Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1882-01-27

Republican party on the tailtf Iues-
ton. as Oh almost all other issue of
importance to the people, 90 BE Il
sham. 1t nonimally tavors llo-
tective tariff, but the position of It's
leading newspapers and prominent
men on the subject, shows that it Is
a mere pretense. They advocate
either free trade or nj most Il tariff
for revenue. y fact noted by the
writer alluded to, the construction
of Mr.. Speaker Refers committees,
is so significant of this disposition
to ride double, that it should not
be lost sight of by those who take
an interest in this issue, Which will
enter SO prominently in the politics
of future national contests. 1t can
not be made to appear that any
good or honest purpose is intended
to be subserved by the effort Of the
Republicans to keep the question
in the political arena. 1t is de-
signed, like all other principles pro-
claimed by the party, to serve as a
means of blowing hot and cold to
suit the peculiar wishes of those
who vote or control votes.
While the profession of the Re-
publican party is that it favors a
protectire tariff, it never has been
distinctively tariff party. The
first Republican convention that
ever assembled, i'll 1856, lodged the
question entirely, it's organizers be-
ing mainly FREQ traders. The con-
vention of 1860 mildly proclaimed
that sound policy required revenue
from imports to support the General
Government, and to secure this,
favored "such an adjustment Of
duties on imports as to encourage
the development Of the industrial
interests of the whole country
Four years later, the subject is not
even mentioned, nor do we find in
the platform of 1868, word upon
the subject of tariff. In 1872, pro-
lection, if it is to be found at all
is hid in a mass of verbiage which
may mean much or little, as occa.
sion requires. In abiding to the
subject, they say: The details
should be so adjusted as to aid in
securing remumerative wages OF
labor and promote the industries OF
the whole country" In 1876, the
words are: "To promote the inter.
ests of American labor and advance
the prosperity of the whole country
Iu 1880, the principle was couched
in equally guarded language, while
Mr.. Garfield, free trader, an hon
ored member of the English free.
trade Golden Club, was their candi.
date for President.
Thus it will be seen that the pre-.
tense of tariff for revenue, which
brings to its aid the combined power
of monopoly, is either sham, or the
people are continually duped by {
travesty on words, which while
protesting an adherence to the in
terests of labor for the benefit of til,
toiling millions, at the same tim,
carefully fosters the privileges @
capital to keep productive staples
ct an exorbitant ratio of per cent
over the prices at which simila,
commodities are sold in foreign mar
kets. Reference to single articl
will suffice to show the workings O
tariff which has been controlled
by the Republicans the past twent,
years. The duty on steel rails, nov
in such demand in railroad construc
ton, is $2S per ton, which amount
to prohibition, and raises the pric
in this country from s32 to $50 pc
ton. Wherein the Government i
benefited in rerenue, which the part,
processes to advocate, it would b
as difficult to show as it would tina
the industrial interests of tn
whole country" are subserved by tn
policy. It places s2S for every to-
sold in the pockets of the American
manufacturer, increasing the cost o
railroad building nearly so pc.
cent. and the cost of transportation
of products in a correspondent:
ratio.
1t is by such subterfuges that tn
party is enabled to control til,
money-bags and dupe the masse.
into support of candidates whose
political aspirations never arise
above tho most venal and selfsl
motives.
GUITEAU CoNvIcTED.--Thec ountr,
breatbes easier since the announce
ment, last Wednesday, that the in
famous assassin of the President
has been adjudged guilty of murder
in the first degree. The jury delib
Grated only six minutes, which in.
dicates that they had no doubi
of his entire accountability as {
sane person when he committed the
crime. 1t will now be seen that the
course pursued by the court, il
allowing the widest latitude to thu