Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1888-08-25

fusing TO yield an inch. At Chicago thia
ca irse was heartily Endorsed, aud the
party was pledged against any change in
the tariff which did not still further
check imports" II promised not TO yield
any part Of the existing system, and In
order 10 perpetuate the war tariff il
promises TO abolish the tax on whisky.
The effect of this platform Is al once
manifest. Protests come from all parts
OF the country, and. Ia the House. Re.
publican leaders assert that they will not
abolish the whisky tax. and Republican
leaders In the Senate insist that they will
have ready tariff reduction bill as soon
as the Mills bill reaches that body.
This is the result of the first charge
upon the works Of the Republicans.
Confusion exists among them. Nc.
hinley is rebuked by the Republican
press for his extreme views Cannon and
Western Republicans ia the House are
lectured by Kelley because they do not
stand by the Republican platform. and
the leaders generally are dismayed be.
cause the issue is not "free trade or pro.
lection" but free wool or free whisky.
The New York Tribune says:
Our friend, the World, complains that
AhNPhbANoh party ib
sharply accentuating the controversy de-
tween Protection and Free Trade The
issue of the campaign is not the juggling
phrases pieced together by Mr.. Watterson
and Senator German and worked into
the Democratic National platform for
the sake of misleading Protectionist
Democrats in doubtful States. The issue
ls the Presidents message and the Mills
bill, which were accepted by the conYen-
ton as the correct Interpretation Of the
pariy's ambiguous, tricky aud dishonest
platform uiterances"
The Republicans can not Sharply ac-
centuAte the controversy between Protec-
ton and Free Trade" because the Dem
ocrats have themselves, by the action Of
the President, by the course Of their
leaders In Congress. and by their plat.
form, clearly defined their purposes
There Is the Presidents message; there
Is the Mills bill; there is the St Louis
platform; II free trade Is found anywhere
in them. make the most Of it.
There Is to be no retreat from those
lines, no apology for these utterances.
Call them what you will, the people will
understand them
The Tribune aud the New York Sun.
and Mr.. Kelley aud Mr.. Randall and Mr.
| Mckinley have all portrayed free trade as
monster deyouring the substance Of the
people. A free trader has been described
as dire rebel fit only for treason, strategy
and spoils. The popular Imagination has
been infiamed and Its expectations have
been raised TO a point that Is dangerous
only 10 the Republicans
Now, after thus firing the Northern
heart. IL the Republicans are forced 70
take up Mr.. Cleyeland's message and say
this Is free trade" II they are TO be con.
fronted with the Mills bill and made 10
show that IL. too, means free trade, there
will be a reaction in the public mind;
free trade will be deprived Of It's hor.
rors; II will be plain that this ''spook' is
nothing but gradual reduction of taxa.
ton. return IN times OF peace TO a sys.
TEN yielding the revenue sufficient for the
purposes OF peace. and instead Of re-
pudiating free trade thus defined. there
will be popular demand for il, and q
popular condemnation OF false prophets
who in crying free trade were seeking
only 10 secure free whisky.
Here Is the advantage the Democrats
have secured by positive action. Mis-
I representation can not accomplish its
| purpose In the face of the Mills bill IL
Is folly TO talk about free trade.