Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1907-07-17
THE TARIFF.

whom it is impossible to please.
They not only want the tariff ques-
ton made an issue but they want
it made the only issue and, strange
to say, they are for the most part
men who supported President Nc
Kinley, the high priest of protec-
ton when the money question was
declared to be the paramount
issue. If you talk to these tariff
reformers about the trust question,
they at once become conservative
and express fear lest business may
be disturbed by an attack upon
monopolies. If you suggest rail-
road regulation, they are inclined
to think that enough has been done
In that direction and that the SUBJ
Ject is not very important anyhow.
Even imperialism does not stir
them very deeply, for what are the
principles of government when
compared with a tax upon the
merchandise? Such tariff reform.
ers are always complaining that
the democratic party does not put
enough emphasis upon the tariff
question, and yet, they have spent
the last twelve years in weakening
the democratic party and in proph-
esying its humiliation. During
this time, however, the democratic
party has gone along including the
tariff question among the issues
discussed but recognizing that it
was not the only issue and in two
campaigns, at least, not the para
mount issue. Events have increas-
ed its prominence during the last
few years, and it will doubtless &C.
cupy more conspicuous position
in the next campaign than it has
since 1892. The party's position
on the tariff was strongly stated in
go: but the president, when elected
on that platform, refused to call
congress together to carry out
policy upon which the party was
united, but did call congress to-
getheI to force through a policy
upon which the party was divided.
Tariff reform sentiment is grow
ing. The protective principle is
weaker than it has been before in
a generation, and a demand for
tariff reform may be more urgent
than in recent years. Every excuse
that has from time to time been
given for the extortion practiced
under the tariff schedules has been
worn out, and there are now no
new excuses to offer. There is no
doubt that the party's position
will be strongly stated in the next
campaign and courageously de-
Tended, but it is not likely that the
question will be declared to be
paramount. 1t is really part of
the trustsquestion, and the trust
question can not we'll be consider
ed apart from the tariff question
any more than the tariff question
can be considered apart from the
trust question.
The question of railroad regula-
ton is also part of the trust
question, for the protective tariff
and the railroad discrimination
have contributed largely to the
growth and prosperity of the trusts.
These three question are closely
united, and they raise the same
issue, namely-whether the gov
eminent shall beadministered in the
interest of the whole people or in
the interest of a few. The friends
of tariff reform ought to join with
the opponents of the trusts and the
advocates of railroad regulation
and make fight for the applica-
ton of democratic principles to all
OF these questions. There will be
tariff reform enough in the next
campaign to please any genuine
tariff reformer, and there ought to
be no quarrel as to the relative i'm
portance. They are all important,
and no one interested in any one
OF these questions should waste his
energy by abusing the persons in.
terested in the other questions.
There will be glory enough for all
IT a victory can be won for the
democratic maxim, Equal rights
to all and special privileges tc
none. "-Commoner.