Democratic Sentinel, Volume 14, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 November 1890 — TARIFF LETTERS TO FARMER BROWN. [ARTICLE]

TARIFF LETTERS TO FARMER BROWN.

N@. 8. The Election and the Outlook for Tariff Reform. Dear Farmer Brown —Since my last letter was written the people of tho United States have rejected McKinleyism und “McKinley prices” with an emphasis that leaves no doubt as to what they think of either. Never have tho people of this country visited so' swift and unmistakable a condemnation upon any measure on which they were asked to pass judgment. The Republican leaders fancied that they received in 1888 a commission from the American people to impose higher tariff taxes than the country lias ever had, and they went forward to this work of raising duties with a confidence by no means justified by their slender majority. Confident that they had passed a tariff bill that would receive tho applause of tho people they put it into effect with unparalleled haste, fancying that tho people would see what McKinley calls its “beneficence” and approve tho bill by their votes. Their mistake must now be evident to the blindest among them. In the numerous explanations that the Republicans are now making of their defeat, there is abundanco of confessions that it was the McKidley tariff bill that brought disaster upon their party. Thisisopehly acknowledged by leading Republicans in Massachusetts, whore tho tariff was practically the only issue before tho people. The St. Louis GlobeDemocrat, which is one of the foremost Republican organs of the country, makes this confession: “It was through the tariff law that most of the damage was inflicted on tho Republicans. There was no excuse for any increase In duties on any article. Every advance of this sort w hich was made weakened tho party, hampered the labors of its advocates and champions, and placed the organization on the defensive from the beginning of the canvass.” What, then, is tho outcome of the election as bearing on tariff reform? It can be Dredicted with confidence that on March 4, 1893, a Democratic President will be placed in tho White House, and a Democratic Senate and House of Representatives in the Capitol. President and Congress will be distinctly and unequivocally pledged to a reform of the tariff in tho interests of tho great army of consumers. President and Congress alike will be thoroughly committed to the broad principle that the people should bo compelled to pay no takes except such as go into the treasury. They will hold to the doctrine that to tax the many for tho benefit of the few is simply robbery, and is an outrageous abuse of the powers of government. As the political field looks to-day nothing can prevent the election of a President who holds such views. It is almost equally certain that at the same time the Senate of the United States will pass under the control of the Democrats, and that tho Democratic Senators will thoroughly support the Democratic House of Represenatives in a radical reduction of the tariff. But you may ask, Are we to have the McKinley bill and McKinley prices till 1893? The Congress just elected will meet on the first Monday in December next year. That Congress cannot make a thorough revision of the tariff, as the Senate and President will still be Republican. But there will be tariff legislalation—of that you may be sure. The policy of the Democratic House will most probably be that outlined by Senator Vest, of Missouri. He says: “The Democratic party should proceed deliberately and cautiously to attack the outrageous taxation of the McKinley bill by the enactment by the next House of special bills. These bills should be sent to the Senate, and let the Republicans there take the responsibility of defeating them if they dare. Let the House put salt, lumber, and other articles on the free list by special bills, and then let the Republican Senate wrestle with them.” There will doubtless be a series of these bills in the direction of fiee raw materials and lower duties on tho necessaries of life. These can without doubt pass the Senate, as Senators Plumb, Paddock and Pettigrew will certainly be strengthened in their low-tariff views by the result of th# elections. Other Republican Senators who voted for the McKinley bill under pressure will perhaps fall in line and vote to please their constituencies. Republican journals themselves pointed out before the elections that tho elections might make tariff reformers out of some of the Republican Senators. The Cleveland (Ohio) Leader, one of the most uncompromising high tariff organs in the country, said during the recent campaign: “United States Senators are not indifferent to what they deem changes of national sentiment. They do not wait to be voted out of office before yielding to tho desires of their constituents. What if the elections this fall should seem to show that the MfiKlnley law is not what the country wants? How long would the Senate stand its ground, especially when some of the Republican members were very weak-kneed on the tariff question before the last session ejided?” There will be some bills, then, for tariff reduction. If the President should be so bold as to veto those his course would only anger the taxpayers and intensify their demand for tariff reform, and their demand wuld find emphatic expression fat ICS.

Furthermore" when the Democrat* have taken full control of ’.he Government and have carried out tnejr ideas of tariff reform, we shall have a tariff far lower than the Mills bill offered us in 1883. Mr. Mills himself has just said, ia view of the great tariff reform victoryi “We must not dally with half-way measures; we must open every market for all our products.” Meanwhile the work for tariff reform will go on without interruption. The forces which were influential in bringing about the victory of Nov. 4 will be kept in activity without ceasing for one day. The most energetic organization engaged in the tariff fight is the Reform Club of New York. This club has attracted to it many of the tariff reform leaders all over the country. Organized in January, 1888, it took an active part in the election of that year. It has kept up the fight continuously since then; in the campaign just closed its efforts were redoubled, and its blows were delivered with telling effect. It has conducted joint debates on the tariff throughout New York State, and it has sowed tariff-reform documents all over the West. It has supplied hundreds of newspapers with tariff-reform matter, and this work will go right on Just as during the campaign. In fact, the club, is now fighting already the great Presidential battle of 1893. The work of educating public opinion to intelligent views on tho tariff question will be pushed in every possible way. The ground gained on November 4 is to be held. There is to be no retreat. The victories of the past are to bo an inspiration to greater ones in tho future. So, then, there is hope for a relief from tariff burdens. The horizon is bright with the promise of dawn. The work will go forward more easily now. On November 4 we reached the top of the long, long hill; now we start down on the other side. When we reach tho bottom all unjust burdens of taxation shall be removed. Yours truly,

RICHARD KNOX.