Wichita eagle., 1888-02-11
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY THE
REFUGE OF LABOR.

To the Editor of the Eagle.
Mr.. }. j. Jewett, formerly Republican,
then convert to the theories of Henry
George and the labor doctrines. and now
an admirer of Grover Cleveland. has crit
icised several of my hastily written
articles on the tariff in rather an unfair
way because he misquoted my position.
Mr.. Jewett is close reader and thinker,
and is conscientious in his beliefs. But
he, like many others. is natural born
disciple. He is progressive, but 1t Is
always the progress of follower OF
some great luminary of the theoretical
school. He worships an idol with warm
zeal. But once convince him that that
idol does not fully represent cure for
every ILL., fancied and real and he Is an
iconoclast against that idol at once. He
Will admit the great good accomplished
by the Republican party for the laboring
classes against the brutal opposition OF
the Democratic party. He. as every
champion of the iaboring classes must.
knows that the Democrats are the cham
plOnS OF ignorance. vice and poverty.
They wish to throw us i'll competition
with the conditions of Europe that we
cannot cope with and maintain our pros
perity and intelligence enmasse. He
knows the widespread poverty brought
upon the country by the free trade
measures of 1Sl6-2S-31 and 81.
Ny friend is like thousands of re-
formers. He is more of swift courser
racing over the path of progress
far ahead of all practical
methods which are necessarily low. BE
has q practical lesson in the south of
free trade. In the interest OF free trade
they held human beings in slavery. The
American system of protection was the
deadly foe OF slavery. 1t eventually
overthrow slavery aad whipped the
champions of it and its twin relic back
into the Union. The leaders of the
slave civilization are now the leaders OF
the Democracy and of the free trade idea.
They struck the factory blow ons.every
chance because it fostered intelligence
and liberty. Since the power of the fac
tory destroyed their darling institutions
they have fingered in the councils of
this great country like dogs in the po
litical manager. They are. by a yiciously
enforced habit of their people,
too weak to partake OF the
manufacturing and commercial
benefit of the American system of pro-
lection. and they put their time in by
sacrificing the feeble industries OF the
south in an attempt to destroy those of
the north out of pure malice. 1t will be
a Gods blessing when the last OF these
old demagogues who have cursed the
south so long file away their credentials |
with the signature of the cross of litter
acy and the proof of constituent ignor-
ance. and give place to the younger and |
element.
If the laboring elements of this coun-
try complain of monopolies, why not |
come INTO the Republican party and |
force their claims there: 1t is a great |
that has effected every |
possible reform in the interest
of the wage worker even to
waging war against slavery. But |
for the progressive reforms of the |
party thousands of laboring |
men today would not have educational
sufficient to read Henry
Georges free trade and free liquor tracts.
In my Judgment, when the knights of
Labor recommended temperance to the
and practice of the labor
ing man, it struck the true principle of
its mission. 1t is through temperance
that that element can best protect itself
against corporations. Aside from this
The Republican party is the medium of
every desirable political reform in the in
terests of American labor. If the labor
clements wants grievance righted, let
hem come into the Republican party
md they will get what
hey want. If they want promises
and straddling let them follow Mr..
George, with his theories of free land,
free trade and free liquor into the hosts
IF Democracy. There they will get
heir rations dealt out by leaders who
Dut yesterday laid the foundation of
lew government and boasted that human
slavery was its corner stone.
Concluding, if Mr.. Jewett thinks that
'lr. Cleveland and his party has even
principle enough to give us a square
light on the question that has made this
he greatest country on earth he will
ind he is mistaken The demagogues
re too cowardiv. | should like nothing
,etter If they were not. W. t. II.