The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-11-24
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"WHEN THE TIME COMES"
 The Hartford Courant, being Repubii- can newspaper, is naturally an advocate of protection of the Republican brand. Mir. williams, leader of the House Demo crats. recently stated that 'the Demo- cratic Party is going to revise and re- duce the tarif. If it cam That proviso is well put, for the Democrats can neither revise nor reduce as long as the Republi- cans are in power. Referring to this dec laration of williams, The Courant says:
 There is quite general feeling in the country-by no means confined to Re- publicans-that the revising of the tarin is a piece of work that had better be left in Republican hands. When the time comes. Mir. Williams's advice may be of use The revenue needs of the Govern ment have so greatly increased that the low tariff and exuberant free list of which some Democrats of the old school used to dream wouldn't do at all. A dutiahle list long enough and high enough to afford revenue necessity. This being so. the main object of revision must be-when the time comes-to adjust the Dingiey schedules to the actual business condi- tions wherever such adjustment Is re. quired. and to correct any inequalities and put a stop to any abuses of protection that may be discovered.
 Here. also. is a proviso quite as appro- priate as the one used by Mir. Williams. The words when the time comes'' have quite a familiar sound, for they are used so regularly by Republican speakers and newspapers that they might well be ster- eotyped and kept ready for constant use. They are as familiar as Hanna's stand pat" but are not nearly so open and hon. est. When the time comes'' is as in- definite as to say they will reduce the tariff when they are ready. The time will never come, as long as the leaders of the party can control their followers. The tariff affords so many opportunities for enriching certain favored ones that 1t will require something stronger and more friendly to the people than the Repu0- lican Party is to interfere with 1t.
 Recently prominent Republican states man announced that he favored .'reduc- ing the duties where they are too hign and raising them where they are too low" This was brilliant and eminently Republican deliverance. and the speaker doubtless congratulated himself on the expression. It had a show of sincerity and bound the speaker to nothing, for no Republican can be expected to admit that any duties are too high; or, if one should admit it, he would fail to get his party to agree with him.
 And yet, Tn the extract above quoted, The Courant does have a practicable idea when it says that "a dutiable list, long enough and high enough to afford all the protection really needed is now revenue necessity" That would be good Demo- cratic doctrine If put in a slightly differ ent way. Our party admits that we must raise a large part of our needed revenue by a tax on imports. Where we widely differ from our opponents, however, Is that Democrats insist that duties should be laid solely for revenue. without favor to any home industries. and so regulated as to bear with as little weight as pos sible on the people who have to pay the duties. In other words, Democrats want tariff for revenue and Republicans want a tariff for protection. There is a world of difference in the two. And yet, The Courant does take a whack at certain trust benefciaries. Discussing the gen. eral fact that certain American goods are sold at lower price in foreign countries l than to home purchasers, 1t says:
 There is no surer way to burrow under | and later destroy the protective policy than to abuse it's privileges in this un- American fashion.
 That is true. but where Is the remedy? The men who derive most benefit from the trusts are mostly prominent Republi- cans. whose influence and money must be enlisted or the party is bound to be de- feated It would be impossible for them to elect a President or control Congress without the influence and financial assist ance of these trust beneficiaries. hence the significance of the "when the time comes" proviso. The time will not come H.,xD