The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1888-09-15

, land proceeds TO restate that issue In term
SO clear that its shameful misrepresenta
; ton, which has thus far In the campaign
been the chief stock In trade of the Repub
lican editors and stumpers, ought now, i
they have any sense Of decency left, en-
tirely To cease. Their persistence in 1
now can only he accepted AS proof that they
are reduced TO the desperate strait If max
Ing this, SO far as they are concerned
purely campaign OF lies.
The question as presented by the Dem
ocracy Mr.. Cleveland shows Is one simply
of a revision of the tariff laws 10 reduce the
surplus revenue. "The expenses of the
government must continue 10 be mainly
met by tariff duties, and IN the adjustment
of these the interest of American labor en-
gagged In manufacture should be carefully
considered. 1t Is believed that the same
means which are adopted 70 relieve the
treasury of Its surplus and prevent Its re-
currence should be sucn as, at the same
time that our industries are stimulated and
encouraged rather than injured, will also
cheaper TO our people the cost of supply.
ing their daily wants" "A wise conclusion
70 attain these objects will not be advanced
by discussion of the theories of protec.
ton and free trade. AS no changes are
contemplated that can In the least endspger
any industrial enterprises or injuriously af-
feet labor dependent upon their success,
such discussion is irrelevant and absurd"
This is frank, fair and clear prssenta-
ton of the real question. 1t is agreed that
the surplus must be reduced. 1t may be
done by repeating the internal taxes, free>
ing whisky and lavish expenditures; or by
freeing raw materials of manufacture and
the necessaries of life. Whichever plan is
adopted, the system of protection will re.
main; but by the latter the average rate of
customs duties will be about AZ instead of
AZ per cent-the latter figure still higher
by 10 per cent than under any tariff known
in the history of the government before
the adoption of the present war tariff in
1862.
To call this free trade-to cry out, as
Harrison does In his letter of acceptance,
that this would be the first step" toward
the ruin of American industry for the ben
eft of England,-is the essence of false>
hood. Nothing of the kind Is proposed,
nobody desires 1t, and no American states
man or politician Is likely to be guilty of
30 absurd folly. Gen. Harrison argues in
favor of protection rather than revenue
tariff; but as Mr.. Cleveland does not advo-
cate the withdrawal of protection, the plea
goes for naught. Mr.. Blaine pours out
stream of statistics, which are instantly
shown to be inaccurate, TO show that pro-
lection ought to be continued but as no.
body advocates Its discontinuance, MIR.
Blaine's figures, even If reliable, are irrele.
want
The assertion that MIR. Cleveland, though
he repudiates free trade, yet means It, is
idle When he means free trade, the
country has by this time pretty we'll learned
he will have the nerve to say So and the
country will decide the question just as it
will now decide that of surplus reduction
by a diminution of certain tariff duties or
giving 1t free whisky and tobacco. That is
The question now before US.
AS to the other portions of Mr.. Cleve,
lands letter-such as relate to the imports.
ton OF labOrers, Chinese immigration,
trusts, &c, Gen. Harrison in his letter
given to the public three days later shows
his good sense by not only hastily second
Ing all that MIR, Cleveland says, but by a
surprising inconsistency with his previous
record and an amazing flop, even tries to
go MIR. Cleveland-as the gam blers would
say-a point or two better. These matters
are therefore virtually taken out of the
contest, and the one only prominent and
definite issue remains-revenue reduction
by wise and judicious reform of the tariff;
or revenue reduction by persistence in the
present crude aud monstrous system of
tariff taxatiOn-the offspring Of the throes
OF civil war-and giving the country rather
than Its reduction and reform, free whisky
and tobacco
RIG STEAL SOMEWUERr