Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1884-08-01
BLALNFS ACCEPTANCE.


Mr. Blaine devotes a very large part of
of his letter Of acceptance to the tariff ques-
ton. This may be taken as an indication
that the Republicans intend TO make the
tariff the leading issue Of the campaign If
they possibly can.
Mr.. Blaine presents the old arguments
in favor Of protection, but he presents them
in new and attractive way. He wishes
to have it understood that the marvellous
growth of the country in wealth is due al
most wholly to the protective system. The
words which he addresses to the farmers re-
specting the superior advantages Of a home
market, and the ACCESSIBILITY of fostering
that market, are calculated to deceive and
hide the truth.
The working men are told that comfort
able homes for themselves and schools for
their children are to be obtained only by
means of protective tariff, and that the Re-
publican party alone promises that sort Of
tariff. Mr.. Blaine does not say word
about the unnecessary burdens that are
placed upon the farmers and the working
men in order that few manufacturing
monopolies may grow rich. While point
ing out the advantages of home market he
does not state that the prices of corn, wheat,
pork, &c, are fixed at Liverpool, and that
protective tariff does not increase the
prices of agricultural products, but does in
crease the prices of very many of the arti-
cles which farmers are compelled to have.
Mr.. Blaine says that the country must
control the trade of the South American
States, but fails to show how we can con-
troll that trade as long as a protective tariff
makes it impossible for us TO compete in the
South American markets with the manu-
factories of Europe. Our manufacturing
industries have grown marvelously, but
they have only supplied the wants of the
home market Some of them are suffering
now because their productive capacity has
outgrown the demand of the home market
and they are shut out Of foreign markets.
If the protective system is continued they
cannot grow in the future with anything
like the rapidity they have grown in the
past.
Mr.. Blaine in his letter does not encour-
age the idea that has been given out that,
if elected, he would favor an aggressive
foreign policy. ave seek the conquests of
peace, he says, and proceeds to shsw what a
rich field for trade Mexico, Central and South
America is He is very emphatic, however,
| in his declaration that an American citizen,
whether native or adopted, should be pro-
tected in all his rights in every part of the
world
Speaking of the South he says, 'Some Of
| the Southern States have already entered
/ upon career Of industrial development
and prosperity and these Stztes he think:
should not ~lend their electoral votes to de
feat their own future They will be pretty
certain not 10 defeat their own future by
casting their electoral votes for the Repub
lican candidates. Mr.. Blaine evidently does
not understand the condition Of affairs in
the South 1t was 10; until they got nd o
local Republican rule that the Southern
States began to be prosperous They an
not likely TO do anything that will plac'
them Under that rule again
Mr. Blaine touches upon civil service re
form, the shipping interest, the public lanC
question. in fact, be has something TO sa!
about every important public question be
fore the country, and from his standpoint
be explains the position Of his party wit
more than ordinary shrewdness- He is
man Of ability, and his ability is oonspicu
Gus in the careful and calculating way il
which he endenvork 10 deceiEe and 10 in
hneDoe MI classes Of voiers