National Republican., 1880-10-07
WHY BUSINESS MEN ARE ALARME1


The apparent feeling of insecurity on
the part of the business interests of the
country, under even remote prospect of
a change in the administration of the gov
ernment, with the rebel traitors of the
south and their atrocious political methods
aud principles and the free.traders of the
north, with their nnti.American dogmas, to
the front in search of power is not strange.
Such prospect is truly alarming, and he
who does not see it clearly closes his eyes
willlully to the facts and their inevitable
consequences. The manufacturing interests
of the country, which afford such wide
spread employment, and its rewards hang
entirely upon a protective tariff But for
that our manufactures could not now exist
in competition with the pauper labor of
Europe. Indeed, they would never have
attained their present eminent condition Of
prosperity but for the fostering influence Of
n protecting tariff. In view of proposed
change, which promises ultimate free trade
when the national debt shall have been
paid, rs it will be ut no very remote period,
unless some unforeseen calamity belalls this
nation, and when n tariff for revenue will
pass away and free ira lie will step in, it
would argue total indifference on the
part Of American manufacturers to their
interests if they did not become aroused TO
alarm when n party with tariff for reve-
nue. only inscribed upon their banner of
principles proposes to succeed to power in
this government. It is the first tap of the
bell which is TO toll the funeral notes of
American manufactures, and it naturally
arouses a sense of approaching danger. 1t
would be s'rangc, indeed, if it did not
The democrats, of course, desire to ullny
fear on this account, and hence they laugh
when fear cometh and scout at alarm, but
there stands the fact staring the country in
the face, and 1t will not be lulled into false
security by the siren song Of the enemy.
If the democrats meant protection to
American industry they would have de-
clared for q protective tariff But they did
not. They declare for tariff for revenue
only, which contemplates free trade, when
the national debt shall have been paid 1t
is this bare fact which creates alarm with
the manufacturing and lnboring classes,
and the network Of society is such that
when one link is struck the concusson OF
the blow is felt throughout the whole sys-
TEN. The merchant feels IL, the farmer
feels it, the mechanic feels it-all sympa-
thize with q dread Of change and disaster.
The railroad king may affect indifference
now. and may scout Mt the fears of the
industrial portion Of society as groundless
but that only shows that corporations arc
soullcss, and monopolisis have no sympa'
thes in common with the interests of The
masses.
The business men of the country have
taken alarm at the attitude of the demo
cratic party on the vital questions of thC
tariff and currency, and no measure o
sophistry or ilattery or ribaldry will allay
their fears until higher plane of security
shall have been defeated ut the ballot.box
and their deep.laid schemes of free trad
and fiat money shall have been success
fully thwarted by an expression of th
popular will, then the business men of tn
: country will feel assured that point q
safety has been reached, and not unit
then. Hence they are moving and organ
izing, and will continue to move an
, organize until security to their interests
vouchsafed