New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-05-26
Tile NEXT DECEPTION


dishonest performance. In set terms it ap-
proves the Mills bill and the Presidents mes
sage, /" to the end that labor may be more eth
GENTLY protected" In charity one may snp-
pose that the trainers and supporters OF this
resolution were not conscious of its dishonesty
Some of them may have believed that
reduction Of duty would secure better
wages, and "continuity Of employment
to labor; who can fathom the pos
sibilities Of human stupidity? Some may
have thought it not dishonest to say that pro-
lection was the end sought, but only through
"ab clifton Of duties on raw materials" and
relief of the people from Generous taxes"
An honest man would as soon be accused OF
fiat lying as Of using the word "protectlon,.
in sense so deceptive. But scarcely any
stretch Of charity can acquit Of deliberate
falsehood the men who declare that the pur-
pose of the Presidents message, and of the
Mills bill, is "the regulation Of duties in such
manner as Will put American industry on
firm and permanent basis covering the differ
ence between wages in this and in foreign
countries.o
What better can be expected from party
which offers Mr.. Cleveland to the country as
the champion of Civil Service REFORM A
convention packed by his ofce-holders, the
yoncrete product Of systematic violation
of his orders forbidding "pernicious activity"
and party dictation by officials, the ripe fruit
of three years of labor to make the public
service partisan machine, could not have
been expected to tell the truth. President
Cleveland's appointments have been governed
throughout by deliberate purpose, not to re-
form the Civil Service, but to make 1t
machine by which one man can dictate to
National party. His message was deliberately
intended. not to protect labor, but to break
down and destroy the protective system. Yet
the dishonesty Of first electing and then sup
porting such man, with such false pretences,
has so demoralzed the minds of men that
no one is in the least surprised or shocked
at the Pennsylvania platform IL hts the can
didate and the party.
The supporters Of the American system OF
protection have fair warning in this platform
Of the lines upon which the hight Tor Mt
Cleveland are election will be made In Eastern
States. We shall have every radical Tree
trader and free-trade journal supporting him
on the ground that he is not Free-trader,
but genuine ProtectioniSt. little reduc-
ton and equalization of duties, enough TO
check trusts and to cheaper raw materials,
but leaving "basis covering the difference
between wages in this country and In foreign
countries.D that is all the President proposes
these men will declare Knowing that IL IS
q falsehood every time they utter it, they VIII
insist through months Of debate that they
want HIM elected, not because he agrees with,
but because he is opposed TO, their CONVICTIONS
On the tariff.
1t is wise not hastily to assume that these
impudent untruths will fail to deceive. The
enormous power of partisan feeling will be
behind them. Men who know from lifelong
experience that these pretences are false VIII
nevertheless cheat themselves with the idea
that they may prove true, because they want
to cling to the party. Manufacturers and work
ingmen. who know that the Presidents policy
threatens their own industry, will nevertheless
support il for party's sake, trusting that the
cbanter of accidents will save them from the
natural consequences of their votes 1t is to
he the swinding campaign Of 1840 over again
-0Poll1 Dallas and the tariff Of APP was the
rallyinc CRY of mon whose purpose was to
repeal the tariff Of AZ and the same party
will now try cleveland and Protection" in
order to break down and destroy protection.
Something depends upon the Republican
party. If the Republicans nominate candi-
date whose very name carries with it declara-
ton of honest and patriotic convictions, the
struggle will not be doubtful. But fraud will
have its chance, if the Republicans show by
their nomination or their platform that they
are afraid to uphold, without flinching or re-
serve, the policy which has given the Nation
| its most marvellous progress ard prosperity.