The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1903-01-06
THE TARIFF PROBLEM.

HE TAHITI ThUDuHM.
Lord Beresford one Of England great
est statesmen has just paid glowing
tribute to America. He says the diff
ference between England ana America
is that the latter has superior business
methods and is sufficient unto itself
while England is not. This is ire
mendous argument in favor of protec.
tive tariff. Protection tends toward
diversifving industries and after follow
ing that policy America finds itself
sufficient unto itself. England after
years of free trade is forced to admit
that one century of American progress
has been sufficient to put her in the
lead of all the nations, a position which
England surrenders with greatest re-
luctance. For our part we seem to
occupy a position mid way between
the Iowa Idea" republicans and the
''stand pats" The great policy which
has so magnifed the importance and
prosperity of our country is good
enough for US. We care not whether
the benefit goes to one large corpora
ton or dozen, or to thousand small
small concerns. just so long as Ameri
can trade and American labor are ben.
Gifted. We would not haveethe tariff
as shield for extortion. To our mind
the test question in the tariff reduction
problem is not how large or how few
are the concerns Immediately inter-
ested, not whether there is trust. but
as to whether. on account of the tariff,
the people are being compelled to pay
more than fair and legitimate profit
for manufactured articles.
When such an instance can be proved.
we favor reduction of the particular
schedule involved. We do not favor
any wholesale revision of the tariff.
We do not favor tariff reduction as a
punitive measure because of combina-
tion of capital. We do not favor any
so-called anti-trust legislation which
would involve the destruction or en-
feeblement of an American industry
in order to strike at the trust.
We do not believe the present tariff
schedules are sacred, and not to be
touched, but we do believe our domes-
tic conditions are too felicitous to be
endangered by the threat of wholesale
tariff changes.
We would add just this note of warn
ing: while the more radical tariff re-
form people of Iowa are urging the re-
duction of tariff on manufactured
articles, the republican tariff reformers
of Boston are gathering at Faneul
Hall to resolve in favor of free hides,
free meats and free bread stufs. We
are reminded ofthe lines
| "And each thought on different lass
But all sang Annie Laurie"
- ss.i,s;s. II f. + bat saSh
section has different lass in mind
1t is perhaps true that the east re-
ceives a greater degree of protection
than the west. Our western members,
of Congress should endeavor to Sc!
cure such concessions as will place all
sections on an equality.
AS to reciprocity-that is doctrine
which can neither be advocated or re-
! jected in toto The wisdom of recipro-
city depends upon the wisdom of the
provisions of the individual treaty.
Reciprocity which would seriously
cripple an important American in.
dustry is not desirable, reciprocity
which opens new markets. without in
jury to American producers or manu-
facturers is something to be obtained
if possible. The arranging of recipro
city treaties is therefore the work of
the best craftsmanship backed by the
most expert know ledge of the interests
involved. 1t is not matter for grand
stand" politics either one way or the
other. With due apologies TO the very
able editors of Iowa who have ex.
pended so many columns in tariff dis
cussion, we would add the above as
our individual confession of faith along
tariff lines and would suggest that in
the fore going there is room for oil re
publicans to unite without sacrifice
either Of pride or principle,