The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1884-09-20
THE FREE TRADE DEFEAT IN MAINE.
Irish World (Democrat.)


The result Of the election in Maine is the most
pronounced popular verdict ON the. Tariff ques-
ton that has been rendered for many years. The
citizens of Maine were ostensbIy voting for the
Republican and Democratic candidates for Gov
ernor but in reality they were registering at the
polls their preference for Free Trade or Protec-
tim.
1t is matter for sincere rejoicing that the
American policy of protecting American indus
tries has gained such a signal victory over the
pro- British policy of Free-Trade.
1t was a fair, square, stand-up fight on the
question whether the interests of this country
should be sacrificed in behalf of British manu-.
facturers. Every other issue was dwarfed into
insgnfcance in the presence of the great issue
whether American labor should be starved in
order that England might find new market for
her cheap goods. The pro British faction in
Maine, as in other States, tried to shirk it, but
their opponents very wisely held them to it.
And the result is that Maine has given an un-
precedent majority for the policy of Protection.
Mr.. Blaine in his speech delivered on the night
of the election, put it yery7well when he said =
soar canvass has been conducted on one great
ISSUE our papers have kept that constantly before
the people, every speaker from every platform
has enunciated, defended, enforced it. 1t is the
issue of protection to American labor. The Tariff
has been almost the only question discussed in
our canvass, and the people have responded noby.
They understand the subject fully. They know
the details of the Morrison Tariff Bill and they
read there the precise results which would follow
if our opponents should obtain control of the Ma
tional Government They see and they know
that the Morrison Bill, enacted into law, would
seriously cripple, if not utterly destroy, the lead
ing industrial interests of Maine, that it would
reduce the wages Of every laboring man, and stop
every new manufacturing enterprise in the State.
Seeing this, the people OF Maine have protested
against the enactment of so destructive measure
and have set the seal of disapprobation upon the
Democratic party that support it. Many Demo-
Gratis in Maine, who have mover before wayered
! in their allegiance to their party, have ranged
themselves to day on the side of protection to
| american industry by voting the full Republican
ticket; their leaders coull not hold them. Parry
discipline is poweress against the convictions of
men" In these words we have clearly placed be
fore us the results that would inevitably flow
| from Il victory of the pro- British faction at tie
| polls next November.
Let no workngman be deceived as to the inte1-
tons of the supporters Of Grover Cleveland.
| From prudential motives they are now less lMd
| in their advocacy of Free-Trade than they wer,
| few months ago. But let them elect their CAN'T
date and long before the end of the first Session
of the next Congress they will be fighting on he
floors of the National House of Representatives
! a fierce Free Trade battle, encouraged and sls-
tanned by the knowledge that they have at thir
back Free Trade President ready and willingto
| lend his official influence to the triumph ola
measure in the success of which England is so
| deeply interested.
This will be one of the results of electing Groer
Cleveland. If workingmen, who will be tie
| greatest sufferers from the adoption of a FIRE.
Trade policy, are so ensaved by party allegiance
as to vote for u candidate whose election will en-
courage and strengthen the pro- British faction n
their designs on American industries; if working
men, we say, so blinded by party allegiance
as to commit this huge blunder, they will havs
only themselves to blame for the reduction o.
wages which will inevitably result from the
prostration of American industries that will be
the immediate effect of the success of the Free
Trade policy, to the carrying out of which Ccve-
lands supporters are pledged
We rejoice beyond expression that, whatever
other citizens may do, sh-Americans are show
ing that they at least will have part in the
conspiracy that the pro- British faction is Matching
against America. A large number of the Maine
Democrats whom Mr.. Blaine referred to in his
speech as having ranged themselves on the side
of Protection to American industries by voting the
full Republican ticket were, we are glad to say,
Irish Americans. The dispatches state that in
Augusta over 60 per cent of the Irish-Americans
showed by their votes that they were opposed to
the pro- British policy ofFree-T Trade. In Bangor
and other cities Irish-Americans gave proofs of
similar good sense and patriotism. Democratic
machine politicians tried the game of intimida-
ton to prevent these selfrespecting Irish Aueri-
cans from taking sides against Free Trade, but,
as the result shows, they utterly failed We
proer our congratulations to the Irish Americans
of the Pine Tree State for the noble and resolute
stand they have taken in defence of American in
dustres. They have set an example to the men
of their in every part of the land that feel
certain will contribute largely to defeat the Free
Trade conspirators.
In the first skirmish in the defence of Protec-
ton the Irish Americans of Maine have behaved
nobly. If their brothers in Ohio and West Vir-
viii in the great and decisive battle of the 4th
Of November utterly rout the Free Traders
that England will abandon all hopes of breaking
down the barriers that Protection has thrown
around the industries of this country.