The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-06-21
TUESDAY, JUNE 81, 1904
TWEEDLEDUM AND TwEEDLEDEE

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The circus season has come around
again, but none of the clowns jokes
will equal in their appeal to the pub
lies risibilities the solemn discussion
between Republican highbinders as to
whether the platform to be adopted
at Chicago shall declare for tariff
changes. There seems to be some little
feeling, as there is a great deal of talk
upon this moot question. Delegates from
the West, and especially candidates for
congress who feel that their election is
III jeopardy, insist that some concession
be made to universal tariff reform
sentiment in their districts. They ask
that the national party platform shall
at least declare for changes in the
tariff schedules at some future time.
to correspond with changes in business
conditions. With this broad generality
they will be content. On the other
hand, there is another section of the
party, apparently in large majority,
which holds to the standpat doctrine
in all its length and breadth and depth.
There is a prospect of quite a little
struggle between these two factions
Tor control of the committee on resolu-
tions and for the vote of the conven-
ton. The issue has meaning for
those who are candidates for office.
There are a good many districts in
the country where it will be hopeless
for Republican to ask for votes if
his party turns down every PROPOSE
ton to revise the tariff, or to extend
the privileges Of reciprocity. In these
constituencies there are still some
voters who may be gulled, who are
seeking for an excuse to vote the Re-
publican ticket as a partisan affair.
and who will .quiet their consciences
If they can get any sort of old promise
OF better things in the future. It is
IN such spots that a modification Of the
standpat policy might count. AS far
as anything but fooling the voters is
concerned, as far as it relates to legis-
Iation actually to be enacted and noli-
cies actually to be followed, the differ
ence between the two camps of Repub-
licans is precisely that between twee-
dIod1lD, and +r-aadIodoo
There will never be any tariff re-
vision by the Republican party. The
principle of ultra high tariff duties
is encysted in the body of Republican
doctrine. 1t is necessary to the very
existence of the party as at present
constituted. The preservation of the
Dingley rates unreduced is a fixed
condition of the financial support with
out which the Republican party cannot
exist. Its leading lights and it's prac-
tical managers everywhere are men so
identified with protected industries
men so dependent for their millions
upon the continuance of unjust and
exorbitant tariff rates, that nronosi-
ton TO them to lower the tariff would
be exactly like asking Mr.. Rockefeller
to break up the monopoly he has estab-
lished and turn over possession OF
some of the most important oil fields
in the country to independent and
nop7Ya+inc, aororovioe
The only practical issue as far as
the tariff is concerned at Chicago is
whether the Republican party will
make pretense Of virtue or whether
1t will brazenly stand by the fact. In
neither case will the tariff be revised
or reda6ed. If Mr.. Roosevelt should be
reelected and if the Republicans have
majority in the house not one penny