The Somerset reporter., 1888-08-30
Major Mckinley in the South.

Upon what terms we adopt revenue
tariff system in this country; In one way only
by accepting European conditions, and submit
ing to all the discomforts and disadvantages OF
our commercial rivals. The chief obstruction
iii the way of a revenue tariff are the wage.
paid American workingmen, and any return "a
that policy involves reduction of the cost Of
labor. We cannot Afford Mr.. President to
have cheap labor i'll the United States. Cheap
labor means cheap men and dear money
would rather elevate and improve the condition
of my fellow citizens than increase the value OF
money and the power of "money-bags." Thi.
is republic of free and equal citizenship. The
government is in the hands Of the masses, theil
well being, their intelligence their preparation
for the civil duties which rest upon them, de.
pend largely upon the scale of industrial wages
1t is essential, therefore, that the best possible
wages attainable shall be secured and maintain
ed This is vital and fundamental We can.
not, without grave danger and serious disturb
ance-we ought not under any circumstances
adopt Il policy which would scale down the
wages and diminish the comforts of the Ameri-
can workingmen. Their welfare and independ
cnce, their progress and elevation, are closely
related to the welfare and independence anf
progress Of the republic. We have no pampcI eC
class in this country, and we want none. We
want the field kept open; no narrowing of tn,
avenues; no lowering of our standard W.
"'ht Nv pti'''iS i"iotu against II HlRltE bnG
better civilization.
Free trade, or revenue tariff, will of neces
sity shut them out. 1t has no respect for labor
1t holds it as the mere machinery of capital II
would have cheap men that it might have chear
merchandise. With all of its boasted love for
tie struggling millions, 1t is infinitely NOR,
interested in cutting down the wages OF labor
than in saving twenty-five cents on the blanket;
more intent on reducing the purchasing power
of mans labor than the cost of his coat
Things are not always dearest when their price
is nominally highest. The price is not the onl,
measure, but the wherewith to buy is an essen.
al factor.
Next to the laborer the farmer is the immedi.
ate beneficiary of the American system II
brings to his plantation a city of consumers
The farmer and the factory are brought into
close proximity. The problem of TRANSPORTATION
is largely eliminated He hnds a market not
only for staple products which would bear trans.
portaton, but for many products which but for a
home market would waste and decay in the field
The tariff reformcr seeks to hatter the New
England manufacturers with the suggestion
that he no longer needs protection, and should
turn his influence in favor Of the other system.
He assures him that he has reached such per
lection in manufacture, such completeness OF
organism, such advancement in mechanical skill
that he has nothing to fear from competition
abroad, and that he has but to reach out for our
He assures him that he has nothing longer to
fear from competition but that his serious dan
ger is from home competition; that while he is
indebted for his splendid progress in industrial
development to protective system, he has
outgrown it, and if it is to be continued the PEG
pie of the South and West will become his dan.
gerous rivals, and that to avoid this new com.
he invites him to assist in withholding from the
States which have been slower in industrial de-
velopment that measure of Legislative aid which
has been SO prohtably invoked by the New Eng
land States and to which they are indebted for
their wonderful advancement in mechanical and
industrial pursuits. The truth is, protection
must be universal in its application; equally
within the reach of all sections and all indus
tries, or it should be abandoned altogether. 1t
cannot be enjoyed by one interest to the exclu-
sion of another. The New England wooden
mills cannot demand protection upon their cloth
and deny it to wool, and they do not. The rice
planter cannot hope to enjoy full prote ction
against foreign competition and deny equal pro-
lection to the producer of salt. The sugar plant
sr of Louisiana cannot invoke the power of Con-
yress for protective duties and yet deny like pro-
ection to industries in other parts of the coun-
ry. The system must stand as a whole or fall.
We are different from any other nation and
t is that difference which makes us the best.
Dur political system rests upon principle diff
rent from that of any other. 1t is founded up
III the COHsent Vi the peOit. Ii we nau wanted
otherwise we would not have left home, but
would have remained the obedient child Of an
mperious parent. We would not have turned
way from the mother country. We would have
emained one OF her dependencies. We would
lot have fought our way through blood and sac
ifice to independence. We separated to set up
Or ourselves free and independent political
ociety, and that policy is the best for us which
est suhserves the purposes Of our organization,
ur citizenship and civilization. 1t is ours to
york out our own destiny, and in doing SO fur
ish an example Of = free and progressive peo-
lie, whose industrial policy has made 1t posi-
lie to satisfy the best and highest aspirations of
,en, and which closes NO field to human en-
evor. We would wish for all mankind the ben
iicence Of our system and the opportunities
,hich 1t presents. We bid them level their
onditions up 70 ours; we will not level ours
own TO theirs. We will remove ali restrictions
'om international trade a. we have removed all
estrictions from interstate trade whenever thev
i'll raise their labor and their conditions to our
wn standard.
Men Of Gssrgia. upon this great industrial
usssiou tAers should be NO North nor South. |
o " II every eDstina have been entrusted the
,tsrssls Of car eountyy-ous whole c0untry. To
Ihsn have bssn eol1dsd the care Of other ma.
ons sna e>hss pssples, We will not interfere
n thsu. ~ ~ 1Asa Aoe interfere With us.
h ~ sieissasf b ibis eoaliet, Influenced by
Sisas1inn, asalsaal Interest," and nasiossl pride,
! = y Anssisaas. ]