St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-10-01
FARMERS IN POLITICS.
Some of w. w. Thomas PIati-
tudes Dissected.

The Republican orators, judging
from their speeches, have superb
bundance of patriotic pride and philan-
thropic motives. No one will deny that
patriotism and philanthropy are two of
the nOblest qualities that man can have.
Now, it is far from my purpose to deny
that these Republican orators are in
spired by those grand qualities, and l
hope that they in return will be mag
unanimous enough to concede to their
opponents right and generous motive,
however much they may consider them
mistaken in their views. Stop charging
the PrOhibitiOnSt with being dis
gruntled Republican, and with playing
into he hands of the Democrats to de-
feat the Republican party. Don't
charge the Democratic leaders with
being English sympathiZers, and above
all, let the war rest. Grant
to your opponents honest convic-
tons or stop arguing with them.
Such charges are not logical arguments,
but only a species of blackguardiSm.
No one is deceived by them, and their
effect is only to disgust and keep people
away from political meetings.
do not wish to convey the idea that
Republicans have patent right on this
style of argument. All parties indulge
in it to a greater or less extent, but the
sooner it is done away with the better.
The people don't want speakers who
are continually digging up and dissect-
ing subjects which have long been dead
and buried; but what they want is
common sense and reason upon the
issues which now affect them. So much
for that.
Last Saturday night w. W. Thomas,
of Maine, spoke at Harmonic hall, and,
among other things, he made the follow
ing statements: 1.-The Democratic
party thrust upon the country the sub
ject of slavery, and are now forcing
upon US the question of free trade.
The object of both Of these issues is the
degradation of labor" In addressing
the old soldiers he boosted that 1.-THE
Democratic party will be as badly
routed as the rebels were by the old sol
diers." Slavery was settled over twenty
years ago by the war. What has it to do
now with free trade? Nothing, except
that our present high tariff system
is a relic of the war, and would never
have been enacted but for the under
standing that il would be repealed as
soon as the war was over. Does Mr..
Thomas mean TO say that the Democrats
desire the degradation of labor? Well,
if he does, no one but fool will believe
it. The Democracy demands reduc-
ton of the high tariff, and especially
upon the common necessities of life.
What will be the result of this reduc-
ton? Cheaper clothing and food. If
this be degradation to labor, then the
Democracy desires it. What did he
mean when he said to the old soldiers:
"The Democrats will be as badly routed
Tho rahnic hH tho old cold %,
His purpose was to keep the war
fresh in their minds and win their votes
by prejudice rather than by logical
argument. What is that but waving
the ''blOody shirt?"
Too much praise can not be given the
old soldiers, nor can too much be done
for their comfort, but such talk is an in
suit to their intelligence and they will
treat it as such.
MIR. Thomas spoke at length upon the
tariff, and dwelt upon several features
of the Mills bill. Speaking of the
potato starch industry, he said ''there is
Maine, near the boundary, which fur
nishes nearly One-half the starch used
in this country. Just across the border
there is not single factory, although
! the circumstances of soil and climate
are exactly the same. The cause of this
is the fact that on this side of the border
! there is a gland protective tariff,
which enables the laborer to
earn a decent living and provide
himself with respectable home. The
duty on potatoes is Is cents bushel,
and cents pound on starch. AS
bushel of potatoes will make about
eight pounds of starch the duties upon
potatoes and its product are about
| equal. The Mills bill provides for a re-
duction of l cent per pound on starch.
| This is simply bounty offered to starch
manufacturers to go across the line
with their factories. would rather
pay cent more pound for starch and
keep the factories in our own country,
and employ our laborers, and you would
too" | have no doubt but what Mr..
Thomas was honest, but nevertheless l
think he was wrong. What does this l
cent reduction mean? 1t means a saw
| ing of several thousand dollars to the
purchasers of starch. But you say that
the saving to each one is but small in
proportion to the benefit to the few
starch laborers. 1t is true, but if you
will take into consideration the small
savings which would result from a like
reduction upon all the necessities which
| are now taxed, the whole amount saved