Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-08-01
The Peoples, Party VIII win.

less burdens upon the people. Previous
to the introduction of that bill, the
"grand old party" had absolutely no.
thing to bring forward as an issue in
this campaign; and the tenacity with
which it sticks to the cry of ''free trade"
to prevent and prejudice public opinion,
shows to what desperate straits it has
been driven to find an excuse for its fur
ther perpetuation. If ever a political
party completely stultified itself, this Re-
publican party is that one for after de-
claring in previous platform the neces-
sity and their intention of reforming the
tariff laws-which they have failed to do
they now oppose every attempt of the
Democrats in this direction, and by so
doing virtually repudiate their former
utterances. 1t certainly places the G. o.
p. in peculiar position, and either
shows that their platform lacked the i'm
press Of sincerity, or they now swallow
previous declarations simply to find an
issue with the party in power. But let it
be which it will, the Republican party of
to-day is no more the party of the peo.
pie, than a painted harlot is the repre-
sentative of the highest virtue. The Re-
publican party is now the tool OF
trusts" capitalistic cormorants, monop.
olies and the aristocracy of wealth and
to see it posing as the friend of labor
and the guardian of the workingman's
right is SO preposterous and absurd, it ex-
cites, not only ridicule, but disgust; and
We can even imagine the feverish anxiety
which will disturb the days and harrass
the nights of All Ben and Banker Morton
for fear they will be denied the privilege
at the polls in November of pro-
tecting American labor and saw
ing the workingmen from irretriev-
able ruin. How such cold-blooded
mercenary gold-graspers do love
thel dear workingman, and how much
stronger their desire for protection" on
his account than for the millionaire
manufacturer. SIN the spring young
mans fancy lightly turns to love-" but
it is late in the fall on Presidential years
when the moneyed aristocrlt feels the
full strength of his deep seated and
of toll; and the greater the Office, the
higher the political position to which he
aspires, the more is his calloused heart
warmed and stirred with this heretofore
unconscious love, that has suddenly
burst forth as does the tender passion in
the breast of fair maid at sweet sixteen
Next to the undying love of mother, is
that of the shylock politician for the
workingman, and the vast quantity now
being waited on the political atmosphere
by millionaire Republicans, will tighten
the hardships of protected labor" in
Pennsylvania and add to the purchasing
power of 900 cents per day."
In the words of Shakespeare, "What
fools these mortals be-" and what con-
summate dough-heads the workingmen
are who will vote the Republican ticket
or look to that party for relief, reform
or beneficial changes Let the working
men remember that while excessive
taxation was necessary to meet the ex-
penses of the great rebellion, the first
reduction made at the close of the war
was by removing the income tax, the
tax on corporations and the internal
taxes on the manufacturers, which were
paid by capitalists; while no reductions
have yet been made on the tariff duties
that effect every man who works for
wages. Says Congressman Mills,
"there was an income tax in 1886 i'm
posed on 460,17O people, which
brought into the United States
Treasury $22,000,0O0. Being tax
on wealth, it was removed, but the war
tax on clothing, food and labor still re-
mains. It is the attempt to lessen and
tighten these taxes which the Demo
cratic party is now making, that rouses
the antagonism of the Republicans, ond
leads to their senseless cry of 'free
trade" which they have shouted until
hoarse, without adducing the shadow of
just cause for such an opt-cry.
Whether free trade will ever be an is
sue or not, between the great political
parties of this country, time alone can
decide, but at present it is no more of a
factor in this campaign than Henry
Georges land theories; and to howl "free
trade" is one of the most contemplate,
unprincipled and dishonest methods ever
adopted by an opposing political power to
influence votes, that has been known in
American history. Comparatively few
day laborers and wage-workers find time
Or opportunity to study the
tariff system of our nation, and de-
irving most of their information
from the daily press they are confused
and deluded, preiudiced and perverted
by Republican organs that dare not deal
fairly or squarely with the subject at is
sue; and ore might as we'll read the
Pilgrims Progress for instructive in
formation on the tariff, as to peruse the
Republican papers of this city. They
have created the bugaboo "free trade,'
and seem determined to bulldoze and
terrify the uninformed and credulous
with this gaunt spectre of want and woe
clothed in rags and tortured with hunger.
1t is fine scheme, and illustrates the
power of brilliant minds in their futile
efforts to revive animation in that rotting
carcass, known as the Republican party
but it can no more be called to life and
power again than the grave can be made
to restore with animation and con-
sciousness the clay of Sumner,
Chase and Conkling. The Republican
party is dead, and all these tricks.
schemes and maneuvers will impart no
life to the corpse and it's remains will
be so putrid by November 7th that it's
most devoted admirers will be glad to
cut loose to escape the stencil.
The Democratic party is the party of
the people, the party that embodies pro-
gress and live ideas, that condemns class
legislation and works for the general
welfare Of the whole nation. Grover
Cleveland is not the tool of any clique,
the puppet of the money power, nor the
figure head for some power behind the
scenes, as would be the son of his grand
father, il elected. He is a man with the
courage of his convictions, the firmness
of Jackson, and stands unspotted with
rolitioo1 nh,