The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1888-11-17
NO HOPE OF REFORM.
CsnEress'nan TEnnsur Expects LiI.
Ite OF PresIdent-EIect
Harrison.
TFrom The Kansas CITY Times

Col. e.. IL. Mansur, the ChiiiiCothe
congressman, is in the city. While he
laInents the defeat of Cleveland and the
loss of the lower house, he is feeling
pretty good over his own reelection,
hay ing run ahead OF the ticket in
nearly all of the counties of his dis
triGt and increased his majority from
$50 to 400, the largest ever given i'll
the district. When questioned last
night concerning the present political
situation he said:-
"While admire Cleveland, yet can
now see that for want of time it would
have been well to have postponed the
fight for tariff reform for two years.
When | remember that for twenty
seven years the republican party has
continuously taught tho doctrine OF
protection from its standpoint, | realize
that we have not sufficient time to
educate the masses to a contrary belief.
| believe that instead of the raliying
cry of the republicans being 'Protec-
ton TO American labor it should have
been Protection to American wealth
and capital When we consider that
no railroad, national bank or other
corporation contributes d nIckle to the
support of the federal government, we
can see what a vast stake the republi-
cana had III the perpctuatiOn OF the
present law OF taxation, and | have ali
abiding faith that at some near period
in the future the voice of the masses
will bc heard on this subject None
have so direct an interest in the reform
of the tariff rs the agricultural classes.
When we remember that under the
law o! a protective tariff they are not
classed as labOrers i'll any sense and
that by reason OF their Misunderstanding
nearly one-haif of the wage earners OF
the land--upon whom the burdens OF
protection must largely rest, and the
further fact that there are to-day
2,000, 900 farmers who must sell their
whole product amounting to 100000. -
600 bushels per amman in free trade
and in composition with similar pro
ducts of pauper labor, we can begin to
| estimate the interest the agricultural
cIases have in this matter. With their
wheat crop in 1880 of l53, 900, 600
bushels selling at SI0l, ,0)0,00O falling
III 1886 to 81 600, 900 bushels, selling
| for S57 200, 900, the loss in six years cf
| 96, cot, 900 bushels and $40, COO, 900
with no Immediate prospect of any
! Improvement III the future, we can
begin 10 understand their large inter-
est III the tariff For want of educa :
| ton upon this subject the only wonder
| is we did so well and held the hosts Oi
democracy SO nearly solid as we did
| Whenever the American farmer shall
! fully understand that the protection oi
labor by II high or prohibitive tariff
| does not include the labor of the
/ farmer, the battle for tariff rlnrm will
| be won Ii is merely Il question OF
! time and of education"
! Referring more directly TO the elec.
! ton, he cpntinlinued ~ was III New
! YoIk n the time of the great Thurman
! demonstration III September. re-
turned to Washington with the belief
that we would be beaten 10000 votes
III the state of New York. The TACT
| that we were beaten only 10, 900 IN
!hat state shows what splendId progress
was made i'll teaching the wage earners
of that great city the principles under
lying The Mills bill. don / believe
/ that the great masses of democracy
will consent TO Il surrender. The wal
for tariff reform will be waged unit
i buCCtsS CROWDS our CliDlNS- NtNGf III
/ the history of the land did the wealth
OF the nation flow SO freely auI in sucl
uncclsing streams TO thwurt the vii
and best interests Of the people as il
this campaign
/ "What sort Of an administration
may be expected from Mr.. Harrison?
81 do not kno~ Mr.. Harrison per.
soually lie is not liked by his former
colleagues of the srnaIe and | am not
very hopeful OF a tirst-class republican
! administration. AIN inclined TO the
! behef that the numerous political debts
that he may owe for his election nay
ihwart any honest desire he may have
to give the country clean and able
administration. look tor it to be All
administration run in the interests oil
wealth and dictated by capitalists IL
/ advance their sordid aims"
"Wiil Harrison probably attempt Il
rnforin of the tariff!'
"ln any proper sense, | don't think
| he will, but do think that in the event
! of republican, majority i'll The lower
| house there will be "A reduction of the
! surplus so as 10 hereafter prevent as
far as possible the early hopes Of earnest
tariff rcformcrs And the Indications
are that il will be done ut the expense
of the internal revenue and not through
81 reduction OF CurtOm house duties"