Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1911-06-27
THE TARIFF WILL YET KILL THE
G. 0. p.

u. y. L.
The impression is growing that the
split in the Republican party on the
tariff will grow, instead of diminish
ing, that unlike that on the silver
question it will disrupt the party and
bring defeat to it in the approaching
national election. Protectionism has
been run TO an extreme limit in the
interest of industries that have grown
enormously rich at the expense of the
consuming public, and the country is
Iup in arms in protest against The
abuse of governmental powers for a
favored class Reviewing the whole
tariff situation the Philadelphia Rec
lord, one of the staunchest advocates
of tariff reform the country has, whose
devotion TO the cause has never way-
cred even when the outlook seemed
most gloomy, has this interesting re-
view under the caption History re-
peating itself"
When a political party is no longer
able to keep pace with the march of
the people its dissolution is only al
Question of time. The obstinate resis-
lance of the regular Republican party
to every genuine reform of an odious
tariff system sign of that ossiica-
ton of the heart that presages itsI
early DOOM Thus history does some
times repeat itself The Wing party,
though it had in its leadership some of
the ablest statesmen of the country
owed its disappearance from the polit-
ical field to it's high tariff policy more
than to any other cause, frequently asI
its fall it attributed to the slavery
question. Six years after the enact
ment of the Democratic tariff of 1916
comparatively obscure Democrat was
elected President over the brilliant
Wing soldier of the Mexican war, who
received the electoral votes of but four
es-Massachusetts Kentucky, Ten
nessee and Rhode Island. The party of
Protection with this passed out of ex-
istence.
$50 much impressed were the Re-
publican leaders with this history that
when the new party held it's first Ma
tional Convention, in 1856, at Philadel-
phia, the convention deliberately rel
fused to adopt protective tariff reso-
luton, strongly as it was urged byI
Thaddeus Stevens and other members
from Pennsylvania. One year later the
leaders in Congress, Speak
er N. P. Banks in the House, and Will
liam H. Seward in the Senate, united
with the Democrats to reduce the sue
cessful tariff of 1916 to an average of
10 or 20 per cent Contrast this with
the opposition of the regular Republic
cans in Congress to reasonable reduc-
ton of the brutal duties of nearly 100
per cent. on wooden clothing and
blankets. Then measure, if you can,
the immense distance that separates
the Reactionary Republican leaders
from the founders of their party.
There is no need for an opponent
of the regular Republican party to in
dulge in predictions of its early doom
as it goes through the process of pet
rifcation This has been done by one
of it's own members. While the House
was passing the Democratic wool bill
Republican prophet, Senator Gal
linger, lugubriously expressed his con-
Yiction that when the Reciprocity bill
shall pass many Republicans on this
side will join Democrats in kicking
out the foundation stones of the pro-
tective tariff system AS a logical
consequence with the system falls the
party that sustains it.
Whether a regenerated Republican
organization will succeed the party Of
the Tariff and the Trusts to contend
for control of the Government with
the Democrats must largely rest with
the Progressives of the Senate. The
opposition of Senators LaF'ollette and
Cummins to reciprocity as we'll as 20
the Farmers Free List bill and the
Wool bill affords but dim prospect OF
so desirable an end to all who hold
that the conflict of strong opposing
parties is essential to the wholesome
working of our political institutions
Turning from the Senate, there is
much reason to hope for such an or
ganization from the Republicans of
the House who had the liberality 20
vote with the Democrats for tariff re-
form on Tuesday"
The Cleveland Plain Dealer remarks