The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-09-10
THE FRuE ISSUE,

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campaign in his brief speech on Monday night
in answer to the impromptu jubilee over the
Republican victory that day gained. Eve
rejoice now" he said, lover an unparalleled
triumph, which is registered by the choice Of
both branches of the Legislature, by the cleo
ton of all representatives in Congress, Of all
county officers in every county in the State,
except one, and by popular majority for
Governor Robbie of perhaps $1,000 votes. The.
cause of this Democratic overthrow is known
to us all. Our canvass has been conducted on
one great issue. Our papers have kept that
constantly before the people; every speaker
from every platform has enumerated, defended, 4
enforced tit is the issue Of protection to
American labor Democratic speakers and
papers have attempted to mislead the people;
they have confined themselves to waging a
personal and disgraceful war on the character
Of Mr.. Blaine, and have descended to depths
of partisan meanness and personal infamy
never reached before. The Democratic candi-
dates, playing into the hands of their man
ayers, saw fit to ignore this, the leading ques-
ton before the American people--a piece of
political ,cowardice never matched in the his
tory Of American politics But the issue will ]
hot'down. The people are too intelligent to
be so easily deceived There is not man at
forge or in factory that does not know that
Democratic victory means free trade, and that
free trade means prostration and disaster to
manufactures and business Of all kinds There
is not an Irishman from one end Of the land
to the other but knows that the English gov
eminent is doing all in its power to forward
the free trade cause in this country. Having
stripped and impoverished Ireland, and feel
ing the need of new fields for the sale of her
products, England has long looked with hum
cry eyes toward the American market with
its S., OOO, 900 of prosperous people. The Dem
ocratic party may juggle as il Wilt can de-
ceive nobody The,issue now before the peo-
pie is whether we shall have a wisely -adjusted
tariff for the protection of American indus
tries, or free tradesunder Democratic control,
Its double-dealing hypocritical plank on
the tariff question is q most
shameless exhibition of dernagogy. It's pur-
pose is exposed by the conduct of
Democracy East and Democracy South. At
Louisville the Democratic plank means free
trade and is 50 expounded by the Courier
journal. Frank Hurd puts the same inter
probation on it. But in manufacturing cen
tiers, in States that have discovered the bene-
fit Of protection, the Democratic organs insist
that fair measure Of protection is guaran4
teed by the Democratic platform. Mr.! Nor
rison, Of Illinois Democrat high In the /
council Of his party-is an active worker for |
free trade. Mr. Randall, of Pennsylvania
equally high in the esteem and influence Of
his party-is as fully enlisted in the defense
of the protective policy that has done so much
for this country. But for this fact, that the
Democratic party is fatally divided against it.
self on this great question Of political econo-
my, it would have declared in favor Of free
trade. The existence Of the question is too
apparent to allow its being ignored It can
not be got out of the way by running the
campaign with the ammunition of SANDER
against Mrs. Blaine, nor by appeal
to race prejudice, as is done by the New York
Herald, nor by the selection of a Democratic
candidate without q record. The great ques-
ton of the hour is protection or no protection /
the American market for American men, or
free trade for the benefit of our English
friends Mr.. Blaine and the Republican
party have met this question fairly Every
voter in the land knows what the party's posi-
ton is and what to expect from it. And it is
thepronounced and honorable attitude Of the
Republican party on this great question that
commands the confidence of its adherents
and compels the respect Of those who may
honestly hold differing opinions. The Repub-
lican party is going to succeed again, this
year. for this very reason, and the Democratic
party will be defeated, not SO much because
Of Mr.. Cleveland's moral unfitness, which is
readily admitted, but because il has not the
courage to be honest with the people
en.1.
REPUBLICANS have their eyes on the Maine