The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-09-26
A FAIR OFFER.
To Republicans to Prove IL They Can That
Tariff Reform is Free Trade.

TO hepuDicans TO Prove II 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 unwill-
ing to meet squarely the real issue of
tariff reform against war protection and
taxes, they wantonly seek to mislead and
deceive by the cry of free trade, fully
knowing that it is wholly unwarranted,
false and unjust. For the purpose
of deception they with unblushing
audacity refer to the presidents tariff
message as a free-trade document
solely for the purpose of misleading the
many voters who have not the opportun-
ity to read the message, knowing that it
does not advocate or recommend free
trade, but that it does recommend the en-
actment OF laws revising our tariff in ac-
cordance with the pledges made by both
democratic and republican parties in their
respective platforms Of principles adopted
in their national conventions of 1884,
wherein both parties solemnly pledged in
favor of a reform of the tariff Notwith-
standing these facts. the advocates of war
protection, high tariff and high taxes seek
to mislead and deceive by falsely repre-
senting his position, nobly taken in be-
half of the best interests of the people and
OF good government, earnestly and hon
estly seeking the sacred pledges of both
great parties heretofore referred to.
To show that am not dealing in ideal
statements without foundation in facts, l
will candidly submit the following propo-
sition, and if any person doubts my abili-
" or willingness to fully carry it out,
will give proper and sufficient bonds or
obligations in the premises. l will give
the sum of $4,000, to be paid to and held
by Gov. Rusk of the state of Wisconsin
in trust for the benefit of poor or disabled
ex-soldiers of the rebellion, if, on submis-
sion OF President Cleveland's last annual
message-known as the tariff message-to
three republican judges of Wisconsin
two circuit judges and one supreme judge
they decide, as such judges and jurists,
that such message is a 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, b consider my
proposition and offer in cir behalf,
and if such journals or individu-
ais believe what they try so
hard to make others believe, they now
have good opportunity to show the JUS
tice of their position, and securing thereby
a benefit to poor and disabled ex-soldiers
and if they will not consider my PROPOSE
ton they will have to confess they are
wrong, and that their sole object is TO mis-
lead the voters; and that, in furtherance
of such disgraceful object, they are seek
ing 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 Claire, Wis.
Eau Claire, Wis, Monday, Sept 10, 1855.