The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-07-19
TUESDAY, JULY 10, 1904.
ABOUT TARIFF REFORM

Our Republican friends have a pleas
issues as they think that the public
ought to see them, which excites inno-
cent amusement. With the greatest
air of good faith they will print one
series of articles telling how helpless
Democracy will be in case something
happens, and another to tell you how
paralyzed it will be in case that some
thing does not happen, and then, tri-
umphantly exclaim, There you are"
1t is a method of campaigning that
worked fairly we'll in a day of greater
public ignorance than prevails at pres
ent, but we are inclined to think that
just now it is productive of more hi
larity than practical effect.
By way of example,: Republican
newspapers in general, and those of
Minnesota in particular, have been
harping for long time past upon that
they were pleased to call Gree trade"
They drew out the ancient and de-
parted fraud, believing that there
might be, as was said Of the bloody
shirt long ago, another president in
it, They told everybody that the Dem
ocratic party was absolutely committed
to free trade. They have been quoting
from John Sharp Williams and Bourke
Cochran and lot of other leaders to
that effect, and seriously advising the
American people that as far as the
tariff was concerned this election would
involve simply and solely a choice be-
tween the Republican policy of stand
Of absolute and unequivocal free trade.
They are not the least embarrassed
by the necessity which the ST. Louis
platform imposes upon them Of whirl-
ing instantly to the right about. These
very same organs are now telling us
daily that there can be no Democratic
tariff reform at all because the influ-
ences behind Judge Parker will not
permit it. Tariff revision, they say.
would meet the same fate that it did
under Cleveland, and the people might
just as we'll adjust their CALLED Shout
ders to the yoke they now bear, be-
cause Democratic success could not
remove it or make it rest more easily
We rather like this form of argu-
ment 1t shows an enemy with an I'M
easy conscience. 1t demonstrates the
nature and the terrible anxiety of Re-
publicans on the tariff issue. They
stand for the infamous robbery to
which they are now subjected in be-
half of the -monopolies and trusts. They
know that the people are turning to the
Democratic party as their one hope of
relief from such oppression. They know
that the Democratic party was never
In such good shape as it is today to
accomplish practical and satisfactory
reduction of the tariff. They know that
on this subject the old extremes of
opinion in Democracy have disap-
peared, just as they are vanishing with
regard to the currency.
There is no Democrat of today who
would take the position taken by Sam
Randall that the tariff is a good thing
in and of itself, and protection a bless
ing. There is no Democrat of standing
and influence who would take the posi-
ton that free trade ought to be i'm
mediately accomplished. The entire
Democracy is practically united on the
position that there should be a ma
terial, gradual and steadily progressive
reduction of tariff duties. We must
collect some customs for revenue That
amount is ample and more than ample
Or all the protection that will ever