New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-06-14
DEMOCRATIC TARIFF POLICY.


Democratic State conventions this year have
shown extraordinary timidity i'll dealing with
the tariff question. Though apparently still
committed 10 low tariff and free trade theories,
the Democratic party, as 4 party, is strangely
disinclined to avow n northumberland hostility
TO the protective system. Old enthusiasts
have waned The crusaders who battled for
free trade under Morrison, Mills, Cleveland
and Wilson have lost their ardor. Democratic
leaders no longer Illuminating against the
iniquity OF import taxes and threatening to
raze the custom houses. The WilSOn-Gornan
experiment of 1894 seems TO have taught them
caution. They are not quite 50 ready TO tear
down 1.-THE Chinese wall" and initiate another
err Of confusion and distress. of deficits and
bond issues They can still view with alarm
the "glaring inequalities and gross injustice"
of the existing tariff. But they are exceed
ingly wary about committing themselves to any
definite measure Of relief-to any positive or
radical programme Of tariff revision.
The Hill-Parker platform, on which the Demo
cratic party is asked to make Judge Parker
its Presidential candidate. carries this profound
and searching declaration on the tariff ques-
ton:
Reasonable revision of the tariff Needless
duties upon imported raw material weigh heaV-
lily on the manufacturer, menace 10 the
American wage Garner and, by increasing the
cost or prOuucllOn smut out ouE pIONuCtS AioAiA
the foreign market.
AS Colonel Bryan has remarked about this
judicial and judicious" deliverance, It could
be Incorporated without offence in the plat
form of any known political party. The man
who opposes reasonable" tariff revision or
who insists on retaining needless duties
should be DISTINGUISHED or deported. This is
scarcely the kind of tariff revision that Frank
Hurd Henry Watterson r. Q. Mills and other
votaries of the ''Star Eyed Goddess of Reform
were in the habit of contemplating. But when
Judge Parker is elected President we shall live
no doubt, in a new age of moderation and rea-
son. A few needless duties Oh raw materials
will be dispensed with and prosperity, under a
protective tariff on manufactured imports, VIII
be allowed TO continue.
The Maryland platform. written by or for
Mr.. German expresses his we'll known views
on the tariff question. 1t promises that the
Democratic party-if the chance comes again
will revise the tariff in a conservative spirit
of fairness 10 all interests" That is a pro
gramme. too which is apparently beyond crit
cism. The Maryland Senator, no doubt, meant
10 be governed by this conservative spirit OF
fairness" when he rewrote the Wilson bill ten
years ago. Whatever WAS REASONABLE in that
measure was certainly due 10 his efforts. But
his Iabors failed of due appreciation from a
Democratic House and n Democratic President
the latter constituting his amendments as party
peridy and dishonor' and denOuncing him as
one who had blasted the efforts OF the brave IN
their hour Of might"
1t is now conceded either that Judge Parker
will be named as the Democratic Presidential
candidate or that he will be beaten by candi-
date approved of and nominated by Mr.. Cor
man. DO the utterances of the platforms OH
which these two party leaders stand fifty ex-
press the Democratic party's attitude toward
tariff reform? Or are they simply part and
parcel of plot to buncO the American public
TO steal back into power on policy Of misrep-
resentation, evasion and silence?