The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-09-12
CYN|C|SM AND THE
 TARIFF QUESTION Does High Tariff Cost In Moral
 Deterioration? THE DANGERS OF DOUBT Has the Spread and Increase of Fur tunes Made Us Skeptica of
 the Higher Things
 in Politics?
THE DANGERS OF DOUBT

Eminent and honorable men have diff fered rreconcilably as to the economic phases of a high tariff. Some have held that 1t Is the basis of the prosperity of the country, while others find that basis in our extraordinary natural re- sources and in certain aptitudes of tho American, character. So we have regard CT it as an essential to the establish ment and growth of manufacturers and secondarily to the existence of extensive national trade, while others have regard ed aprotective tariff at itself "a con- spiracy in restraint of trade" Some point to the great achievement of capital under the operation of the tafff and say, ''See what we have become;" others cite the accomplishments of the capital which is not beneficiary of the tariff, and say, See what we might have been" These are differences of opinion measurable in dollars and cents, and if all the data were procurable, one might ascertain whether. in the mass, the policy of protection were financially advantageous to the country. Until such balance can be struck, the desirability of such policy is likely to be judged in general by the benefit 1t affords to the class or individual concern.
 But there are other ways of gazing the value of public policy, and one of the most important is its effect upon the character of the people. Granted, for the sake of argument, that the high tariff policy has been or enormous use fin building up the country materially, has this been done at a countervailing expense of moral deterioration?
 The question we wish to raise is one which may fairly be addressed primarily to all patriotic and well-meoning citl- zens who may be direct beneficiaries of the tariff. It would be idle to deny that, as regards the equality of men before law-making bodies, there is throughout the country an arrant skepticism Ask any 10 men-young in idealsm or old in experience--what Is the strongest inf1u- ence to obtain indulgence whether by favoritsm or evasion, and nine will an- swer pull" We are not saying that these are right. Honest legislators can tell of many instances in which "forbid- den and abhorrent forces have failed to overcome causes thrice armed in justice. But the cynicism Is there, and 1t has grown with the last half century to an alarming extent Even men who are de- voting themselves day and night to the betterment of their time. though they ex- hibit not the "faltering" that is sin cannot rid themselves of the doubt which the poet calls "disloyalty.' Many are the braver for their fighting, but the less efficient for their doubt As for ''the man in the street., justice on it's merits has become with him missing and byword
 From what chief source has come this pervasive distrust of the square deal'' in the making and the administration of law-most pervasive in regard to state Legislatures and municipalities-which has caused the finger of scorn to be pointed at us? Does any candid advocate of high tariff fail to see that it. is due in large part to the object lesson which that system presents of inequality before the law, special privilege? This may or may not be in return for political sup port. The time has long gone by when legislation in Congress can be influenced directly by money. Every scandal makes a new moral record, and the Credit Mo biler exposure had it's use in quickening the sensitiveness of legislators. There is no difference between the personal hon. esty of a protectionist and that of any other representative, and that of the high-- est types in both houses are men who are convinced that skies would fall with the abandOnment or tnlS tlme-nOnOreQ policy. But the inequality is there, and ineqality is denial of democracy and a lie to our professions. It has brought us dangerously near to political hypocrasy in pretending to be something we are not, and this by consequence has made us al- most nation of cynics.
 Now the question to be taken into ac- count Is whether al 1.-the class prosperity of great magnitude due to the tariff, fol- lowed as it has been by a wake of lesser prosperity to others, Is worth what 1t has cost in helping to take the heart out of the popular faith in republican nstitu- tions, The enormous increase of wealth Is spoken of as though 1t were an un- mixed good. But has not the very spread and increase of fortunes made us skep- tics of the higher things in politics? Shakespeare read one great temptation of life aright when he wrote:
 Great preys make true men thieves.
 Wealth has noble uses. but 1t has also a hypnotizing power which stills the con- science and makes us oblivious to the fact that the greatest product of poIit- ical system is not money, but high-mind- ed, sef-respecting and altruistio men.
 How the ArmadilIo Came Here.