The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-05-20

al am, with great respect, de sn, 1rs X POLK
servant, jams n
~. *. KANE, esq Philadelphia."
Il would aid us 10 form just estimate Oh .ile mo
tive or design of this letter. II we couo see tne oo
municaton of Mr. Kane TO ihe ia'e slS tsa
~ l;gbt on the subject But that has been care
fully suppressed. Al the date OF Mr. fol5 let'er,
he had already been nominated as candidate LOT
he Prasidency M the Baltimore convention. Penn
svIvana was entirely devoted TO the protective pol
lev and would not be likely to supports candidate
unequiyocally opposed TO II. No doubt grave APP
nrehensions were entertained that she would not go
Tor Mr. Polk; hence this letter was written and
thrown before the people OF that State. II Will be
seen that il is equivocal, and may be made to con
form III meaning to the taste oi the reader. NO
doubt in Tennessee, il passed for good free trade
letter. But how was 1t regarded IN Pennsylvania,
where vast coal and iron interests were at stak
No did il appear than the leaders OF the DE,
mocracy in that Commonwealth took the ground
that Mr.. Polk was as much for the protective Pohcy
as Mr. Clay. The letter had been made adroitly To
conform to language which Mr.. Clay had used IN
some recent communications TO the public on the
subject Thus both were found saying that they
were willing to '.aflord reasonable incidental pro
lection 10 our home industry" and recollect well
that this identity of language was paraded in our
northern Democratic papers IN parallel columns,
To prove that domestic interests would be safe
in the hands of the the other.
The Democracy of Pennsylvania went with a
rush for their neutrality-suspicious. raising the
cry, "Polk Dallas. Texas and the tariff of
Inscribed on every banner exhibited in all their
professions and psraded in all their political as
semblies. am informed that the distinguished
citizen who presided with much ability and dig
nifty the deliberations of this body during the
last Presidential term, than once addressed
political assemblies during that with this
inscription Haunting before him. To show more
fully the extent to which this imposition
ried, produce here the "Clarion letter." from
Wilson McCandess, esq, who was one of the Sen
atorial candidates for the electoral college of Penn
sylvania, on the Polk and Dallas ticket:
"PIrTsBpRG, August $, 1874.
"GESTLEMES: Your cordial invitation of the
3oth ultino 10 be present with you at your mass
meeting on the Sd September came 10 hand during
my absence in the northwestern counties Of Penn
sylvania.
81 assure you that | never wrote apology for
my inability to attend any public assembage, in
the whole course of my political career, with more
reluctance than do this Clarion has not only
been firm and steadfast in her adherence to Demo
cratic principles but she has been intiexibe in her
love and support of the tarif-that public measure
which, (aside from the bank question, } like the rod
of the prophet, is destined to swallow up all other
topics OF political controversy. You have properly
appreciated the importance of the protective principle
to the success of the manufacturing and agricul-
tural interests of Pennsylvania; and in the aban
donment of that principle by MIR. Clay, in the COM
promise BILL you have the best guaranty that, if
elected to the Presidency, he will carry out the
principles Of that bill, and afford you horizontal
duty, 10 enable you to contend with the pauper
labor Of Sweden and Russia. In doing 50, he would
give you and the tariff the same support that the
rope does the hanging man--instant death, and
without benefit of clergy Support him, If you
can; for my own part, shall 60 for Polk and Dali
las, who have at heart the true interests OF Penn
sylvania
"My engagements, gentlemen, in the supreme
court, Wilt prevent me from attending your
meeting. With the brightest prospect Of Democratic
success-2O,0 900 majority
81 have the honor TO be truly yours,
"WILSON McCANDLESS.
"Messrs. Adam Mooney, Seth Clover and others,
committee
This letter having been recently republished in
Pittsburg paper, with comments, Mr.. McCandless
addressed to the editors the following note
'Messrs ID. N. WHITE Co.
"GESTLEMES: Thank you for the republication
Of the Clarion letter. wise man changes his
opinions when dictated by experience and the
truth-a fool never.
"Yours most cordially and respectfully,
"WILSON McCANDLESS.
This would seem TO intimate that MIR. McCand-
less himself deceived by "the Kane letter -
and, if SO, how certain must il be that the plain,
honest, sensible, and worthy farmers, mechanics,
and workingmen Of that commonwealth, were also
deceived and deluded by it. ] will not undertake
10 say what the late President really intended by
the letter 70 Mr.. X; but thing il certain, he
must have known what made OF II IN
Pennsylvania. There never has existed man in
this country who kept more vlgilant eye ON the
political movements Of the day than the late Presi-
dent. He pre-eminently party man, tho
roughly schooled in party tactics. Besides, there
was associated with him citizen of Pennsylvania,
candidate for the Vice Presidency, who had ever
been a warm advocate of the protective policy. he
therefore knew well that the people OF that COM
monwealth expected him to favor the same, at least
in reasonable and moderate degree To this ex-
tent insist he was pledged, though not, perhaps,
TO maintain the tariff Of le42 in its whole length
and breadth. How did he respond 10 the expecta-
tons Of the people OF Pennsylvania, who had put
their dearest interests into his handsf The records
OF this government can answer. He not only took
strong ground against the protective policy in his
communications TO Congress, but he placed at the
head Of the Tresury Department a gentleman Of
commanding abilities, who prosecuted the over
throw Of the system with untiring industry and
unsurpassed yigor. A tariff introduced,
and carried through the two Houses, based on chi
merical principles, which is rapidly undermining
the prosperity Of the Keystone State, IL will ult
mately Of the whole country. Even the Vice Pres
ident forgot that he a son Of Pennsylvania,
and gave his casting vote in favor Of the tariff OF
1876.
We have proef conclusive that the people Of
Pennsylvania never would have voted for Messrs.
Polk and Dallas IL they had known what their
course would be on this subject. In the House Of
Representatives, 18th Congress, (Which passed the
tariff Of 1867 the delegation from that State stood
twelve Democrats 10 ten Wings and two Native
Americans. great political rcvulsion was occa-
stoned in Pennsylvania by the passage Of the tarifi
Of 1896 both branches Of the State Legislature
were revolutionzed and the delegation to the 30th
Congress was reversed, to stand fifteen Wings
70 only seven Democrats and one Native and this,
Notwithstanding the Democratic Senators and mem
bers Of the House, Goth Congress,) with one es-
ception, resisted the tariff Of 1876 10 the utmost.
hut nevertheless, the people would not spare them,
would they spare the Democratic party Of the
Union, for the vote Of Pennsylvania cast for
General Taylor, much from rcpugnance 10 the
tariff Of 1876 a. admiration for his brilliant public
seryices and respect for his high qualities as man
am confident that not State north Of the PotO-
mac would have sustained Mr.. Polk in the policy
Of such tariff that Of 1916, with, perhaps, The
exception Of New Hampshire and Maine 4" The
Kane letter. effective far beyond the limits o
Pcnnsy wanna; IL in fact made James X. Polk Presi
dent Of the United States. No one can accuse him
Of ngratitude, a., after his elevation to the
Presidency, he conferred on his correspondent val
liable office, which he now holds. Would II not b,
well for the honorable Senator 20 explain the SUE
picious circumstances attending this Transaction
before nc President Taylor and his friends
Of pcrhdy,
T. II will nov, Mr.. President, be my duty 70 turn
TO very painful chapter in the history OF Texas
annexation, which will supply us with another
striking example Of Democratic promise breaking
u will be recollected that the annexation resolutions