The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1879-10-04
Saturday, October s. 1879.
The Tariff.


most important issues in 1850. This
question is one which ought to be more
freely discussed, and the people made to
understand that protection is not beneficial
to American industries, bat curse. In
stead of enriching this country it will
eventually bring poverty and distress to
the laboring classes. It is fact that to-
day English Bessemer steel rails can be
laid down in New York at $25 per ton,and
vet protection demands that bonus OF
$2s must be added. America sells to
England grain and produce and reaps a
handsome profit thereby. whereas Eng
land, under the protective tariff system
cannot sell us anything on which a margin
can be made. This would be good
feature If it could always continue. but it
cannot aud will not Already manufec-
turing industries in England are paralyzed
aud mechanics and laborers are Idle by
the thousands actually suffering for the
necessaries of life. The outcome of all
this will be a tide of immigration of the
laboring classes 20 this country, which
will end in great depreciation of labor
and the bankruptcy of thousands. The
farmer who now gets fair price for his
grain, will find himself unable to dispose
of the products of his farm at anything
ike living rates, while the mechanics,
and laborers of the country, even now
poorly paid. would receive but mere pitt.
snce. This is not an everdrawn picture
but hard pan facts which every farmer and
mechanic is interested in. The Republl'
can party is the parent of a protective
tariff-a tariff which far from being pro-
lection is a curse. aud. unless repealed, VIII
bring poverty and want TO the country
The Democratic party believes 10 tariff
for revenue only, and on this plank alone
ought to command the support OF every
laboring man and farmer in this country
The Republican leaders who are partners
in the protection ring. know that sooner or
later the true status of the operative
effects of high tariff must become known.
They know that with the knowledge vii
come such an outburst of indignation
against the Republican party that nc
amount of party palaver can save it from 1
well merited oblivion. Knowing these facts
and for the purpose of divertine
attention therefrom, the stale war cry il
sounded, the outrage mill is kept il
motion, the sectional hatred policy is inau
gurated aud by wagIng the contest on false
issues, the Republican party is to be
bridged over, and the tariff question, a
question of vita. Importance to every
citizen is to be ignored. Farmers, me.
chanics, business men, laborers Demo-
Gratis, arouse to the importance of the
great issue. Do not wait until our shores
are overrun by labor from abroad forced
to US by sheer necessity. Do not prevari
cate and console yourself with the refsc
ton that il is tune enough to meet the
danger when it comes, but go to work now
and earnestly too, nor cease your laborf
until the Infamous, poverty producing
high tariff is abolished. To do this, let the
Democratic party organization be streng
theneo; put good men and true on guard
see toit that everything that can, possibly aic
in the organization is done. The reform
must come through the Democratic party
the party for and of the people, and as th'
only party that believes 10 the motto-tht
greatest good of the greatest number
Democrats. awake. and with your old timt
energy, march on to success and the &C
c1mplishment of this much needed al 9
inperatively demanded reform.