New-York tribune., 1908-08-24
ss 10 "EEW RORN ZEAL" "

Mr.. Taft's personal pledge to call specia!
session of Congress for the revision OF the tariff
Immediately after his inauguration If he IS
elected, strengthens and confirms the deelara-
ton of the Republican platform for such a ses-
sion for that purpose at that time. But II IS
hardly necessary TO convince the nation that III
Mr.. Taft the party presents an earnest advocate
of tariff revision with firm convictions upon the
subject. who will do his utmost to bring about
such adjustment of the Dlngley scneduieS dS
changed conditions since the passage Of the last
tariff law have made eXpedient. Mr. Taft views
upon this subject are so well known as hardly
TO require restatement. He has been one OF
the leaders of his party in bringing about us
present progressive attitude the tariff ques-
ton. His speech at Bath. Me. two years ago
predicted the policy which the party now favors,
and his foresight has been justified by the over
whelming support In the Chicago convention OF
the proposal for revision Immediately after the
beginning of the new administration.
Mr. BRYAN IN his recent tariff speech refers TO
Mr. Taftis "new born zeal for revision as H.
anticipating the general criticism of his own
record which that speech evoked, he wished 10
suggest that the Republican candidate was IN
no better position than himself "H h'd the ze'ii
Of one who was trying TO ca! Up " i,u existing
sentiment But Mr. Taft has no new born zeal for
revision He came out for it boldly when the
party sentiment was only forming and when
reyisionists were few. His speeches helped to
form the sentiment and the party has come
around to his position Mr.. Taft does not lead
the movement from behind, making up In sudden
zeal for what he lacked in prescience. Mr. BrY-
an. on the other hand. took the leadership OF MS
party when fl favored low tariff, and by ms
Indifference TO the question he shifted bis
partys position 10 one of tolerance OF protec-
tion. He always put by the discussion Of the
convenient season. ana now
that he perceves or thinks he does growing
desire for lower duties he takes up the tarin
with a fervor that astonishes those who have
watched his past Indifference. His Is gen
uine new born zeal. not the zeal Of a convert
but the zeal of an opportunist who thinks that
here IS his opportunity
Mr. Tafts position, moreover, is consistent
No tariff ever drawn has been permanent. lis
imperfections are revealed IN its application and
the passage Of time and change of conditions de-
veiop faults in it that were not there at first
That is the view of Mr.. Taft regarding the
Dingley law-namely. that 1t is not suited 70 the
! present day. His principles az a protecdonist
remain unaltered. but he has found that the
Dingley law does not carry out properly the
principle of protection.
Mr.. BRYAN on the other hand, percevtng an
| advantage In this discarded issue" suddenly
makes an attack upon the alleged evils or pro-
lection. ne consumer IODDtu Iot Chc
! of special classes The government is corrupted
by the tariff interests. which hold the governing
party in their pay and which maintain that
party in power half through bribery and hair
| through duress over the vast army Of working
| men In their employ, We have not govern
ment, but an organized system Of plundering the
many by the few, maintained by wholesale cor
r1Iption OF the many and through the fear OF the
many that if they do not put up with the plum
dering they will meet even worse fate! 1t
is q striking picture of democratic government
as exercised by a highly intelligent electorate
| capable at any time of putting an end 10 their
| own exploitation But that is in passing. Mr..
| Bryan processes 10 believe II. and naturally 50
! monstrous a condition moves him to some elo-
| ouent words. But If he believes Ii now, he must
have believed It for the last twelve years during
| which time he has had the ear Of the nation 10
an extraordinary degree. AS witness Of this
| loot and corruption, how has h. kept silent until
now? Not even the fear of offending the nfu-
entail protectionist wing OF his party could have
! stopped the mouth Of an honorable patriot with
| real convictions