The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1883-06-02
MORRISON ON POLITICS.

MORRISON ON POLITICS.
While not heading any Obtrusive OF
noisy boom for the democratic presidential
nomination in 1884, Congressman William
K. Morrison, of Illinois, Is one Of the most
capable and lcye-acadcd Of all our great
democratic leaders, and rs available tim,
Der for the presidency ranks the equal
Of any statesman IN the party. We arc
pleased therefore, to find that, at the re
quest Of the new editor Of the New YORK
Vorid, he has, IN brief, crisp letter, ont
/ lined what IA hl, estimation should II,
present De the policy Of the democratic
party. We copy from the lVorid OF
May Goth;
New YORK, May %, 1888,
Edii0rS If the Ne,r Fork WoH8-Ihc
| Republican party is credited with success
| ml var and its results.
1t may obtain or keep power ana not
merit It, but the Democratic party must
deserve 10 he before 1t Will be successful.
1t is still true that, AS between political
parties, what the laws shall be and how
executed is more important to the people
than who shall make or execute them.
The Democratic party will not get con
troll of the Government by the use OF even
more money than the Republicans use IN
elections, for any party that buys power
will sell II.
The party which uses money to get oiii.
ces will use the offices to get the money
back, and succeed
The Democratic party must be better
than the Republican party.
The political power is still left with the
people, and its exercise is safest when
nearest TO them.
The Government should interfere with
them as little "a possible, and not at all IN
those things which they can better do for
themselves without such interference.
Without some yet undiscovered ecOnom-
&c mystery through which Government
adds to the abundance of the people by
retaining part of what is first taken from
them. they will not be made more prosper
Gus by its interference with their business
pursuits or greater use OF the taxing pow
err than its actual needs demand.
Such interference always leads to legis-
latlon, benefits of which the fortunate
owners OF associate and corporate wealth
get more and the great mass of men less
than belongs TO them.
The danger is great that money obtain
ed by legislation will be used to procure
legislation.
This will be avoided if we limit taxes
laid on the people to actual needs OF the
Government economically administered,
Taxes, of whatever character, ought to
be LAID highest and so as to take most from
those things which people can best do
without, but no higher rates should be laid
than will raise the required sum.
A higher rate il destructive of industry
and prosperity, though abundan, cheap
lands and resources may put oil the evil
day
The annual report of the American Iron
and Steel Association May |, 1883, tells
the country that last year there was disa-
grcement rs to rates OF wages between
manufacturers and labOrers, the result of
which was that nearly all IRON mills closed
and the laborers were unemployed tor
months; that there were more mills than
would make all The iron the country could
use; that, therefore, stopping the mills and
a calamity to the manufactures.
The calamity then fell on the labOring
men, and this Is the effect OF the present
system IN iron and all other over protected
industries.
In these industries thousands OF millions
are invested Millions of men are en-
ployed, and earn about 81 day when they
work under the present system.
The calamity Of four months enforced
idleness IN single year falls wholly upon
laboring men; none OF it on the manuiac-
turers, who may close four months when
they will.
There is such division of opinion
among Democrats as requires liberation
on the tariff question, but those unwilling
10 repeal war rates, which were added To a
protective tariff, are entitled to leniency.
Those who advocate incidental pro,ec-
ton, some protection, or any qualified pro
lection, probably mean no more than Is
meant by tariff only tor revenue, for Il
tariff laid for revenue only Will afford
some advantage to our own manufacturers.
The division is perhaps more OF policy
than Of breed.
There are Democrats who are protested
" revenue tariff men, but who insist, as a
matter of policy, that we shall not say so.
The only purpose OF silence would be to
hide our real purposes, and there is great
danger that the people would believe we
were thus pracucing deceit to obtain pow
er, and that any party that would misIead
them to get into power would disappoin'
them afterwards
WILLIAM r. MORRISON.
We All Know