The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1880-02-05
REPUBLICAN FREE TRADERS.

REPUBLICAN FREE TRADERS.
Governor Gear of Iowa, in his late
message to the Legislature Of that State,
takes strong ground in favor of reducing
the tariff duty on steel rails, and advises
the Legislature to instruct the Senators
and Congressman from Iowa to favor re-
ducing the tariff. This Republican Gov.
ernor thus talks upon the steel rail mo-
nopoly:
an view of their great strength and
durability, which lessen the cost OF re.
placement, all the great trunk lines of
the country are adopting Bessemer steel
rails, The manufacture of this class of
rails iu the United States is controlled
by a combination of not exCeeding-l
think-ten firms in number. This COM
bination is protected by high and spe
cific tariff, which prevents the importa
ton of foreign rails to any extent, there
by increasing the cost of the railways of
the country. Without discussing the
tariff question in all it's bearings, it may
be considered whether it is wise legisla.
ton, by tariff exceptional in it's char
acter, to put immense profits into the
pockets of monopoly composed of but
few persons, at the expense, indirectly,
not only of Iowa farmers, but of the en-
tire west"
This will do from the strongest Re-
publican State in the Union. A little
farther north, the Minnesota Republi-
cans have declared in State convention
in favor of general reduction in the
tariff.
That leading Republican paper, the
Chicago Tribune, commenting on Cover
nor Gears message, says:
"0n this question there is no division
of parties in the West, nor at the South.
The tax on steel rails is equivalent to a
direct tax on the farming lands, to col.
lect at the rate of $2S per ton for steel
rails over and above the pri3e at which
such rails are now offered for sale. 4
There is an immense following in the
Republican party opposed to protection
as policy, and opposed to protection as
exemplifed in the present most abomin.
able tariff. The entire element of the
Republican party recruited from the De-
moeracy, is opposed to protection as
policy.
The Tribune argues that the Republi-
can party is not responsible for legisla-
ton in Congress, but the Democratic
party is. 1t therefore urges the Demo-
Gratis in Congress to make the repeal of
the tax on steel rails leading measure
of legislation at this session. This is its
strong appeal
"The Republican Governor, and the
Republican Legislature, and the Repub
licsn people of the Republican State of
Iowa, have brought this intolerable tax
upon their industry to the attention of
Congress, and asked its repeal. Is there
respectable leader of the Democratic
party in Congress who will revive the
only surviving policy Of that party which
has never failed to command the support
of the American people when standing
on its own merits, and 80 force it upon
Congress that some action must be taken
thereonp Such q Democrat, who can
force his party to do an honest and be.
nefiCent act of legislation, or, falling to
bring his party to that point, will expose
its hypocrisy and it's slavish support of
monopoly, will deserve and receive the
applause of his grateful countrymen of
all classes and of political opinion. Will
Mr.. Bayard drop his wild scheme of de-
monetizing greenbacks, and force his
party to action On the issue of repeating
the tax on steel rails"