The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1858-08-20
s'HARD TINES" AND THE TARIFF.

The mongrel opponents Of the Democratic
party are in an ugly dilemma, Just now. They
are very anxious TO make the Tariff their prin-
cipal hobby during the approaching campaign,
but are little afraid 10 DO so on account of their
infdelity TO the tariff men, when they had the
sway in Congress II 1857. They are DESTROYS
laying the "hard times'' which we have re-
Gently had, 10 the charge of low tariff and vet
they are fearful if they do it, the Democrats
will retort upon them that it was by their own
act that The low tariff of which they would
complain, was established. Their recent sup
port of Mn. WIINoT, who according 10 the
Wing presses in 1916, was the only 'frep trade
tory in all Pennsy ylvania," also looms up in evil
dence against their pretensons TO high-taril-ism,
and their nomination for Supreme Judge, Of
JoHN M. READ, who signed letter coDgratu-
1ating Mn. DALLAS on his giving his casting
vote in favor of the reduction of the tariff OF
1912, is further barrier to their progress on
the hobby-horse Of "Protection." With all
these overwhelming facts arrayed against them,
they date not openly advocate their !.;;siu tariff
doctrines, and therefore, in order TO avoid cx-
posure by the Democratic press, they secretly
send out their mnions to talk 'StariG" 10 the
laboring classes and coveFtly distribute Gocu-
nenls filed with iaIsehoods concerning the
principles and aims the Democratic party
10 this manner they seek TO escape from The d.
lemma in which their Inconsistent and vacil-
lating policy has placed them They clandes-
timely charge that Democratic measures have
been the cause of the prostration of money
matters, and when asked what measures, they
sook shyly about them and whisper, 'sfke redQc-
lion Of the tariff" They dare scarcely speak it
above their breath, for fear that some intelligent
Democrat might overhear and expose the insiI-
i0us ialsehood
But, was the reduction of the Tariff the cause
of The late distress in monetary affairs Had
it any thing whatever 10 do with it? We say
emphaticalIy, no II was the rotten and cor
Tupt system OF banking, sustained and perpetu-
ated by opposition legislation, connected with
an ungovernable penehant for speculation on
the part Of our people, that lay at the bottom
of the panic which last Fall shook the world of
business to its centre. Do we not all know
that there was no intimation ofthe storm nn-
til the Banks began TO break! Do we not all
remember that there was not a cloud in the f.
nancial sky, until the Ohio Trust Company
went by the board and the exhalaiions of its
rottennesS dalkened the hitherto uncloudtd
horizon? AY, there was not whimper about
"hard times until the Banks and their kin
dTed corporations shut their doors in The faces
Of their creditors All was prosperity until
the pei institutions OF Know Nothing and Aboli-
tion Legislatures, began TO explode, and then
dismay and despair Teigned alone where erst-
while manufactures, trade. and all the arts ofI
industry ncurshed and prospered.
And what had The Tariff 10 do with all this
Simply nothing at all. But, for the sake Of ar
gument, suppose II had; suppose that the reduc-
ton OF the tariff by Congress in the winter of
1887, did affect pecuniary affairs; is, there
FORE the Democratic party 10 be held response
bic Tor the influence supposed 10 have been ex-
erted upon our financial matters by that reduc-
ton Moi by any means The duties which |
were reduced were those imposed by the Dem |