The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1888-10-18

[ know from personal observation that
European manufacturers who understand
their business look forward with grave
apprehension to the time when American
industry will be relieved of the clogs
which now hamper it and enter the mar
kets of the world to compete with them.
They know well that the competition of
American ingenuity and energy, I'M
trammeled by artificial shackles, will be
to them of all competitions most formid-
able.
when now those protected interests
proclaim through the mouth OF the re-
publican party that they arc ready to
sacrifice almost anything and to do al
most anything rather than surrender any
portion OF the protective SYSTEM the
proclamation has peculiarly irritating
sound. There Is something of the inso-
lent recllessness in it which, in the
career OF grasping power, usually pre-
cedes the day of Judgment. 1t reminds
one somewhat of Iwed'5 famous reply to
his accusers. What are you going to do
about it?'
THE question is not whether tariff
will or viii not come. 1t is sure to come,
either now or in the near future. The
question really is. whether it shall come
in the temperate and prudent shape pro-
posed in Mr.. Cleveland's message, tend
ing to strengthen rather than endanger
the manufacturing industries. or in the
shape OF an angry reaction a little later,
threatening such loss and confusion as is
incident to sudden, violent and sweeping
changes of system. The danger that, If
moderate tariff reform be rejected now,
such an angly reaction will follow is
greatly incaeased by the appearance in
the business world of the trusts" [
notice that the republicans greatly exert
themselves to create the impression that
the organization of trusts has nothing to
do with the protective tariff. But an in
telligent people will not fail to see that
the two contrivances are designed to
serve the same object-to enhance the
price Of goods by cutting off competition.
I'm fact, the protective tariff and the
trust are children of the same parent;
the trust Is the younger brother of the
tariff.
THE springing up of trusts has put
upon the tariff question new face The
trust is extortion undisguised. It blunt
ly bids the people Stand and deliver
The efforts to obscure the relationship
between trust and protective tariff Will
not succeed long, if they succeed at all.
No free and spirited people will long
endure such combinations when their
nature has been understood. / am in
favor of prudent and temperate reform,
and wish to avoid the danger of abrupt,
sweeping and possibly destructive
changes. [ am, therefore, in favor Of the
tariff policy proposed by Mr.. Cleveland,
and against that of the republican party
And, in my humble opinion, the manu-
facturers as well as the laboring men will
best serve their own interests If they act
upon the same view of the subject.
During his presidency tho country
has been relieved OF the impression sedu-
lousy fostered by party spirit, and until
within three years sincerely entertained
by many good citizens, that one-half of
the people were disloyal and dangerous
to the Union, and that the republic would
go to destruction if the government
passed from the hands of one party to
those of another, This is a gain to the
morals Of our political life which cannot
be too highly appreciated. Moreover,
President Cleveland has given the coun-
try an administration Of public affair,
which, Notwithstanding its SHORTCOMINGS.
has, IN many important rnsnacts. bv lis
aplnty, us hdel't-!y, to the public inter
ecu anu Is wholesome conservative spirit,
S,eservedly and in high degree won the
approval and confidence of the people.
And, finally, he has by his tariff message
identified himself and his candidacy with
an economic policy which bids fair to
correct existing evils, to obviate destruc-
tive disturbances, to enlarge the remumer-
ative activity of industrial labor, and to
secure steady development of the gen
eral prosperity"