The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1888-10-20
THE TARIFF ISSUE.
The De,nocra tic Party Not the Instrument
of Monopoly and Plumber.

| The Democratic Party Not the Instrument
of Monopoly and Plumber.
| pass to my second reason. for believing
! in a Democratic victory. The Democrats
are making their fghton a perfectly defined
| and strong issue. alLude to the tariff. l
am sorry to say that both political parties
have triaed with this question for twenty
years 1t was evaded as party issue IN tho
canvass Of 1868. In 1872 the Democratic plat
form remanded it to the Congressional dis
tricts for settlement, and it was not debated
by either party. In 1876 the party platforms
IN the question were substan tally iden-
heal, differing only in their phraseology, as
they did in 1880. This was true again in
1884. Neither party was prepared to con-
front the other in square and manly treat
ment Of the question as one OF principle.
The better nlen on both sides would have
ordered things otherwise, but they allowed
themselves TO be ovarrulcd by the cham
2ions of expediency, whose policy should
ong since lave been subordinated to the
demands of honesty and courage.
Herbert Spencer mentions class Of pee
pic who hate any thing in the shape OF ex-
| .ct conclusions, and are continually trying
,carcely believe an oracle if it uttered
=
to inquire of them whether the earth turns
On it's axis from east to west, or from west
10 east, you might almost expect the reply:
"a little Of both,'' or "not exactly either.'
All parties are afflicted with a hating and
unbeiieving element, whi,h throws itself
! across the path Of progress, and is always
ready to sacrifice principle to party success.
A writer Of fiction, whose books abound in
sermons, tells us shat 8 the hell that a lie
will keep man from is doubtless the best
place chat he can go to- This IS as true IN
politics as IN morals. II the Democratic
party is to be made the mere annex Of Re-
publicanis1n and the instrument Of monop-
oily and plumber, it ought to die, and the
sooner the better. A struggle between two
great National parties, in which principle is
discarded, is shameful prostitution OF the
essential decency and dignity Of politics,
But at last, thanks to President Cleve-
land, the old-fashi one0 method of dealing
with the tariff question has been disowned,
ard both parties have faced the issue With
cut the slightest equivocation. The Demo
cratic platform demands a reduction Of tho
surplus by reducing taxes. The Republican
platform demands the reduction OF the sur
plus by increasing taxes. Tine Democratic
platform insists that the taxes on clothing,
blankets, tools, machinery, Lumber, the
neccssar;es OF Life and the raw materials
and Implements Of production shall be re-
duced in che interest of the whole body OF
the people. The Republican platform square
ly opposes any such reduction as inimica2 to
manufacturers, who receive the sole benefit
Of such taxes as a privileged class. The
Democratic platform demands the highest
duties on Iuxurles, including whisky and TO-
bacco, which in all civilized countries are
dealt with as prime sources Of revenue.
The Republican, party demands the excmp-
ton of the l,1xuries named from taxation,
which would 5hus open the fiood-gates OF
drunkenness and crime in order that the
great manufacturing monopoiies Of the
country may grow rich through the burdens
heaped upon The n,ssses of the people
Such is tho contention between these
parties in The present; campaign. Tha ques-
ton is so simple, and its economical and
moral bearings are SC readily seen, that he
who runs may read. Herein is my faith
in Democratic success. The question is
sure to be understood by the people. 1t
has not bees sprung too Late in the canvass
fer thorough discussion of it on its rer-
it's That discussion has already been &C.
ing on for months, and it will continue to
the end 1t is in the air. The campaign is
afTording the people rare opportunity
for finding out the truth Of q ong-pending
and monentous question, and should they
Deliberately embrace the n.ischieyous folly
embodied in The Republican party creed as
now revised, they win deserve to grind IN
the prison house of their OWN madness gill
their suffering shall teach them the way Of
deliyerance. i nava not the slightest aps
prehenaion that any such calamityis IN store
Tor the count1y..-Erom q. ~. Julitpt''s recent
spssch 1T indianapolis.