The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1888-02-01

believed then- lncsc Sout'e' "
men learned very slowly, and forgot as
slowly, and they were blind to-day to the
marvels which were being wrought IN
tfeir midst undera Protective tarii- The
Democratic party had come into power
in the House Of Representatives IN the
Fortv-fourth Congress, and had held
power in that House ever since, except IN
the Forty seventh Congress, and IT has
illustrated its promotion to power by de-
mandiny that the tariff be revised
and the whole business Of the country
disturbed.
The Democratic chairman Of the COM
mittee OF Ways and Means since then
had been Fernando Wood with Ran
dolph Tucker as an assistant and VIII
liam r. Morrison-all three OF them out
and out theoretical Free-tradens- To-day
Mr.. Mills. of Texas, was chairman Of that
committee, and Mr. Mills was ever a
crank in his devotion to the principles OF
Free Trade and endorsed the message OF
the President.
The distinguished Speaker ofthe House
for whom be had profound esteem
in his devotion TO the principles Of Free
Trade, had dared in the last Congress to
arrogate TO himself almost despotic pow
ems and to declare from his high place that
he would recognize no member of the
House TO make any motion - cut down
the surplus until il was first submitted to
a Democratic caucus. The Democratic
Secretary ofthe Treasury had also Joined
in the choir of the Free-traders appar-
emily with all his heart. In fine he was
satisfied that all the Democratic leaders
agree with the Presidentexceptthat they
had not the Presi lentis boldless or hon
esty. II. however, by cheating the peo-
pie in the next election as TO their posi-
tion. they should get new lease Of pow
er and obtain control ofthe United States
Senate. then the peorle might bid fare
well to every principle of Protection.
wHRRR THE REPrBLIcASs STAND.
The Republicans stood upon the Presi-
dents gauntlet of Free Trade with great
pleasure and joined the issue with the
Democrats. The Republicans declared
that. instead of the tariff being vicious,
illogical and inequitable, it increased
marvelously the prosperity OF this coun-
try. and that, instead of duty being
tax paid by the consumer, no instance
could be found In which the duty had
not decreased TO the consumes the cost OF
the article consumed. The Republicans
further declared that the future prosperi-
ty Of this country for twenty years,
at any rate depended absolutely on the
benign influence Of protective tariff.
He admitted that this country possessed
many advantages over competing nations,
but he declared that, with all these ad-
vantages, it could not compete in manu-
facture with the European nations, be-
cause il was Handicapped in the matter
of wages. On this point and on the adj
ditional point that the price of manufac-
tured articles had diminished under the
protective system Mr.. Frye supported his
argument with numerous illustrations,
many of them drawn from his own obser-
vations in Europe.
THE "sURPLUs" BUGABoo.
As 10 the surplus, it was Democratic
incapaciiy, he said, which caused it, and
row the country had 10 look out to see
that the same Democratic incapacity in
administering medicine did not give poi
son and kill the patient lie was as
much against the surplus as the Presi-
dent was, but he was not frightened at it.
lie would rather have a surplus than
deficit. If there was any honest purpose
to get rid of the surplus it could be done
without the slightest difficulty. In the
first place, some of it ought to be expend-
ed wisely in coast defenses, in increasing
the navy, in building up the merchant ma
rine and in educating the people as pro-
posed it the bill of the senator from New
f1Gill>iilIt iDidli lht ctAittiOl lfOll
North Carolina Vance, had indicated a
way to prevent a surplus, and the senator
from Georgia Brown had proposed
way which would do it beyond all man
ner Of question That was a repeal of all
the internal revenue laws. But his Dem
ocratic friends and their allies, the distil
lers and brewers and saloon keepers, had
recently developed a wonderful regard
for Temperance, and had become great
temperance champions, protesting against
whiskey being made cheaper. But he
told them that the Temperance sentiment
of the country was rapidly crystalizing
into the opinion that the sooner the tax
on whiskey was repealed, the better and
quicker the principles of temperance
would be subseryed He could see, how
ever, one or two objections to its repeal;
and one of them was that so much reve-
nue. could not be spared
THE DUTY on SUGAR.
As TO the duty on sugar he declared
himself in favor of taking it of, but he
would not kill the sugar industry of this
country feeble as it was. lie would
give a bounty equivalent TO the present
duty on sugar. But if the purpose of the
Democratic party was to destroy the tar
i'll and TO cripple many, and absolutely
destroy some. of the industries of the
country, the Presidents method could, Of
course, do that. American w0rkingmen
could be reduced TO the degradation, al
most, of the workingmen and women of
Europe. But here was splendid coun-
try, perfectly marvellous in its possibili-
ties. Why he asked should not this
country lead the whole world in pure,
lofty civilization, in religion, in educsfs
! ton, in temperance, in the arts. in litera-
ture and in material progress? Who
doubted that it would do so, if men only
remembered that they were Americans?
Who doubted that it would do so, if, in
the administration Of its affairs and in
its legislation they undertook in honest
purpose TO provide in the best possible
manner for their own people?
New Years Greeting.
At the opening of a New Year we ex-
tend TO all our rerders the compliments
of the season, and wish them all health,
happiness and prosperity. To secure the