The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1907-08-22

people, general prosperity has not pre-
vented the remedying of other abuses
and injustice. | don't know why 1t
should prevent this.
81 had occasion in a speech which
delivered at Bath, Me-, now about a
year ago, to express my individual
opinion as in favor Of an immediate
revision of the tariff, but there point
ed out, and | only refer to 1t to repeat
1t and emphasize it, that the revision
Of a tariff involves so many different
interests the country over as that 1t
could not be undertaken successfully
by the Republican party, and therefore
ought not to be undertaken at all, I'M
til the party as a whole is in favor OF
1t. | ventured to express the opinion
that the sentiment in favor OF re-
vision in the Republican party was
crystalliing to such a point that in a
short time we might expect to have
action upon the subject. What has
happened in the last year has only
served to confirm the view | then eX-
pressed, and it now seems to me that
even most of the extremists In the
matter of the tariff are of opinion that
It would be not only unwise, but un-
safe, for the party to fail in its next
national platform to pledge itself to
revision of the tariff as soon after the
next presidential election as possible.
Those of us who favor immediate re-
vision can we'll afford to wait until
after the next presidential election in
order to secure substantial acquies-
cence by all Republicans. Certainly
delay of action for 1S months ought to
furnish a reason for no protectionist to
invite the certain business disaster
| that Democratic revision on free trade
lines would involve More than this,
| full time should be given for the oper-
alton of a new tariff upon the busi-
ness of the country before the people
| express their opinion of it. The pas
sage of a bill by the next congress
would mean the consideration by con-
gress of the tariff in the midst of a
presidential campaign with all the op-
portunity for Misrepresentation Of its
| effect which it's practical operation for
a year or more would refute. Further
more, with presidential election four
years removed, we can count on re-
vision less affected by political consid-
erations than if made in the heat Of
national campaign"
Secretary Taft expressed his regret
at not having time to discuss other
subjects and in closing said
Advantages Of Republican Party.
81 can not close without comment ON
| the position of advantage for the COM
inG national campaign which President
| Roosevelt, by the intense earnestness,
| vigor, courage and success with which
he has pressed the reforms that rightly
bear his name, has secured to the Re-
publican party. A trimming, do-noth-
ing, colorless policy in face of the
proof of business, railway and corpor-
ate abuses would certainly have driven
the party from power, however little
responsibility for them could be justly
charged to it. 1t was not political ad-
vantage which the president sought in
these reforms, but the real betterment
of conditions which he has effected.
Still the belief of the people in his sim
cerity, his courage and his amazing
quality for doing things on their be-
half has won for him hold on the
American public, at which even his bit
terest opponents marvel and which
finds few If any parallels in the polit-
ical history of this country. Fortunate
q party with such leader"