The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-07-19
WILL TARIFF REDUCTION COME.

The talk now is that the huge. vile,
robber, unconstitutional. tariff tax shall
stand. So say republican leaders, men,
bers and editors. 1t will not be doc
tored by the next congress-, the Fifty
seventh, so it is said, and because the
republican majority is larger than it
was in the last congress. Neglect to
radically reduce will be sure to force
an issue in 1904. The expiration of the
next congress will be near the align
ment of forces for the campaign in
1904. The republicans will commit
hara-kiri if they refuse to educe Wig
orously the oppressive, rascally tax
The Philadelphia North American,
sometimes regarded as progressive and
conservative, assures protectionists
that they "set their minds at rest" as
to any probability of "wholestle revi-
sion of the Dingley tariff" 1t reminds
its readers of the agitation of free
traders" in the past. that lied to tariff
tinkering." Just where the North
American stands it a little difficult to
understand. for it writes farther on as
if it favored reduction. At any rate it
says:
1T is a hopeful sign that the bust
ness men of the country, and especi-
ally those of the republican party, have
learned this lesson and are prepared to
apply it. That they have the courage
and foresight to put themselves on rec
ord so far in advance of the meeting
of congress encourages the belief that
their influence will not count for NO.
thing next winter in Washington. We
have in mind at this moment the form
al expressions of such representative
bodies as the National Association of
Manufacturers, the Southern Industrial
convention and the board Of directors
of the Manufacturers club, OF Phila-
delphia, all Of which have had some.
thing to say during the last ten days
about reciprocity and the tariff. The
first and last Of these bodies are two of
h most powerful protectionist organi-
cations in the United States, Yet they
have dared to endorse the policy Of re-
ciprocity and even to touch On the
question of altering the present tariff
schedules"
That there is tariff agitation in the
north is beyond question. That thou
sands OF republicans favor a decided
reduction in tariff rates. is equally as
sured. Tariff reform and RECONSTRUCT
ton will come and Pennsylvania and
New England united cannot prevent
it. Men like Senator Aldrich, wor-
ship protection a. a fetch, and antag-
onize all change, all reduction. The
North American looking towards tariff
revision Of a certain sort, says:
1T is Senator Aldrich who Is playing
into the hands of the tariff r~evisionists,
not the manufacturers. who see an op-
portunity to extend u foreign mar
kets by making some minor concessions
to foreign countries In return for reci-
procal favors.
Those special interests which desire
to defeat the presidents efforts toward
reciprocity hope to succeed Dy arous-
ing party prejudice. They would keep
he tariff in politics. just as some poll
ticianS would like to win more cam
paigns on the g~old-standard issue"
The democrats may make the tariff
an issue whether it Is touched or nc.
If it is reduced it will be a great con-
cession as to its iniquity and Unequal
ity. 1t will be because threatened by
the European combine against the high
robber rates. If it refuses TO reduce
and reconstruct it will be a simple ne
cessity that not all democrats, but all
reformers among republicans should
unite in a vigorous assault upon the
entrenched robbers who to gain greater
riches would be willing to play the part
of Rob Roy to the emo Of the present
century.