Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1883-12-22
NORTHERN TRIBUNE.
SATURDAY. DECEMBER %. 1888.
FREE TRADE INGENUOUsNEss.

We have received from VIM. G. Brown
lee, Secretary of Detroit Free Trade
League, remarkable publication, show
ing the true inwardness of that open
hearted free trade lunacy tn at goes about
seeking whom 1t may devOur. We are
solicited to publish free trade articles
the proof sheets being furnished us. The
gentleman informs us that 1.-THE articles
will be nOn-partisan. What frankness.
When did the Democratic party sink so
low as not to have even a partisan spirit?
We knew there was not much spirit left
in the old concern outside of old BOur-
bon, bnt we thought it still claimed to
be q party. And who is so verdant as not
to know that the Democratic party is
making desperate effort to astOnish
the nation on the ground of free trade,
having elected Carlisle with this in
view? If this fight is not made, what is
the Democratic party here for? Will
they cry and buster over the depravity
of the tariff and then back do wn in
cOwardly fear with no issue, like they
did in Cincinnati when confronted with
John Kelly, after whining for four years
over the injustice done Tilden? Is the
old rotten hulk overloaded with so mean
a record that it dare not be mentioned,
destined to dredge the bottom of disgrace
by bearing the OblOquy of not having
brains aud courage enough to form and
defend policy? Is it to exclaim no
issue, and write the word "Only" on its
platform, meaning only let us into office.
and give us another chance to rob the
government, betray the nation, bank
rupt the treasury, and bring universal
distress? The gentleman tells us that
these articles will be written "by men
who thoroughly understand the subject"
and mentions the names of the best las
Prof. Snmner, Prof. Perry and Hon. Da-
vid A. Wells" We should smile. There
is no better joke perpetrated than the
above. The idea of these three dried
up political cnarlatans knowing any
thing worth knowing about government
is laughable. They are as un-American
as it is possible for one to be, who don't
know the difference between a friend
and an enemy, and decides in favor of
English prosperity at the expense of
American labor, capital and industries.
These men do not in any sense represent
the living, practical, go-ahead present;
they are out of whack, politically, with
everything sensible and what they could
say is not worth space in live news
paper, and therefore cannot have a place
in Republican newspaper. There is
one sensible saying in this ingenious"
circular, the following: 1.-The campaign
of 1884 will undoubtedly be fought out
on the tariff ISSUE" The TRIBUNE has
maintained this all along, and when the
circular says "the voters of Michigan
should understand question that they
will soon be called npOn to decide" we
heartily agree, and promise to do our
share of the work in contributing to
this desirable result. But we prefer to
write our own articles on the tariff, and
If the time comes when we need help,
we certainly shall not be compelled to
go to a free trade, Democratic. foreign
serving club for anything that requires
brains. or the good of the country, or the
interests of Michigan voters.
We therefore respectfully decline to
accept any such affection as free trade
nonsense; no, thank you, we have put
away childish things.
LINCOLN.
great man, because had self com
mand. LOvejOy was spokesman of other
western men in getting an order from