New-York tribune., 1903-04-05
THE PRESIDENT on THE T4RIFP.

The Presidents speech on the tariff at Mime
anolis Yesterday was a clear compact, straight
forward declaration of fundamental principles.
He has said the same things before at greater
length and is fully competent to enter upon an
elaborate discussion Of the subject whenever
occasion demands; but this short address is SO
full of truth and so well put together that it is
likely TO produce strong impression in all
parts of the country. The tariff under which
extraordinary prosperity has been attained was
frankly based on the principle OF protecting
American industrial interests 1t was framed
and passed to serve that purpose, while produc-
ing an adequate national revenue, without mis-
giving or evasion and there is not the slightest
doubt that the policy which it embodies is ap-
proved by a vast majority of the American peo-
pie. Scarcely more than handful OF voters ex-
pect or desire TO see that policy reversed.
AS the President says, it is almost as neces-
sary that our customs arrangements should be
stable as that they should be wise. "a nation
like ours could not long stand the runous pol
icy Of readjusting its business to radical
changes in the tariff at short intervals" New
ertheless the tariff is not inviolable, and those
who regard ii as a fetch do not deserve TO
enjoy the benefits which it confers. Our aim
'should be to preserve the policy OF protec-
.tive tariff in which the nation as whole
''has acquiesced, and yet wherever and when
"ever necessary. TO change the duties in par
"ticular paragraphs or schedules as matters
"of legislative detail, if such change is de-
'manded by the interests Of the nation as a
whole" 1t will be observed that the President
says wherever and whenever necessary" not
wherever and whenever a small and noisy mi
nority declares a necessity to exist The de-
mand must be general and long enough contin-
ued to prove knowledge and conviction. To con-
cede that particular change might work well
does not imply a consent to make it, nor is
common belief that it would work we'll a suf-
ficient reason in every case for making it at
once So closely interlocked are the schedules
that widespread disturbance might result from
q single alteration it. indeed, any alteration
could be accomplished without rendering others
inevitable. These difficulties and dangers fur
nish no excuse for an obstinate refusal to touch
the tariff at ALL but they do demonstrate the
need of impartiality, deliberation and degree
Of moral courage capable Of withstanding a
heavy pressure.
The President reterates the truth that the re-
Iation between the tariff and the trusts is chief
ly rhetorical. Political partisanship, the free
trade propaganda and the spirit of demagogism
are alike exemplified in the cry that oppressive
Industrial combinations can best be smitten by
shifting the tariff The truth Of the matter is
that a change in the tariff affecting a particu-
lar trust would inevitably affect its unorganized
competitors. and if the former were injured the
latter would be injured more severely, because
of their comparative weakness. while the ag-
gregate result would probably be a transfer OF
a large proportion of the business from Ameri-
can TO foreign "despots." If there are customs.
duties which need to be revised, if revised at
all. with greater caution than the rest, they
are probably those which directly concern the
fruSrs