Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1888-09-22
Vest on the issue.

Senator George G.. Vest, the ex-rebel
and tire-estlng confederate of Missouri,
has written letter, while OF private
chars oter and written as a privsse letter,
has somehow found It's way into print,
Senator Vest edmits whiting the letter,
but says 1t was not intended for publica-
tion. In the letter he says:
"M-. Cleveland by his message, for
wnich l sincerely honor him, has chai-
lenged she protected industries OF the
country 30 fight OF determination. The
fight is to the DEATH"
This is iuss what the republican party
has been charging ab the interest and
purpose of Oleveland's policy, but the
charge has been denied until Vest had
the honesty to admit its truth in letter
which he did not expect to be made
pubic.
The New York Tribune, spesking of
Mr.. Vest end his letter, says:
Mr., Vest is democratic senator OF
gress influence; eloquent, courageous,
END perfectly acquainted with the secret
policy Of his party, In fact, that secret
policy IS his own; to him as much as
any OTHER one man, has been due the
steady movement OF the democratic
parry towards "a fight of exterminationn
WITH "thc protected industries" It is
nefrly eigateen years since this same
senator, in reviewing democratio de-
feat, remarked that "tbe money power"
OF the nation. the dread OF change o.
hranciel and industrial policy as re.
su.s of democratio success, had cauaea
that defeat, and fhat the party would
we to strike straight at that power
t:Ld break it down in order to regain
control OF the govel lment. Protected
industries enlist the support of millions
OF voters for the party by which they
have been called into existence. The
destruction of each one OF these indus
| tries means not only the discharge OF
| thoussrdp, who must seek living IN
some other way, but consequently de-
presses the wages OF othet voters, and
..l IS depryea 81 OF some pert OF their
confidence III and attach meut for the
naliona- po oy. To bresk down any
such industry. therefore, IS to build up
the democratic patty.
That wss the philosophy underlying
the senator's advice long ago, end he
has been both consistent and brave in
pursuing the policy then recommended.
Inc democratic party LAS at last been
shameG end kicked into courage enough
openly to avow the conviction il bss
held fos years. No other senator Is
better entitled to speak for the party,
on this end eimiler questions, than
Senator Vest, who declares that it is to
be "a 6eht of extermination.' "a fight
to the death"-eirher Of protected ia-
dustries. or of the democratic party.
"a fight to the dea h. because the strpq.
gle which has now begun cannot end un.
til either the protective system or the
democratic party has ceased to exist III
there are cry Industries which cannot
exist without protection, and there are
many, either they or the democratic
party must eease to exist. The demo-
cratic Organization has SO committed
itself at last that it can never by the
least possibility be trusted to maiL
tain American wages, to defend the
American policy, or to keep alive tie in.
| dustries which need protection. There
fore il must crash those industries, OIL
they will crush it. II they continue to
develop and enlist two or three tim es
the present number of bande, and come
to have vcstly increased capital de-
pending upon the maintenance Of the
American system, the democratic party
will inevitably have to confront over.
whelming hostile msiorities IN states
where ii has prevailed by narrow plura-
lities and will be forced to fight des.
perste and doubtful battle in at least
four of the southern states. The Ameri.
can policy must 60 down or the demo.
cratic party. In this flight TO the DEATH
Senator Vest and President Cleveland
stand for the democratic party, end will
''exterminste" the protected industries
and the policy which protects If they
can. The question BOW is, whether "the
projected industries" will consent to be
| exterminated.