Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1880-06-04
THE DEMOCRAT.
Mineral Point. Friday, June 4, 1880.
Geo. Crawford. Robt. M. Crawford,
EDITORS AND PRoPRIEToRs.

The Prairie du Chen Union con-
tains an article which calls Demo
cratic free-traders to task for sing
ling out Republicans like Garfield
and Others, who are moderate pro-
tectionists, and subjecting them to
all sorts of unfair criticism. The
article goes Oh to show that al
though the Democrats have had
control Of the House Of Represen-
tatives for years, yet that body has
not passed a single measure in favor
of free-tradc; that the Republican
party favors more moderate pro-
lection; and concludes by say
ing that "tbe tariff question is not
q political one-it is economic;
parties are divided on it according
the interests, real or supposed, OF
the various sections Of the coun-
try"
The statement that Democratic
free-traders single out Republican
protectionists, because they are Re
publicans, and subject them TO crit
icism, fair or unfair, we think is
wholly untrue. For, in the absence
of any statistics in regard to tn"
anatter, we would suppose that
profane free-traders ola Democratic
turn of mind swear fully as much
at either Samuel j. Randall or Fer
nando Wood NJ they do ut any
Republican in the country.
II il lamentable fact that no
measure favoring free-trade has
been passed by Congress since the
Democrats last came into power in
that body, But an attempt to
make capital out of that fact comes
with very poor grace from Repub-
Leans. For very large majority
Of the Democrats in congress have
always been in favor Of tariff for
revenue only; and our tariff would
have been adjusted upon that basis
long ere this time were it not for
the almost solid opposition of the
Republicans, who, by combining
with few Democrats from districts
which are enriched by the present
protective tariff, have been able to
prevent the passage Of any such
measure. Two years ago when the
Wood bill which favored more
moderate protection was before the
the House, only seven Republicans
voted IN favor of il and one hun
bred and fifteen voted against it;
while one hundred and fourteen
Democrats vote in favor of the bill
only nineteen voted against it. And
n vote taken in the House the
other day shows the parties to
stand in about the same position
as they did two years ago,
1t is hard TO tell what the Union
means by saying that the tariff
question is not q political one, but
is economic. There would not
be so much said about political
economy il there were no economic
questions which are political rs
well.
The statement that parties are
divided upon the tariff question
according to the supposed interests
of the various sections OF the
country is commonly made by
Republicans who dislike to de-
fcnd protection ms policy of
their party, but il is without foun-
dation. Because almost every Re
publican congressman from the
western States, the great agricultu-
lal section Of the country, is pro-
tcctionist; while Democratic CON
gressmcn from the west are inva-
nbly free-traders, And no grown
man would be 50 stupid rs to sup.
pose that the American system Of
protection benefits agricultural dis
triets. Republicans with n liking
for froc-trade can find but little
comfort III examining the records
Of the parties on the subject.
Fish Ways.
Some of our citizens. who like to