Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-11-02
POLITICAL QUESTIONS
& bly, Discussed From a Repub-
lican Standpoint.
FREQ NinterIa's.

! Iree Nuterin's.
President Cleveland has tried 10 confuse
I the issue before the people by his letter OF
acceptance, and yet once more, because OF
his own ignorance, he has made IL stiil clear
err Abundant proof OF his intention is found
I in his professions Of anxiety To promote in-
dustry and TO maintain the wages OF labor.
Y ct he makes the issue even palmer than II
was before, 10y distinctly avowiDg for Ii ,mself
and his party the intention To free from
duty the imported raw materials" general v,
without distinction or discrimination. Mr..
Cleveland does not appear to know that this
includes all the ores and all the pig metals,
as well as the wool and lumber used as ma
terals: that ii includes every direct product
OF the farms or the mines which is afterward
manufactured, ground, prepared, packed or
otherwise finished into forms for use. The
avowal OF purpose so revolutionary would
have been carefully avoided, by the leader of
party which did not dare even 10 reduce
the duty OH iron ore, IL Mr.. Cleveland had
but moderately understood the problem with
which he has to deal Yet the entire argu-
ment OF his letter OF acceptance is II plea for
the absolute removal of duty from all ma
tie ials of industry, and II applies TO all as
much as II applies to any.
This is the free trade theory, which has
been indusirously preached by the Golden
free trade league, and by every free trade
orator aud writer In Great Britain for many
years IL Is precisely the theory which the
free trade league Of this country assiduously
preached for years, before its adherepts stoop-
Ell to call themselves tariff refOrmers Mr..
Cleveland would like to reject the name free
trader. But h. does not know enough of the
question he discusses To avoid the declaration
OF free trade theories and the use of free
trade arguments without disguise or reserya-
ton.
lie afllrns Of himself and his party: eve
propose 10 stimulate our domS8tic industrial
enterprises by freeing from duty the imported
raw material" That is the very essence OF
the free trade theory, that free mater ais will
stimulate industry. Mr.. Cleveland so believes,
aud on that belief the repu blcans join issue
They maintain that manufacturing industries
are best protected by securing through de-
feusive duties a permanent, ample and cheap
supply OF materials; that wool and ores aud
pig metal will be produced in greater quantity
aud at less cost IL the producing industries
are fully projected This they prove by com.
pairing the enormous increase in production
here with the Increase In Great Britain, where
the home production is distinctly checked by
free trade. IL Is well that the president has
aYowed bis belief so plainly, aud the more
men credit his sincerity, the more the mill
ions OF workers who produce wool and ores
and pig iron aud other raw materials will
dread the triumph OF his ideas aud his parry
Repeatedly the president declares that lie
and his party will not neglect the interests
Of labor and our workiDgmenn Is this the
impudent dishonesty OF a mere demagogue,
who proposes In the same breath to turn out
OF work the great army engaged In producing
raw materials, and also to defend their inter
estsi Or Is IL smpl, the amazing ignorance
OF one who knows so little of industries, that
he is not aware that more persons are EN-
ployed In producing the materials than I'm
fashoning them into manufactured articles;
more in grow ne wool than in wool manufac-
ture; more In mining and smelling ores than
in their manufacture; AMI so In almost every
department of Industry Mr. Cleveand's
friends VIII interpret his course as they please
But the fact remains, aud is known to the
voters that the wages of all labor mast newt
ably be affected by turnin, out Of emplo iheut
any considerable part CT The laborers and
that the number who now find support in
mining, in smelling ores ia choppng aud
saving lumber, in growing wool, aud in pro-
duction OF other raw materials, is so great
and so important that it cannot be deprived
OF employment nor seriously docked in waves
without causing complete revolution In the
condition Of all American labor.-AeO York
Tribune.