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Show ASSAILING THE TARIFF. Democrats Poem Determined to Vorce 9 a Disturbing lesue. Signs iucrease that the Democratic leaders are determined to forco the tariff Issue to the front In tho presidential campaign. cam-paign. While Republicans will welcome the discussion of this question, well knowing that It is sure to add many thousands of votes to their majorities, they cannot but regret the selection of tho tariff as tho main Issue, because of the unfortunate Influence It will have upon up-on tho business interests of the country. So far this year the presidential campaign cam-paign has not blocked business and financial finan-cial activity. Affairs proceed as usual. Iu all lines of business thcra is a hopefulness hope-fulness and confidence which Is most encouraging. en-couraging. Hut it tho country Is to be confronted with another visitntlon of tariff tar-iff revision agitation, with even a remote re-mote chance ot succeM In tho election, thcro is bound to bo a great slump in the Induitr'al world and n corresponding depression iu nil business interests. It is well remembered what happened ten years ago, when, as President Koose-elt Koose-elt puts It, "the last attempt was made by means of kiwering the tariff to prevent pre-vent tome peoplo from prospering too much. Tho attempt was entirely successful. suc-cessful. Tho tariff law of that year was among the causes which In that year and for some time afterwards effectually prevented anyliody from jirosperlng too much, and labor from prospering at nil. Undoubtedly It would be possible at the present time to prevent any of the trusts from remaining prosperous by the simple expedient of making such a sweeping change In the tariff as to paralyze the industries of the country." The people of the United States will uot soon court again the destruction and panic of 1803. Owe Is enough for one generation. There will lie a tremendous vote against tariff legislation by the Democrats. The confidence of the country may stand even throughout n tariff revision campaign, hut it is risking n good deal to raise that Issue iu the manner contemplated. con-templated. They, however, have everything every-thing to gain and nothing tn lose. They have got to have something to stand upon, and complete fulluro In every other attack Hindi) upon the Hepuhllcau, position posi-tion has driven them upon the tariff as a standing outpost of Itepubllcimlsin which can always bo assailed, wheu nothing else afford a convenient target. |