Western Kansas world., 1886-11-06
THE GREAT ISSUE IN lsas.

Hd0 6hEAT ISSUE In 1888.
The congressional campaign this yea,
developed the fact that the tariff ausstiou
stands at the head of the calendar foI
1883. There are other subjects, as lsbor,
transportation, internal Improvements. re.
clprocity treaties with American nationa.
ship canal and railroad scross the 18th.
mus, citizen suffrage in the south. etc.
but the tariff will receive more attention
than any other subject, and particularly
because it not only involves the general
Development OF the country, but in ita
discussion the labor question must, nee
essarily, be considered. It is important,
therefore, that the people prepare for the
great debate.
Republicans, as party, favor a pro-
tective tariff; that is to say, schedule of
tariff duties which, while affording neces-
sary revenue for government use, shall, at
the same time, operate to protect our
home labor against all unjust or unequal
competition Of foreign labor. The Re-
publican idea is America for Americans;
that it is better for us to develop our own
resources than those OF any other coun-
try; that it is better to pay our money
to our own people than to people who live
in and belong to other nations; that it is
better for our farmers If they can sell
their surplus products in home markets
than if they must send all their surplus
away to foreign markets; that it is better
to make the most and the best we can
of all we have, thus making ourselves as
nearly as possible independent of other
nations. Is not that good doctrine2
The Democratic party is not of one
mind on this subject, except as to single
proposition: It is opposed to a protective
tariff About one-fourth the membership
of that party favors the protective idea;
the other three-fourths are divided all
along the line from revenue tariff to
free trade. II the party were in control
OF both branches Of congress with ma
jority large enough to overcome the pro-
lection minority and the Republicans
combined, the country would get low
Of Is to 20 per cent, without regard to
its effect on our home industries.
The difference in the effect produced
upon the country, and especially on the
industrial interests, by these two tariff
systems is to be the bone of contention
in 1885, Topeka Capital.
Major Hudson knows US to be a per-
sonal friend OF his. When it comes to
ranking the tariff question at ''the head
of the calendar for 1885," we differ with
him. The Southern question is yet the
greatest one in American politics. The
tariff question is also great one, but it
is secure. The protective policy of the
party is the business policy
of the commercial element. It is not 80
with the Southern question. The Bour-
bon Democracy have disfrapchised sew
eral hundred thousand voters ip the South
ern states. On this account, the voice of
the people of the nation is negatiyed. Re-
publican government does not rest Sc
curely on such foundation. It follows
that some political party must act as the
champion of good government in this
case. Is the Republican party going to
follow out it's natural inclination on this
question, as expressed in its platforms, or
is it going to procrastinate until new
party to do this work has been reared on
its ruins?
We to-day believe that If the Mr..
Blaine of 1884 had been on this question
the Blaine of his previous life, the Repub-
lican national ticket would then have
been triumphant. He should not now
consent to his friends giving the tariff
question rank over the Southern question