Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1888-10-31
A FAIR OFFER.

To Republicans to Prove n They Can That
Tariff Reform Is Free Trade.
To the Voters of the United States:
The false assertion that the Democratic
party favors free trade, so often made by
Republicans, is entirely unwarranted and
thoroughly deceptive. Unable or unwilling
to meet squarely the real issue of tariff re-
form against war protection and taxes, they
wantonly seek to mislead and deceive by
the cry of free trade, fully knowing that il
is wholly unwarranted, false and unjust.
For the purpose of deception they, with un-
blushing audacity, refer to the Presidents
tariff message as a free-trade document SOLE
ly for the purpose of misleading the many
voters who have not the opportunity to read
the message, knowing that it does not advo-
cate or recommend free trade, but that it
does recommend the enactment of laws re-
vising our tariff in accordance with the
pledges made by both Democratic and Re-
publican parties in their respective plat
forms of principles adopted in their National
conventions of 1884, wherein both parties
solemnly pledged in favor of reform Of tho
tariff. Notwithstanding these facts, the ad-
vocates of war protection, high tariff and
high taxes seek to mislead and deceive by
falsely representing his position, nobly
taken in behalf of the best interests OF the
people and Of good government, earnestly
and honestly seeking the sacred pledges OF
both great parties heretofore referred to-
To show that am not dealing in ideal
statements without foundation in facts,
will candidly submit the following propo-
sition, and If any person doubts my ability
or willingness TO fully carry it out, win
give proper and sufficient bonds or obliga-
tions in the premises. will give the sum
of $4,000, to be paid to and held by Gov
ernor Rusk OF the State Of Wisconsin, in
trust for the benefit of poor or disabled ex-
soldiers of the rebellion, il, on submission
of President Cleveland's last annual mes
sage-known as the tariff message-t to three
Republican judges OF Wisconsm-two
circuit judges and one supreme judge
they decide, as such judges and jurists,
that such message is free-trade message;
and most cordially and earnestly invite
the New York Tribune and all other Re-
publican journals, as well as all individual
Republicans claiming great friendship and
interest in our ex-soldiers, to consider my
proposition and offer in their behalf, and il
such journals or individuals believe what
they try so hard to make others believe,
they now have good opportunity to show
the justice of their position, and securing
thereby benefit to poor and disabled ex-
soldiers; and if they will not consider my
proposition they will have to confess they
are wrong, and that their sole object is to
mislead the voters; and that, in further
ance of such disgraceful object, they are
seeking to cowardly dodge the vital issue
of moderate tariff reform against unjust
and unnecessary high protective tariff
Let the voter look well to his own interests,
and see that the idle and false cry of free
trade does not deceive him or draw his at
tention from the real issue
WILLIAM CARSON,
President Of the Valley Lumber Company,
Eau Clare, Wis, Monday, Sept. 10, 1888