Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-06-25
WAR TARIFF MUST 60.
what an ohio Republican Thinks
of This Issue.

of This Issue.
Many readers OF the HERALD know
Professor Gemuender, who is noted in
the musical circles Of Los Angeles. lie
has brother in Ohio who hitherto has
been an ardent Republican. Professor
Gemuender wrote to this gentleman
some time ago for his views on the pres
ent issue. He brings the letter in an
swer to the HERALD, and space is gladly
given TO it. The writer is evidently a
scholar and thinker. He is q theo-
retical ree.trader, which the. HERALD is
not. His views on the Democratic position
show that he does not think that party
is Free Trade party. Morrison may
be, but that does not make the party so,
any more than Mr.. Gemuender's views
made his party so. The letter throws
much light on other issues on which the
Republican party is disintegrating. II
will be read with interest. Here it is:
'You asked me about my political
opinions. have already given you my
views in part. The situation to me is
about as follows; When the Republican
party went into power the vital questions
were slavery and secession; these the
war and ensuing growth in public opinion
settled. No sane man to-day believes
that these will ever be revived and living
issues. We have had three years OF
Democratic administration and they have
not been even mentioned; tits true
that jeff. Davis and few others
have had glorifcation and such,
but that is simply a remnant of decaying
sentiment, which the present and COM
ing generation will finally forget. The
all-important question to-day is un-
doubtedly that OF the tariff. On this
question the Republican party is definite
ly committed to Protection" "Protec-
tom is to-day not held by any but inter.
ested parties and politicians that is, to
any extent. Whereas, scientific men,
economists and students who have made
this life study, regardless of nationality
whether French, German, English or
American, almost unanimously hold that
the doctrine of Protection" is relic OF
that ancient barbaric legislation, the in
tent OF which was to enrich ones self at a
neighbor's expense, instead OF by mutual
exchange. As Beecher said, we have at
least attained religious freedom, political
freedom and commercial freedom will also
eventually follow.
OF course on this question the Demo
cratic party are far from solid.
Pennsylvania wants to unload hei
iron and be guaranteed a market
at the expense Of other States,
hence Randall advocates Protection.
Ohio would like to force her little wool
on the rest, hence Converse opposes Free
Trade but in spite of all this the germ
of progress is in this party. and therefore
support it. Carlisle, Watterson and
Morrison are good examples OF this de-
sire for freedom.
Then there is another point The Re-
publican party witness Blaine's speeches
and Foraker's article in Forum believe
in paternal form of government, that
shall subsidize lines OF steamers, give
bounties to private business concerns,
beauify cities with public buildings
whether needed by the Government or
not, pay unlimited pensions to ''poor"
widows, etc., whether the soldier repre-
sentative was disabled in war or not; in
fact, appropriate public money for any
purpose whatever. They recognize that
we have a large surplus and the way to
get rid OF it is to give it away or spend it.
If it is wrong to accumulate money in
excess Of the governments need, that is
taxing a citizen too heavily, have you
undone the evil by paying out
the tax to somebody else? Unless
you return it to the person from
whom you have taken it, have you made
matters square? You will at once see the
folly OF the Republican policy of righting
the wronged people by spending the sur
plus. Cleveland has made good recon-
mendation in his message by advocating
the removal of the tariff on the neces-
saries OF life; this, if carried out, will re-
duce the surplus and allow the tax to re-
main quietly in the Taxpayers pocket,
where it belongs.
The Republicans, Of course, cannot
well allow this, as duties are already as
low as protection will stand, and ii they
cut lower foreign goods will come in, un-
less, as Sherman suggests, we give di-
rectly out of peoples pockets
to protected business.houses a lib
eral bounty. In reality you do this
when you put productive duty on any
product, but then the people don't see it
and stand it. But let this country once
adopt the bounty system, so that our
taxpayers really comprehend what they
are doing, and it will be swept from the
land at once.
Such issues as the "Rebel flag" "ne-
gro vote," can be talked to the vulgar,
they are beneath serious thought.
You probably know by this time how l
stand. Although do not think that the
Democratic party is what l would like it
to be, yet it seems to contain the germs
OF progress which, if allowed to grow,
must ensure future success"