The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-05-01
In Kentucky.

The expressions coming from all
,ver Kentucky regarding the sentl- !
nents of the people on the tariff ques- {
ion as well as to the popular choice
Of an exemplar of the proposed re- '
forms, constitute altogether a proud {
of Mr.. WatterSon, the able {
and devoted apostle of the new gospel
Of reform. We are proud of the mat
ter for his sake, as well as its giving
the most abundant evidence of vital
ity in section of the country where
the simple announcement of the ex-
istence of such force is tantamount to
the announcement of its final tri-
umph. Take Kentucky, Illinois, In
diana, Ohio and Tennessee and find
them into unit on this or any other
question, and finally they will have
their own way about it. Mr.. Waiter
son, like the clear-headed, able, devo- |
ted and determined man he is, has led
in the west in this battle against
banded corruption which calls itself
protection. Like all such contests it
has been dreadful one. Money, cor
ruption and privilege do not give up
their hold, do not abandon their posi-
tions unless they are crushed, and it is
like crushing the granite foundations
of the Rockies when you attempt the
enterprise. This Watterson did. Sin
gle-handed the brave editor Of the
Courier Journal fronted the fee.
That he was not at once
crushed to powder is a wonder,
while it is at the same time a tribute
to the force of his fight. Hemay fail
to force the issue this campaign, and
indeed at this writing it would seem
that he has, but next time it will in
evitably be recognized and it will form
the basis of the struggle. We do not
dispair notwithstanding the woe
full lack of nerve exhibited by con-
grassland still hope that the national
convention will give us a square free
trade or tariff for revenue only, plat
form. If it is done the resultant bat
tie will bring out an amazing amount
of latent manhood which is as vet I'M
known. The broad discussion of the
principles of immutable justice bound
| up in this question will serve to es,
tablish them beyond the possibility OF
destruction.
The great masses of the people are
honest and fair-minded. They hate
corruption, unfairness and class priv
ilege. They would never underwritt
the scheme by which the farmers
the. agricultural workers, and al
the vast interests dependent upor
it are made the servant of a few, s
mere handful of lordly manufactures
The philosophical discussions of the
question IS a sealed book to themasse:
of voters, because it is neeessarily
technical and obscure. But thu
adoption OF the question of tarif
as an issue in the national struggl,
would force its consideration in tn;
! common language, with all its idiom
l and popularize it in such way, and il
so many ways that the most ignoran
laborer would be able fully to under
stand it before the hour of decisiv
. action arrived. That Is all that i
needed. 1t needs only that the peopl
know what is involved to enabl
them to reach proper conclusion
= No fear of their failing to vote RICH
when they vote intelligent,
When the people of the Yves
a awake 70 the truth tha
v they are taxed annually to the exten
t of many hundreds of millions of do
r lars only for the benefit of a mel
e handful of benefciaries in the east
It because the laborers and trading poe
e do not share with the rich manufat
t turer-they will refuse to advanc
further in the cause. They will 6
once reverse action, and such Wav
- of free-trade sentiment sweep oYe
the country as will finally engulp
j. and destroy protection with all of il
dishonest and corrupt tendencies, an
give the west that wholesome asceI
dancy in the councils and gener;
= policies of the nation, she is enti
tied to no less by her numerical snper
ority than by the greater value in do
g lars and cents of her productions.
y This nucleus Of the states name,
q formed by WatTerson, we may sa.
. because he has lead in all this latte
: day discussion-will eventually an
: splendidlylwork out its logically result
as we said before, if not at Chicag
this summer, at least by the time W
are called upon to make the next rae
+ The expressions from the Kentuck
conventions are very significant of
3 very deep seated feeling and also Q
a deliberate and fixed purpos
. to battle to the death for the mos
sacred cause for which men ever con
8 tended. McDonald's name is an en-
, thusiasm wherever the discussion ha
Y penetrated in Kentucky, and the mer
, mention of it is quite sufficient t.
raise high the active hopes of tn
brave free traders there. In this con
: nection it may be well to say that al
l over the south and wherever else fire.
: sentiments have penetrated the nam
of Mcdonald has grown to be house
hold word, and that of Henry Waiter
: son only second.
Mob Law.