The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-10-13

manufactures TO speak OF. The manulac-
turing interests OF New Jersey alone are
far greater than those Of the entire region
from the Potomac 70 the Rio Grand. There
are single cities Ia that State which manu-
iacture more than all the Cotton States
combined. The South wants to sell ils
cotton, hemp and tobacco for the Highest
price il can get, and buy In European mar
kets the goods It needs at the lowest
prices. and II wants to import those goods
at nominal rates oil duty. It's true inter.
eat Is to build up factories at home; but 1t
is too prejudiced and short.sighted TO see
this. The Western Democracy always
acts with the South, and these two ele.
ments OF the Democratic party immensely
preponderates over the Eastern Democ-
racy, which Is In part favorable to protec.
ton. The objections Of Democrats in
Congress from Pennsylvania, New Jersey,
New York and Connecticut will not check
for moment the execution Of the plan Of
the South to repeal all protective duties.
THE REPUBLICAN PLATFORM.
Here Is the declaration Of the Republi-
can platform on the subject; 1--WE affirm
the belief, ayowed in 1875, that the duties
levied for the purpose Of revenue should
80 discriminate as TO favor American
labor" Mark the difference between this
aud the Democratic plank: Not tarih
for revenue only, but tariff that shall 30
discriminate as 10 favor American labor.
That Is what the present tariff does. 1t
was adopted by the Republicans In Con-
gress, and has been sustained by them Tor
twenty years against the attempts OF the
Democrats 10 repeal 1t.
HOW DO TIE CANDIDATES STAND?
A President has great deal Of power
over the tariff. He can sign or veto bills
altering 1t, and thus make them laws, or
defeat them, as he chooses. The working
men have q right to know the position Of
the candidates on o question which 80
directly affects their means oil gaining o
| livelihood. Does anybody know how
General Hancock stands? What does he
say about protection in bis letter Of &C.
ceptance? Not word. Let any work.
ingman write him letter and ask him II
be Is In favor OF the protective tariff sys:
tenn, and see II he will get reply. He will
not dare express an opinion Tor fear Of
offending the South II he takes one side oil
the question, or the workingmen Of New
Jersey, New York and Connecticut II he
takes the other. The bread and shelter OF
hundreds OF thousands Of workingmen
are in peril, but Hancock does not dare
open his mouth. Contrast his silence and
Indifference with the plain. straighttor-
ward words OF General Garfield, who
meets the question squarely, saying in his
letter:
In reference to our customs laws, pol.
ICY should be pursued which Will bring
revenues TO the Treasury, and will enable
the labor and capital employed In our
great industries to compete fairly In our
own markets with the labor and capital oil
foreign producers. We lsgislate for the
people OF the United States, and not for
the whole world, and II is our glory that
the American laborer Is more intelligent
and better paid than his foreign competi-
tor. Our country cannot be independent
unless their people, with their abundant
natural resources, possesses the requisite
skill at any time to clotne, arm and equip
themselves for war, and in time OF peace
to produce all the necessary implements Of
labor. It was the manifest intention OF
the founders OF the Government to pro-
vide for the common defence, not by
standing armies alone, but by raising
among the people greater army oil arti,
Sans, whose intelligence and skill should
powerfully contribute TO the safety and
glory Of the Nation.
General Garfield Is workingman him
self, and sympathizes with the working.
men OF this country. In his youth he
was wood.chopper and a carpenter. He
worked in the fields and drove horses upon
the tow.path. He is farmer now, as well
as statesman and legislator. During his
long career OF seventeen years in Congress
no session has passed without his voice
being heard in defence Of the interests OF
American labor. The present protective
system Is largely his own work. No man
has rendered more valuable service in op.
position to the attempt to break It down
and substitute tariff for revenue only in
its place.
rLAIs ISSUE.
Here then is plain issue. The Repub.
lican party is the author and defender Of
the protective tariff system. The Demo-
cratic party is Its enemy, and has served
notice on the country that 1t will strike 1t
down II 1t succeeds in this campaign.
General Hancock indorses the Democratic
platform, and has nothing TO say about its
revenue tariff plank. General Garfield
declares plainly in favor Of protection,
saying In effect what he has said Q hun
dred times In Congress. Which party
and which candidate deserves the votes OF
the workingmen OF West Virginia? This 10
a question for them to answer with their
votes,