Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-07-19
The Alarm of the Clevelandites.

1t h considerably amusing to observe
the efforts which breckenridge, Mills, and
other Democratic leaders are making to
hedge on the tariff issue. A short time
since they were brim full of Free Trade
talk, had much to say about adhering
firmly to their views of political economy
and seemed very proud of thir alliance with
the Golden Club aud the British manu-
facturers. But all at once they appear to
have received new light. Not long after
the Democratic apostles of Free Trade had
been to teach Rhode Islanders that Pro-
lection was hostile to their interests and
that they ought to vote to sacrifice the
farmers to obtain free wool for their
factories, the voice of the people in State
election declared against the English and
Bourbon nostrums with remarkable en-
phasis. But this did not cause Brecken-
ridge, Mills, Scott and their other party
leaders to halt. Not long after Rhode
Island had spoken so plainly, prosperous
State of htlsbaudmen on the Pacific coast
expressed her opinion on the pending
issue. The wool farmers of Oregon de-
clared they would have none of the econ
omic heresies of Grover Cleveland and
his Bourbon and English supporters.
This splendid Republican triumph accen-
tuated by similar popular indications in
various parts of the country, has finally
told etfectually on the supporters of the
Mills bill at Washington. All at once
Mills goes to New York and in the pres
ence of the Tammany Hall Democracy
shows the white feather. He hesitates,
he stammers, he trims. He, the naughty
dogmatic Texan Calhounite, does
not think Free Trade is so very
desirable after all. Aud Breckenridge,
the proud kentuckian with his fine voice
and oratorical bearing, not only begins to
hedge before the rising tide of popular
opinion against the Golden Club and
Bourbon propagandism, but he so far
stultifies himself as to claim to he a better
Protectionist than che Republicans of the
House. He thinks he has found out that
the best way to secure Protection is by
the adoption of Free Trade measures. He
would not only give the wooden manu-
facturers higher protection by sacri-
ficing the vast body of American
wool farmers, but he would protect
the iron and steel manufacturers and
the wood workers of the United States
by admitting foreign iron and foreign
Ian ,lar fra, az Ipfx
this kind of craftsmanship by admitting
Canadian fish TO our markets on even
terms with American fl sh, while he in
sists that the way to take taxes off of the
necessaries of life is to retain high duties
on sugar. Such grand and lofty tumbing,
such twistings and turnings. in so short a
time, must be very wrenching to this elo-
quent Kentucky Democrat. Gentlemen
Of the Cleveland democracy, bold apostles
Of Free Trade, don't humiliate yourselves
nor bring shame on your faithful allies of
the Golden Club by such signs of coward
ice In the presence of your opponents.
You have chosen your line of battle, and
planted your standards where you thought |
you could securely defend them against |
all assaults. To attempt now to compro- |
mise with the enemy, to try to hedge, or
to raise the white flag, will disgust your
foreign allies and is the way to court sure
defeat. Better boldly take the chances
of honorable defeat by holding your
lines Its too late for you to exchange
positions with the Republicans and to at
tempt to promote Protection by Free
Trade. as