The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1886-10-01
ONE POINT SETTLED

In the st. Paul Pioneer Press of Friday,
the 9th INST, appears an editorial upon
the action of the Republican State con-
vention in. endorsing the Minnesota Con-
gressmen who voted i'm favor of the Nor
rison tariff bill, and so accurately does it
reflect the sentiments of the people of
the State generally and the Second dis
trict in particular, TIE. FREE PRESS is
pleased To reproduce it IN its columns.
No member ofthe Forty-ninth Congress
more honestly represented the wishes of
his constituency upon the tariff question
than did Mr.. Wakefield, and had he per-
mitted his friends To re-nOminate him for
another term, il is entirely safe to assume
that ms majority ut the polls in November
would be nearly double That of two years
ago. The Pioneer says:
The Pioneer Press takes a great deal of
pleasure in calling the attention of the
country To the fact, iianally settled be-
You'd peradventure or dispute that Mimi
| csOta Is Il tariilrcform state. Efforts have
been made To deny or obscure it hither-
| to. Hereafter no one will find II open
To question. The ultra protectiOnists of
the Pennsylvania school could not be-
lieve that the Minnesota congressman
who voted for tariff reduction two years
ago represented the real opinions of their
constituents. When congressional con-
venlions endorsed this action we heard
il was merely To s;llve individual feelings.
The guarded advocacy of tariff reduc-
lion by the last state convention was also
.l..t. Il
pie were opened when four of Mimi
esota's congressman OH the eve of II new
election voted for the consideration of
the Morrison bill. The organs of high
protection have been active ever since
i'm claiming that this was offensive to the
party i'm the state. and that the nOmina-
ton of new men i'm two districts was in
tended as II rebuke for their tariff reduc-
ton votes. Now let us see just what il
the position taken by the Republican
party upon this question at the conven-
ton just held.
The convention was the largest ever
held in the state, and was an intelligent
and representative body. lfthe Repub.
licanism of Minnesota did not speak
through these men, it will never find d
voice. And this is its declaration oil
principles on the tariff question.
Il
mand Il lower rate Of taxation upon the ne ccs
, sIries AT life than that of the war period. We
favor, therefore, AZ just aud necessary light
cnIng of their burdens ana MD To their prosper
; ity, an early judiciolIs revision of the tariff
with II simpiiiication and reduction Of customs
duties.
There is nothing uncertain about that
But the convention went further.
added this resolution as Il reply to tn,
charge that the party had gone back OF
its Congressman for their tariff reform
votes:
That this convention approves OF the actor
5 of the majority of the Minnesota delegation IL
!, the house of representatives of the Unite
States, in voting to consider the bill for the RI
vision of the tariif.
Few sections of the deliberately enun
ciated platform called out more genera
applause than this, which finally fiXe
the status of Minnesota Repubiicanisn
: on the tariff question. The party IN thi
u state may he proud of the record.
r has distinguished itself above the Dem
i Ocratic opposition, which, by pronOunc
c ing for tariff for revenue only CAV
q itself over to the mt present empty an,
c impracticaEle doctrine of free trade.
r has cut away from the silly notion that
Il man must prove his Republicanism b.
# voting to perpetuate war taxes, and tina
O he is not free to support any measur
r which looks tOword lessening the bun
y dens of the people. The Republicans G
n Minnesota have no mind to be eXOrbit
q antly taxed for theory which, whateve
=, of truth it possesses for an undevelope
, nation, is no longer applicable to tn
:, economic condition of the United States
y They have no mind to make the farme
. and the workingman forever the serfs c
y great manufacturing corporations. Mir
u nesota is for tariff reform. We are prOu
e of her fine sense of justice and her indie
II pendent courage in expressing it. TIL
d sooner that Republicans of other state
= follow her example, the better it will b.
Z for the marty and the country.