The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1888-07-12
for the Democrat

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We Not Drifting into a Monied Aris-
toeracy.
Written for the Democrat
Whithersoever nature leads, tbs safe
for man to follow. But sad expert
ence has proved to the world that it is
often extremely dangerous to follow as
mar would lead, and there is no class
of men that have paid so dearly for this
experience as the laboring class. Alb
salute free trade is the natural course
for man, and a purely democratic gov
eminent can tolerate no deviation from
that course. Any deviation would be
to leave the course of nature and fol-
low as man would lead.
Our fOrefathers fought, bled and died,
many of them, to establish a demo-
cratic government and warned us that
eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.
Yet in spite of their sacrifices and
warnings we have allowed that govern
ment to drift into an aristocracy. All
we have left is the mock form Of a
democratic government. The reality
has long since disappeared.
1t may be q question whether civillZa-
ton is as yet far enough advanced to
sustain a Democracy. But that we are
now ruled by a monied aristocracy can
no longer be a question. Both of the
old parties have sanctioned and sus-
tanned this usurpation, to some extent.
But President Cleveland's last message
to Congress, the Mills bill. the recent
loAoAoc - Non rrracp an1 thn Vnnnlninl-
ton of Cleveland, and the platform
adopted at st Louis are unmistakable
evidences that the Democratic party is
making an effort to get back to hrSt
principles. Now the question is, will
the laboring men of this country aid
and support that effort by their vote, or
will they show that they want to be
ruled by an aristocracy.
Free trade is a missionary of peace.
Obstruction of free trade is a creature
of jealousy, of narrow minded SELFISH
ness, and leads away from peace. The
more that nations exchange the pro-
ducts of the labor of their people, the
more there interests become inter
woven, the more they become interde-
pendent upon one another, and thus
the guarantees of peace between them
become greater. Does any n believe
that with our intelligence, our skill, our
energy, we are not a match for all
Europe al far as the great bulk of bust
ness is concerned.
Free trade prices of materials and
machinery would add much to our
ability not only to hold, but to increase
our markets. Protection, by narrowing
our markets, by erecting artificial bar
riers to a free exchange, by raising all
living and manufacturing ex-
penses, is no doubt one of the causes
of this disease which is causing labor
and businesstO tremble. Free exchange
would act like free air and sunshine;
would purify and ~invigorate Jul indus
tries and commercial atmosphere. Pro-
lection means simply to protect manu-
facturers of certain commodities, while
labor is not protected at all. While the
manufacturer has foreign manufac-
tured. goods taxed for his benefit, the
working man finds himself exposed to
the competition of the working men of
whole world. who come in, duty free.
This policy has greatly aided to cre-
ate the tramp, and the millions Of able
bodied men and women, who, for want
of work, are at the point of starvation.
1t has created monopolies and trusts,
to the destruction of small manufac.
thrers and tradesmen, uncertainty and
less opportunity for profitable labor,
and consequently more idle men and
women. These idle men and women
are dead to trade as consumers, but are
aliving source of immortality, intern
perauce and depression of wages,
A. j, KNIT.