This is a serious statement to make, but it is true.

It does not apply, of course, to the men who really represent their constituents and who are making so fine a fight for the conservation of self-government.

As soon as these men have won their battle and consolidated their victory, confidence in Congress will return.
But in the meantime the people of the United States believe that, as a whole, the Senate and the House no longer represent the voters by whom they were elected, but the special interests by whom they are controlled.

They believe so because they have so often seen Congress reject what the people desire, and do instead what the interests demand.
And of this there could be no better illustration than the tariff.
The tariff, under the policy of protection, was originally a means to raise the rate of wages.

It has been made a tool to increase the cost of living.