Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1902-08-02
BABCOck's INDECENT RETREAT.

BABCOCk'S INDECENT RETREAT.
tFrom the New York Evening PostJ
Seldom can q public man Have more
advertised his own incon-
sistency and insincerity than has Con-
gresham Babcock, in the statement
which, as chairman OF the Republican
Congressional committee, he gave TO
the press in Washington yesterday
He not only swallowed his own words
and spit upon his own acts, but went
out OF his way to do 1t, and glored in
trampIing upon his own record "There
is only one thing worse than the cant
of politics. said Lord John Russell oil
q certain occasion, "and that is the re.
cant" Mr.. Babcock has recanted,
and has added TO that humiliation by
appearing to be unconscious OF his
own shame. 1t is not every prominent
man who can thus chcerfully give the
world the option of believing him
either knave or fool
The melancholy details Of Mr.. Bnb-
cocks moral suicide can be briefly
given. He comes out this morning
like a master Of ieers and houts, with
ridicule of the Democratic contention
that tariff protection should be remov-
ed from manufactured goods which
are sold cheaper abroad thansat home.
What IL they are? asks Congressman
Babcock airily. It's only "a rule of the
trade" he says, that surplus pro-
ducts must go cheaper to the foreigner
The Democrats can make nothing Of
that issue. We are not afraid to ask
the country to continue the Republican
party In power in order that those
policies (the present tariff may be
continued In effect" But If he was
not afraid of that, did he not dread
Tint his own previous attitude anu
lnnguage would be thrown in his
teeth? Who was it that was making
all the row last winter about remov-
ing needless and abused protective
duties? Congressman Babcock. Who
made himself so offensive on this sub
ject to the party leaders that Speaker
Henderson was urged to keep him off
the committee on ways and means
Mr.. Babcock Who introduced a bill
to take off the tariff on iron and steel
| products spoke for It. voted for 1t,
divided the ways and means commit
tee on II, boasted Of It, swore he would
never abandon 1t, vowed that the party
would be defeated If 1t rejected the
measureg Why, this same Joseph w
Babcock!
Almost exactly year ago he was
expounding his unalterable convictions
to the editor of the Southwestern
Wisconsin, which published his letter
II maintain" declared the then val
liant Bnbcock, that 1t Is a part of the
policy of protection to protect the con,
sumer,' lie explained precisely wha,
he meant: I'VE can today produce
and undersell the world. Shall We
continue a tariff on articles that are, In
fact articles of export? II Congress
maintains tariff on such ar
ticles, the whole theory OF protection
falls to the ground and it simply in
ures to the benefit of those who may
secure the control of any such commod
ity, since by its aid they can ~
exorbltant prices In the domestic mar
ket.' Then, with swell OF indignan,
virtue In his voice, Mr. Babcock asked
How can such policy be defended o.
Wei, he has answered HIS own ques
tion. Get yourself elected chairman
OF the campaign committee, show how
beautifully holler you are fashioned
In order to swaller with ease you,
own principles, and you can defent
with moral vehemence this or an,
other policy which you have previousl,
denounced AS infamous. DAzegli,
explained the process in the case OF tn,
Carbonaro who was asked to breal
| his path "Eccellenza, cannot; It 1,
| impossible You understand, hny,
taken an oath-glve me at least an
other ducatw
Thh affair runs beyond the mer,