Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1888-07-25
THE Free TRADE HOWL
The Attempt OF the Republicans to Mis-
renresenf the Position Of Denaocrncx

The Attempt OF the Republicans to Mis-
represent the Position OF Democracy.
Nothing shows moro clearly the poverty
Of Republican resources in.the way of argu-
nent than the senseless reiteration of the
0utcry cf free traden in description Of
the Democratic platform, the Mills bill and
the purposes CT the Democratic party.
There IS not the slightest ambiguity in the
platform or the bill referred TO; there is
not the slightest doubt or uncertainty as to
the Democratic intent. The platform and
the bill both call for the puttingof certain
articles On the free list and for the rcduc-
ton Of duty on certain others. The Demo-
| cratic purpose is TO carry out these propo-
sitions to the end that stop may be put to
the piling up in tho Treasury of millions
not needed for the purposes of government
and the burden Of tariff taxation may be
hghtened
II this Is " free traden there is not the
| siightest objection to calling it So The
Democratic party courts the fullest publici-
ty for It's plans and purposes in dealing
with the tariff; aud if the facts make it
free trade party or justify the charging it
with demanding free tr3ie so be it. But no
man Of intelligence who will give the sub
jeSt moments thought can fail TO see that
it is not free trade party and that its de-
mand Is not for free trade. With all the
changes proposed by the Mills bill the tariff
viii sui can fora average of duties higher
than the tariff framed by the fathers of the
American system Of protection. 1t win
be higher. indeed, than the average under
the original "war tariff
No one, says the Detroit Free Press, under
stands this better than the leaders and or
| gans which keep UP the cry Of . free trader
| They dare not attack the Democratic plan
4
form, in the message of President Glove
land and tie Mills bill. They dare not show
what the demand actually is which they
call demand for free trade. They know that
| they can make no case with the people by
dealing honestly and candidly with the
| facts. They appeal, therefore, TO q preju-
| dice which exists, or which they assume to
exist, against free trade. and in so doing
| deliberately attempt to mslead their read
ers.'
This appeal to prejudice is favorite re-
sort of men who have noargulent and who
dare not tackle the facts. The history of
slavery agitation furnishes a conspicuous
illustration Of this When the Northern
defender Of or apologist for slavery was
| thoroughly stuHped by the anti-slavery
| showing that negro was n human beng,
and deserved better treatment than he re-
| ceived, his favoritc response was: "Oh, no!
you want your daughter TO marry Niger
do y0u" And it is in the same spirit and
with the samc logic that the defender Of the
war tariff answers to the popular demand
for some relief from the war tariff: ooh,
no! you want free trade and an abolition of
the custom house, do youl''
The Democratic party welcomes discus
sion Of its demands as actually made, of its
purpose as defined. 1t welcomes the full
est consideration of all probable or possible
results from the passage of the Mills bill
and the reformation therein proposed of the
burdensOilc war tariff. 1t believes that
the fuller such discussion and consideration
are the more clearly understood win the
people sec that the bill is in their interest
and the larger viii be the Democratic
majority. But it protests, as it has n right
to protest, against all attempts to befog tho
issue by senseless howling about "free
traden