The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-03-20
The Tariff as a Party Issue.

A pious but delusive hope is thus ex-
pressed by the Montgomery Advertiser.
one Of the consistent Democratic journals
Of the South:
The one hope Of the situation is that the Re
pIblicans viii fail utterly give the relief de
handed by the majority Of people through tarih
legislation. The Democrats can then return to the
great cardinal issue which separates the two parties
and leave OF chasing after isms and phautomS If
the Republicans fail &c give tar relief. the Demo
Gratis viii have their issue for 1872 ready made"
We should like 10 inquire of our con-
temporary whether It still holds 10 this
view after reading Of the Democratic
performance in the House on Monday,
and OF the vote OF MI Broussard, Of LOU
isiana. In favor of reporting the Payne
bill II so. the quality and buoyancy Of
its political optimism far excels that
prevailing in this sanctum. We are ready
10 throw up our hands as far as the tariff
IS concerned. 1t is a moribund party
issue, and the South has throttled It.
Here and there you may come upon a
relic OF the old Cleveland guard. like our
Alabama contemporary. but II the South
ern press generally finds any fault with
the Payne bill. we apprehend It viii be
that it is not sufficiently protective of
Southern industries and Southern agricul-
ture. And If the South is ready to ac-
cept protective tariff. as all the signs in
dicate. how is the tariff 10 become an
issue dividing parties save possibly as TO
minor details?
The last Democratic national platform
declared for a gradual reduction Of tariff
duties TO a revenue basis. It was thought
by many oId-Ilne Democrats to have
some significance. Yet no sooner had the
p-tion voted in a Republican administra-
ton than a clamor arose in the South for
higher protective duties. The Ways and
Means Committee has been besieged with
representations by Southern Democrats
in behalf of various Southern industries.
II was subtly urged that inasmuch as
the country was bound 20 have protection,
the South ought 10 have its share OF it.
1t was speciously argued that this atti-
tude was not inconsistent with the
oretical adherence TO the traditional Dem
ocratic ideal of a revenue tariff. with
incidental protection. But how long will
intelligent men seek 20 stupefy and stul-
tify themselves with so transparent a de-
ception? In many cases the pretense has
been thrown on in private utteTance, and
there is a growing tendency 70 do so in
the press and public comment. When the
South has found accurate expression on
the tariff. it's opinion will be about that
Of the rest Of the country. with moderate
protectionists in the majority. regardless
of party.
It is a great change 70 have come about
within single generation. Yet Il was
foreshadowed when Southern protectionist
Democrats foiled Cleveland's efforts TO re-
form the tariff. Since then the industrial
progress Of the South has been so great
that protective duties play the same part
there as elsewhere in the stimulation of
manufactures and the swelling Of profits.
Moreover. there now prevails throughout
the South a cynical view Of Democracy's
future. so far as national politics is con-
cerned, coupled with a generous faith in
Mr.. Tafts ability and professions. There
is a disposition 20 come TO terms with the
ancient foe and 10 participate in the
good things Of life once more What the
effect OF this easy-going frame Of mind
will be on the future Of the Democratic
party IS difficult 10 discern. Just at pres
ent II looks as II nothing in the world
held the Southern Democracy together
but the everlasting race question Ger
tainly there IS little real opposition IN the
South to the Taft variety of political
sentiment "