Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1882-06-15

kOl 10 OAllLChohAP O4uoA AA6hSo
have been secured to them by constitu-
tional amendments, and-barring out
RACES committed in some of the South
ern States-they are now in the full and
free enjoyment of all the political privi-
leges accorded to the most distinguished
citizen.
These are a few of the many benif-
cent results of Republican rule. But
what of the future2 Is the mission of
the Republican party, as we are told by
our Democratic opponents, fulfilledp Is
there no longer right and wrong side
to questions of public policy? Can the
great blessings secured by Republican
rule be entrusted to the care of those
who have persistently opposed the par
ty at every step Of its victorious prog
ress? What assurance have we for their
preservation should the Democratic par
ty succeed in obtaining control of the
Government? None whatever. 0f&i-
narily the past is good index TO the
future, but, judged in this manner, we
| fail to discover in the history of the
Democratic party any hopeful sign. Be
sides, in the diversified interests of a
great Nation like this, there are new
questions continually arising, which re-
Quire courageous treatment. and in the
settlement of which the best thought
and the conservative force of the Repub-
lican party are essential 1t is not my
province or purpose to forecast the fu-
ture action of the party. l may, how
ever, be permitted to advert briefly to a
few of the pending issues.
First and foremost is the old ques-
| tion of protection to American indus
tries, now brought into over-shadowing
prominence by the recent act creating a
Commission to prepare revision of the
tariff laws for submission to the Ma
tional Congress. This is of special i'm
portance, as the Congress to be elected
this fall will have much to do with the
confirmation of any report which the
| Commission may make. On this subject
the Republican party has never given,
and will not now give, an uncertain
sound. In 1880 President Garfield, in
his letter of acceptance, said:
"In reference to our customs laws.
policy should be pursued which will
bring revenues to the Treasury, and
will enable the labor and capital en-
ployed in our great industries to COM
pete fairly in our own markets with the
labor and capital of foreign producers.
We legislate for for people of the United
States, and not for the whole world; an d
it is our glory that the American laborer
is more intelligent and better paid than
his foreign competitor"
This is the true principle of protection
as adopted and enforced by the Repub-
lican party, and under which the indus
trial interests of the country have been
fostered and built up to their present
magnificent proportions.
The utteranceS of the Democratic par
ty on the same subject are also unequiv-
Ocal. Opposed to protection, their par
ty platforms have always substantially
declared in favor of tariff for revenvt
only-a mere hypocritical synonym fol
free trade. This policy, if we can be
lieve the lessons of history, adopted anC
carried out to its full extent, would en-
danger all the material industries of the
people, and would effectually paralyzt
every business center. Another disas
trous panic would be an inevitable con
sequence. 1 do not believe, and do moi
charge, that the individual members ol
: the party wish to see such a result; they
have the same desires and interest IL
! the general welfare that Republican,
have, but as party we must Judg
them by the legitimate consequences o
their platform declarations. Here,then
is the peril of the hour. Shall the prln
ciple of protection be preserved? Shal
. the National Congress remain In. tn
hands of those who are pledged to mel
5 ther destroy nor weaken it? These ar
I the two most important national ques
! tions to be answered at the polls in DC
L tober. tl.f'
The, relations of capital to labor, inter
State commerce, the growth and powe
of corporations, and similar question:
are also rising into national prominence
: They are likely to be of vital interes
t to the people of Ohio, in the near future
t situated as we are along the grand trun
: railroads, leading from tbs fruitful field
9 of the West to the markets OF the Eas
= The proper regulations of corporat
y power, and aggregate wealth, is AWAY
/ a difficult problem, and the history o
: the country shows that the Repu0llca
: party is the only party that can be safe
d ly trusted in the solution lapplausel t
e preserve the just rights of all. and t
d avoid communism on the one hand ant
d oppression on the other.
On State issues the Republican part
# has taken an advanced position. Fo
9 wears the order-loving people of the Stat
: have watched the rapid increase OF pau
Y perism, insanity and crime; they hav
e seen the benevolent and reformatory IN
r stitutions of the State and our count
d aims houses filling up with wrecked hu
o manity, and our penitentiary and Jail
5. Overlooking with the criminal classes
g patiently they have noted the annual IL
= crease of the appropriations necessar
n for the maintenance of these lnstltl
tions, and in the amount of costs pal
q by the State and counties for crimlns
\ prosecutions, but they have cheerful
,s and in a spirit of pure benevolence,pai
n the heavy taxes on their land and othe
n property, made necessary by these emo
< nous outlays.
: Naturally, however, they have bee
D led to inquire the cause, and investlg;
" ton seems to have satisfied them tina
e this increase in crime and misfortude
= largely caused by temperance, superb
le duced by an almost unrestralned an
If untaxed traffic in intoxicating liquors
T. The industrious farmers and artisans
< the State have been unable to satlst
a themselves that it is either right or ia
d to tax them to keep up these expend
" lures, while those engaged in this trait
a are permitted to escape with the pay
IF ment of little or nothing to the Stat
N Great applause.l They feel that so Ion
" as the traffic is continued, it should
s. required to assist in bearing the publ
A. burdens. [Applause.l Accordingly, an
10 in Difference to this feeling, the presei
is General Assembly, at its recent sessio
r. passed law designed to accomplish tn
as object. 1t was of doubtful constitutio
nt ality, it is true, and has since been s
IN aside by divided Supreme Court, bu
st nevertheless, the fact remains that Il
I'd Republican party, by this action of u
s. L legislature, has said that if this. tra1
:, | oa.et;,,,o, X 10 ri1ht to tay IL and Lhl