The Sully County watchman. (Clifton, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1894, 1888-10-27
THE QUESTION OF THE HOUR.
viii the People of this Country Tolerate
an Abandonment OF the Protec-
tion system.

Only few weeks more of discussion
aud work and then the people will de-
eide For veal or woe, they will de-
termine the future history OF the codn-
try, perhaps for many years. \ large
and scanty success for either party
might indeed leave the issue To be fought
out once more on the same lines. A de-
cided victory for Mr. Cleveland and his
policy would throw all industries into
the whirlpool Of experimental recon
struction, and for some years ut least the
country would be compelled to try pro-
gress towards free trade and to see how
il works. But n decisive victory for Mr..
Harrison would probably settle the
policy of the nation for many years To
come. because it would warn politicians
of both parties that the people will not
tolerate an abandonment or undermin-
ing of the protective system.
This state of facts brings home to
voters of every party two questions: Is
it wise to forsake Il policy which has
brought uneXampfcd prosperity FOR the
sake of untried experiment? Is ii not
wise TO stop free trade agitation, which
does lmmeasureaolc harm every year TO
industry, by II verdict so decisive that 1t
will last? These questions will dominate
the last month Of the campaign, and n
decision for Mr. Cleveland is inevitably
"A decision for experimental change and
for free trade agitation continued ln-
definitely 4 decision for Mr.. Harrison
means that certainty shall not be sud-
denly changed for the experiments of
theorists; II gives industries firm land TO
build upon for four years ut least, and,
if sufficiently emphatic and complete.
for many years to come.
These things are obvious, and yet to
practical men they mean great deal.
For such men do not like TO venture
tncir millions in the erection of costly
! works. which, in case of change OF
national policy, might become worthless.
What can be done under the protective
tariff they know; twenty-scven years OF
experience demonstrate that, even IL in
dustry is developed in any direction too
rapidly, il can count with certainty upon
ultimate success and profit if the home
market with it's wonderfully rapid growth
Is secured. But they cannot calculate
| with certainty that the home market
will be secured or that il will grow with
| equal rapidity. or even that IL viii grow
ut all, ii the nations policy Is to be
! changed.
That way lies the destructive whirl-
peol of utter uncertainty. Possibly
| theorists may be mistaken. Changes
| supposed TO be harmless may surrender
| the entire home market 10 foreigners.
| Nobody can be sure; the change in that
| direction is u change from certainty TO
uncertainty, and that means arrest of
| development With 10000, 900 Ameri-
! caus earning such wages rs workers now
/ nd ali
natural increase OF population aud 50O,-
900 by immigration. the home market is
| by far the best in MI the world. To
| hold il for home industries means GER
| tain and rapid growth for them. But 10
surreudc: part of it--and always I'M un-
| known part, for the effect of = change
! toward lower duties can never be fore
sccn-takes away the only sure founda-
tion for every industry.
| Those practical men in botk parties
| who feel that continued agitation brings
disaster have the issue in their hands.
| They can stop the agitation If they
| please. True. it is impossible to stop or
even limit agitation by verdict in favor
of Mr. Cleveland S policy. For the very
essence of that policy is tentative but
| continued aud persistent change toward
the adoption OF free trade theories. II
| the people say yes" to the Mills bill,
every free trader in the land will then
| have faith that more agitation will make
further and far greater changes easy. A
vote for Mr.. Cleveland, therefore. is of
necessity vote for continued free trade
agitation, with the prospect of some un-
kuewn change toward abandonment Of
the home market by new legislation
every year. But decisive vote for Gen.
Harrison would give the death-blow TO
| free trade hopes, and then the work Of
tariff revision would be intrusted only 10
those who would uphold the protective
system while making such notifications
as the industries of the country from
time 10 time require. I0rk Tribune.