Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-09-07
Free Trade and Democracy.

democrats are in favor of free trade.
Other organs of the party utter the same
sentiment. Driven to close quarters IN
the discussion of the tariff by Mr.. Blaine
and other speakers, and realizing that
protection is gaining ground in this State
and will increase the republican majority
in the election next Monday, they attempt
to deceive the voters by denying the free
trade tendency of the party.
This dodge will not serve the purpose
intended by the democrats. They will be
held responsible for the Morrison bill and
all the injury it would have done this
State had it become the law of the land.
IL was their child. It was the democratic
leader of the House who presented it IN
Congress. 1t had the support of the
President and nearly all the democrats in
Congress. 1t was killed by the republi-
cans of the House aided by few demo-
Gratis led by MIR. Randall OF Pennsyl-
vania.
Thatthe free traders are gaining strength
in the democratic party is too evident to be
successfully denied. The events OF the
last few years prove 1t. The struggle be-
tween Randall and Blackburn. in 1879.
tor the Speakership, was decided for Ran
dali, a protection democrat. What fol-
lowed is stated by the New York Mail
and Express as follows: "In 1888 the
contest was renewed. This time it was
fairer for the free traders, because Mr..
Carlisle was stronger and mere general
ly recognized representative. He won the
Speakership by vote of two thirds of the
democratic caucus Mr. Morrison was
made chairman of the Ways and Means
and introduced his horizontal
bill. Mr.. Randall fought against it, but
the democratic caucus adopted it by a
four-ffths vote At the National Conven-
ton of 1884 the free traders made strug-
gle to commit the party in the platform,
and lack of aggressiveness was the sole
cause of their failure to secure more than
a compromise. Mr.. Cleveland, however.
would not have received the party's nomi-
ination if the tree traders had not been
given to understand that he held their
theories.
What has followed is recent history
Every member OF Mr. Cleveland's Cabinet
except the Attorney General, is a free
trader. Three at least, Secretaries Bay
ard and Lamar and Postmaster-General
Villas. had gained reputation as anti-pro-
lection orators before Mr.. Cleveland was
elected. The President himself and Sec
rotary Manning became allies of Speaker
Carlisle and Mr.. Morrison soon after the
opening of the last session of Congress
Mr.. Carlisle was again elected Speaker
and Mr. Morrison introduced another
tariff bill. The administration took an
active part in securing democratic votes
for this measure, and the democrats who
had the courage to follow Mr.. Randall in
opposing it were fiercely read on, of the
party by democratic organs and by the
resolutions OF democratic conventions"
This is history. The facts cannot be
denied. The free traders are in the as
tendency in the democratic party and con.
troll its action. They will equivocste
evade and deny as the Argus does, when
driven to the wall and unable to make
Roadway against protection, but the party
is irrevocably tor free trade just as fast
and as far as it dares to go.
The position OF the democratic organs
in Maine in denying that their party is fol
free trade is falsehood adopted for this
campaign, and is a virtual confession thai
they are losing ground in attempting to
uphold or excuse the Morrison bill and
the doctrine OF tree trade. The intelligent
voters OF Maine will not vote against theil
own interests to benefit Canada or Eng.
land. They will vote for protection Of
American interests and American labor in
preference. whose representative is Joseph
r. Bodwell.