Mexico weekly ledger., 1884-07-24
MIR. BLAINE'S LETTER.

OF Pike.
MIR. BLAINE'S LETTER.
Mr.. Blaine has written a long let
ter apparently with two objects, the
one to spring comparison Of protec-
ton with free trade upon the cour-
try, and the other, thereby, to divert
attention from his present personal
idiosyncracies and past record.
Fortunately, he is not likely to sue
coed in either, unless some free trade
enthusiast, installing the Democratic
platform for Q free trade manifesto,
shall take up the castor thus early
shyed into the political arena, and
furnish DIR. Blaine with the opportu-
nifty he so ardently covets.
1t must be admitted that even in
judicious duties on imports have
often impaired stimulus to domestic
industries by going indirect and in
cidental protection to them; but Mr..
Blaine greatly oversteps the mark
when he attributes the extraordinary
increase of property witnessed in
this country to unjust and discrimin-
ating Tariff laws, eminating from Re-
publican statesmen. Surely, much
Of the expansion of the valuations
alluded ~ by MIR. Blaine, is due to
our system Of money and finance land
as surely, the greater part Of our
actual property has arisen out of the
development Of farms in Western
states by immigrants, through whose
industry the value Of land has been
raised from S1.25 to 500, $50, $40,
and even $50 per acre, despite the
impedimenIs placed in the path Of
agriculture by unjust and unequal
taxation. Moreover, MI. Blaine
has, purposely no doubt, given no at
tention whatever to the recent shrink
age in the value of railroad and 9TH
er stocks and also included in his es-
innate national state, county, city and
and individual, and corporate in
debtedness, the whole of which must
be deducted from the total Of ma
tional assets before a fair estimate
can be made Of the c~ountry's &C
cumulated property. As soon as a
bond or q greenback is paid it as.
sumes the valueless condition Of the
paper on which it was printed. The
real issue between democrats and re.
publlcans is change in the admins.
tration of government and reform Of
the departments and laws. As fal
as relates to Tariff legislation, dem.
ocrats complain of the prolongatio1
Of unequal war taxes for a genera.
ton after necessity for them, il evel
such necessity existed, has ceased.
In part, these taxes have admins.
tered to monopolies, and in part, they
have developed industry, but at the
same time they have placed it in 9
position Of dependence upon legis.
latien. For instance, a heavy tar
was put on the importation of wool
and at once necessity for protection
of manufacturers of that article, thu
consequences Of high taxation of tina,
raw material was created. At th,
same time extraordinary impetus wa
impaired to sheep-raising. Practi
cally, this branch Of agriculture re
ceived all the advantages that hav,
been derived from high duties OF
wool, and now its existence is imper
illed by their withdrawal.
We have selected wool as u il
l~ustration Of hasty and i'll considered
Tariff Legislation, because our read
ers are most familiar with it, an,
best understand how it has been eff
fected by Republican enactments
As stated in manufactures, wool i
raw material and on that accoun
could not have been selected as
special object Of taxation by demo
Gratis, without violation Of thei
promise to do no injury to industry
and Of their theory that "proteetiol
..e- p~rc.ectaon's sske is unconstitu
tienaL Neither IN the existing con
dition Of the wool industry woul
the democracy have withdrawn Pre-
tectisS from it as hastily a. the re
publicans have done. The democ
racy may encounter difficulty in re
storing the Tariff to its normal con
aition Of providing an adequate gov
ernmental revenue, and the bes
method Of accomplishing this, i
matter for fair discussion betwee,
republicans and democrats; but th
comparison Of the relative merits o
protection and free trade ought no
10 be made such an issue as Nj
Blaine seeks to introduce into tn
campaign. When Mr.. Cleveland
heard from, IL Is TO be hoped that b
win impart distinct advice to his fol
lowcrs, touching the paramount issu
OF the impending contest.
Ne Nealnstisn.
II every county in this Congress
sional district votes first, last and q
the time for its man there canno
possibly ever be . nomination mad
We presume . nomination will b