
but plant wax in their hands, but
the country at present is looking for
safer and yet bolder manifestations on
the part of Roosevelt.
There are signs and indications look
ing to a change in the republican policy
OF eternal humiliation and oppression
of the people, and if not to reform, to
reconstruct the tariff. at least to make
cme notifications that enlightened and
observant republican leaders favor and
urge upon their party as a necessity
Representative J. W. BabcoCk, of Wis
consin, is urging a change, a modif1ca-
ton of the present grinding tariff tax.
1T is thought by democrats III Washing
ton that the republican party is ap-
preaching the parting of the ways, and
that there will be some division ap-
parent in the next congress on the high
protective tariff now robbing the Amer
lean people. Hanna says not 81, but
it is said that President Roosevelt viii
be materially supported in a move in
the direction of reciprocity That is
not popular with democrats as a prin-
ciple. But if a split should come they
may go with the president AMI his
supporters in the congress rather than
with the Hanna gang composed of ra
pacious demagogues and real enemies
OF the great mass of American people.
Mr.. Babcock stood alone On the ways
and means committee in the Efft. sixth
congress, he urging that a fostered in
dustry might grow beyond the point
where it should enjoy the special priv
ileges afforded by the protective tariff
system. He is a staunch protectionist.
but has some discernment of true con-
ditions and some common sense to help
him to right conclusions in part. The
Washington correspondent of the Bal
timore Sun on the 18th instant, tele-
graphed that Babcock's proposition
was that certain trust-produced arti-
cles should be placed on the free list.
So displeasing was this to many IF his
colleagues that, Notwithstanding his
prominent position in the party organ
ization, there has been and still is
much talk of his being displaced when
the speaker comes to make up the