Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1869-06-16
The Last Free-Traie Dodge.

that Republican politicians incline TO en-
graft the Alabama questions among party
| issues, they viii reckon without their host
in counting upon the Republicans of Penn
sylvania. But we doubt the truth OF the
statement to which we refer, says the Pitts
/ burg Gazette. IL bears the ear marks of an
Opposition scheme to embarrass the Repub-
! licans of this Safe, in their advocacy ot
other political issues. The story is indus
triously disseminated from Washington, for
the evident purpose Of damaging a favorite
principle in this commonwealth-that OF
protection for American industry. For it is
at once followed up with the fagrantly erro-
neous insinuation, in the New York Post,
the leading free trade organ of the foreign
importers, that the scheme is wholly "a
protectionist plot To secure popular major
tiles by the help of a side issue.
We have yet to see the first journal in
this State, among those which have been
ever known is consistent and sincere advo-
Gates of protection, which gives shadow
of countenance to the alleged movement for
Republicanizirg the Alabama issue On
the contrary, that proposition was denounc-
ed IN our own columns, upon the first tele>
graphic intimation of it, and now, one after
another, the best journals of the State are
coming forward with the same expression of
disapprovsl. For example, the Phiadel-
phia North An,stcdn, a newspaper which
was never untrue to the interest of native
industry, remarks that the Headers" who
could propose this new article in our polit-
ical creed, must be few in number land
composed rather of those who would be,
than of such as are leaders" And it adds.
upon the point of Withdrawing the vuestion
from diplomacy, that:
This will be the almost certain result if a
party is formed on the basis of demanding
all of our claims from England without
qalihcatinn. We have great hopes that JUS
tice will yet be rendered US by that country,
and an absolute certainty that wise delay
will win for us all we need to have without
war. Of war we have had enough to satisfy
the most bellil erent and those who pay the
piper; so that, unless those who propose to
incorporate another ''54 40 or fight in the
political platforms are favored with a spe-
cIal providence, their scheme is likely to fall
through before it is matured. We want
peace and business, and the country will ac-
cept another war only when its absolute ne
cessIty is proved.
The Wheeling Ia'eNigmcer says:
A war of any magnitude with anybody,
in our present financial condition, would lay
still heavier burdens on the now heavily tax
ed business interests of the country and
could not fail 10 result in grave disasters
If the administration and the party in power
cannot maintain themselves without resort
to such an expedeut, they are very certain
to go down. The people of the United
States are not ready to engage in any such
folly. If leading Republicans cannot keep
themselves in office except by such tricks as
this, it is better they should be out of office
We hope the administration does not coun-
tenance any such mad scheme rs an English
war of such tricks as putting the Republi
can party on war platform next fall
Plainly, the allegation of the Post is a
SANDER upon the protectionists of Pennsyl-
vania, unless it be supported by the specif C
proofs which we have the right to ask for
Let the New York paper specify one repre-
sentative man-not Butler, nor Chandler,
but leaders whom Repdblicanism every
where regards-whose adhesion to this new
idea justities its allegation of protection
ist plot" Otherwise, the Post will be held
responsible for fabricating a story which has
Just about as much real substance as free
trade arguments and facts can gener-
ally boast of In the meantime, let us say
hot ha
publican leaders" can find ten intelligent
men in Western Pennsylvania, who would
sustain the incorporation of that dodge into
our political creed. The free traders, and
their European friends, may keep it all to
themselves.