The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-09-12
DESERT THEIR OLD PARTY.
TARIFF REFORM ATTRACTS THEM.
The Hon. John A. Abbott of Lebanon An.
nounces Himself for CIeveiand-Stephen
Neal, Author of the Fourteenth
Amendment, Also for Cleveland.

LEBANON, Ind, Sept. Especial. IA
! great political sensation has been created
here by the publication in the Pioneer OF
this week of letter from the Hon. John A.
Abbott, in which he announces his inten-
ton OF voting for Cleveland and Thurman.
Mr.. Abbott is an old resident of Boone
county, is one of the leaders OF the bar, is
prominent in social and religious circles,
being leading member OF the baptist
church here, and was gallant Union SOL
dier, having served three yearsin company
/, Twelfth Indiana volunteers, and one year
III Hancock's corps. He is life long re-
publican, having voted for Lincoln, Grant,
Hayes, Garfield and Blaine. He was
formerly editor of the Lebanon Patriot,
the republican organ OF this county. No
man in this community stands higher
than Mr. Abbott, and his refusal to sup
port Harrison because OF the free whisky
and embargo tariff platform on which the
latter is running, has set good many of
his old party associates to thinking. His
letter is as follows
Having fully made up my mind 10 support
the democratic national ticket this year after
having voted for every republican candidate
Tor the presidency from Lincoln IN 1861, %
Blaine in 1881, due regard for the opinions OF
others leads me To state my reasons therefor.
am aware oil the fact that some real or iancled
advantage, personal to myself, will be by
many, ascribed as the real cause Of the change
that has come over the spirit OF my dreams.
Now, | beg my friends to give me credit for
having sense enough to know that there are
"Old stand-bys" enough in the democratic
party upon whom to bcstOw all the favor likely
10 be at the disposal of the party during the
lew remaining years OF my life. While have
always been in favor of 'killing the fatted calf
on the occasion OF receiving new converts, /
have always opposed the policy OF giving them
all the veal, and shall still teach the same
doctrine.
Years AGO made mp my mind that our high
tariff, while it was necessary for the revenue
then needed the rock OF defense" of
trusts and m0n0polies that were sapplng the
very foundation OF our industrial institutions.
| believe that the great republican party was
July committed to such modification and re-
ductiOn OF the tariff as would remove these OBJ
structions TO our prosperity as soon as 10 could
be done with safety 10 our national treasury
The declarations Of its leaders and conventions,
to that effect, are almost without number, and /
am surprised that intelligent republicans all
over the country do not reject with disgust and
indignation the false and absurd declarations
of the Chicago platform on the subject of re-
ductiOn of revenues. No one shall take from
me the right TO glory in the achieve
ments of the republican party, for IN
them all have borne my humble part: But
| great as Its achievements have been, IL should
| be deserted by every patriot when it commits
| itself TO policy calculated TO exclude our
manufacturers from the markets of the world
in selling their wares, under the specious plea
OF preserving the "hOme market"
The proposition that our tariff makes high
wages has been too often refuted 10 even de-
serve attention. IL is so plainly and palpably
| false that was amazed when Gen. Harrison
gave II his sanction in his Toledo speech. II
republicans really believe this proposition, 1t
may account largely for many OF their Tdicu-
lOus arguments. 1t is in accordance with the
teaching of holy writ that God sends great de-
| lus;Ons 10 those who believe lie.
Mr.. Mckinley of Ohio, in his speech in con-
greSs, against thc Mills bill, shows that had the
/ $lj000O0OO worth OF the products of iron and
steel last year imported into ibis country been
manufactured here it would have given en-
| ployment, for the entire year, TO perhaps hun
| dred thousand men. Now, why we're not these
! goods manuia ",ured here? The Hon. J. y.
! Weaver of Iowa, in his able and manly speech
IN defense OF the Mills bill, during the debate
in the house, answers this question so well that
! everybody who IS in doubt on
the subject should read his speech,
as it contains the evidence Of the
Our manufacturers, having been by the gov
eminent protected from foreign competition,
proceed To destroy home competition by the
! formation of trusts to maintain high prices and
limit the output OF manufactured articles. Not
content with this, they Immediately go into
| the free trade labor markets of the world and
employ laborers TO do their work. Last year
the average price of steel rails in this country
was little over S37 per ton, while in England
the average price was a little over so per ton.
| The tariff on ton of steel rails is Sl7. The
total labor cost of ton OF steel rails in differ
ent parts OF the country, Is from $500 TO 81.
| This tells the whole story. Our manufacturers
could have sold every steel rail bought in this
country last year, but for the trust. 1t pays
| better TO run rolling mill eight months in the
year, and sell its product at $37 per ton than it
| does to run twelve months and sell the product
at SO or $50 per ton. Had the price been
placed at even $50 per ton not rail could have
been imported.
Steel and iron can be manufactured in this
country as cheaply as in any country on the
face of the earth, and we ought to be exporting
millions of dollars worth, besides supplying
the home demand, instead OF importing
100000 , worth in "a single single year
much-talked-of "home market" for the
products of his farm. But this is
not all. II would give employment, without
reducing wages to thousands OF workingmen.
The neiariOus practice OF limiting the output of
a manufacturing establishment is a wrong the
magnitude OF which we do not rightly appre-
ciate, if we fail to remember that in many in
stances it takes the bread from hungry wives,
mothers and children. Let US have no more of
il in this country. There is no danger but
what we can successfully compete with the
world, if we are given fair chance. Our boot
and shoe manufacturers do II now, though they
pay wages 126 per cent higher than Is paid in
England. You can't beat the Yankee az any
thing. Ii is only when he loads himself with
unnecessary burdens that he can be distanced
in any race.
The policy Of the Chicago platform is 10 ham,
string him for fear that he might get away from
home to trade without considering that he is
thereby rendered helpless.
Notwithstanding the declaration Of the Chi
cago platform, and the shrieks Of republican
speakers and papers, the position OF the presi-
dent and has party IS not tor free trade as
against prote ction. So far as the rate of tariff
duty is concerned, the Mills bill is more radi-
cal protection measure than any old wing ever
dreamed of. Its rates are higher than such
representative republicans as Sherman, Gar
field Arthur Folger. McCulloth and scores OF
others ever thought necessary for purposes of
protection" until this year Why then should
q great party, in convention assembled,
soleninly declare that the president and his
party propose the destruction OF the system of
protection? Simply because the party pro-
poses to maintain the present high tariff, and
denounce any man or party as in favor of free
trade, who dares 20 modest il. In fact If inn
ports arc to be checked by the tariff, higher
rate is necessary.
The Hon W d. Kelley has a remarkable
"prctection" article in tho August number of
the Forum lie shows that our three leading
agricultural products-corn. cotton and wheat
have constantly declined in price since 1856.
He then points ont a remedy for this adj
vantage TO the farmer: that the mountainous
rppions OF Kentucky TENNESSEE Georgia and