The true northerner., 1886-10-28
NATIONAL QUESTIONS
Discussed from Republican Stand
point by Senator John Sher-
man, of Ohio.
He Pays His Respects to Grover, and
Shows the False Pretenses of the
Democratic Party.

man spoke of the Republican party as be-
ing progressive in all things and character
lied the Democratic party as a party Of
great measures OF Republican policy.
After reviewing the position of the two par
ties in the past political conflicts, he said:
The Democratic party, by the vote of the
Electoral College, is now in control of the
executive branch of the Government. Gro
yer Cleveland who lived, and moved, and
had his being during all these years in
Buffalo, n. y, without showing a particle
of feeling or sympathy for the Union
cause, without a name or a record az n citi-
zen or soldier, until he was recently elected
Sheriff of his county, is now President of
the United States. This is n most remark
able fact, and the causes which led to it are
well worthy the consideration of the Ameri-
can people. 1t was brought about, not by
the discomfort of the Republican masses,
for the great body of them, embracing
large majorities in nearly all the loyal
States, heartily supported the Republican
nominees, but by a coalition between the
States lately in rebellion and the City of
New York, aided no doubt 10 some extent
by the usual and natural defections and
personal controversies growing out of a
long administration of power by single
party.
And now, fellow citizens, after eighteen
months trial, are YOU satisfied with the Ie-
suit of the changer Have Mr.. Cleveland
and the Democratic party adopted any
policy or proposed any measure that can
be of any possible service TO the people of
Ohio or of the United States? In thinking
over what l should say to you upon this
subject / have read over his message, and,
especially, his vetoes, and the more l read
the more l wonder how he came to be
President of the United States, and, es-
pecially, what cause led 10 such change.
More than one-third of his message is de-
voted to our foreign relations, and in that
he says: There are no questions of diff
Guilty with any foreign Government" and
highly commends the foreign policy Of pre-
vious administrations. So here was no
cause for change.
But what shall We say of his management
of our foreign affairs? Our fishing ves-
sells are seized and detained for purchasing
bait at Canadian ports, ri hit claimed and
exercised for half a century, no firm re-
monstranoe made. but gentle and pro-
longed negotiation is going on with the
British authorities TO coax or buy right or
privilege only now denied. / do not wish
TO criticise until l know all the facts which
we may be able to learn next winter. But
this general dalliance with Great Britain is
in striking contrast with the clustering de-
mand made upon our nei ishboring republic,
Nj Xico, for the possession of character
less American adventurer, who, in Mexico,
violated the laws of Mexico, and seems to
have been too mildly treated for his Of
fense by the Mexican authorities. regret
to say that / see nothing in the character
or fitness of the men sent to represent us
abroad or in the management of foreign
affairs that can at all compare with that of
Seward or Fish. But the people of the
United States care but little for foreign di-
plomacy, but would like fewer Confederate
brgadiers and more American patriots TO
represent even Democratic administration
abroad.
The Senator next reviewed the financial
policy of the administration, claiming that
it had caused prices to steadily fall, and
the only hope for prosperous future lay
in the bounJies of Providence in good crops
and the active industries of great people,
and not the aid of Democratic fnanciering.
In referring TO the Presidents stand on
the question of protective tariff, the Sena-
tor said
The President treats the tariff as GIN
gerly as monkey would hot potato. He
fees it, and runs from it. He favors the
reduction of the tariff, but thinks it should
be made on duties on imported necessa-
ries of life, while the truth is that the
American manufacturer now makes nearly
all such articles consumed in this country,
and the duties collected are mainly from
articles of superhuity or luxury. There is
not in his message one open, manly word
in favor of the protection of American in
dustry but this is called "a pretext for
protective policy" Undoubtedly the great
body of those who elected Mr.. Cleveland
are "free traders" and would, if they
could, bring American laborers into q
hard, close competition with the cheapest
labor Of Europe, and they will creep in
that direction as fast as public opinion
and the necessities OF revenue will permit.
Honest men may differ about the effect of
protective duties, but no honest man of
ordinary intelligence can doubt that the
tendency and spirit of the Democratic par
ty are toward "froe trade" in the English
sense of the phrase.
The Senator held that on all the other
various subjects referred to by the Presi-
dent in his annual message, there is not a
clause or paragraph indicating broad ma
tional policy upon any subject. Mr.. Sher-
man also paid his respects TO the solid
South, and said that the actual result of
Clevelands administration thus far is to
prove that the pretenses upon which it was
elected were false pretenses, and that the
only material change has been to substitute
in executive power the teachings, sympa-
thies, and dogmas of the rebellion, with its
leaders in the South and sympathizers in
the North in high Office, for the teachings,
example. and principles Of the Republican
party and tie Union cause.
After referring TO the efforts of the Dem
ocrats in the House TO pass the Morrison
bill. and TO break down. if possible, the
| protective system established by the Re-
| pul leans. the speaker said;
This Republican policy has been the
cause of the vast immigration TO our coun-
try of industrious laborers, who have flocked
to our shores to enjoy the safety and profit
| of our institutions, TO share in our pros
perity and TO contribute their labor to the
| general wealth of the country, The wages
paid for labor in this country are from fifty
to one hundred per cent. more than in
European countries, and thus our laborers
have the comforts of social life, are able
to educate their children, TO improve their
property condition, TO secure homes and
! property, and become useful, intelligent,
and respected citizens. But for the protec-
ton Of these duties these varied employ