Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1888-04-05

The following editorial clipped from
the Chicago TIibnne, one of the mos
reliable and widely read Republican
newspapers of the northwest. is repro
duced this morning because of its mos
intensely interesting and historical
character, and to indicate to our read
els the trend of public opinion in the
great northwest. 1t will be eagerly
read alike by Republican and Demo
Gratis each drawing their conclusions to
suit themselves. The article is headed
thus: ''Is Ultra Protection safe Presi.
Dental Issue?n and then continued as
follows:
In his published letter declining a re.
nomination for President for, as he
alleges, "purely personal reasons" Mr.
Blaine makes cheering forecast of q
great Republican victory that can be
won next November if an aggressive
campaign is waged against Democrats
on the issue of perpetuating high pro.
lection policy and vigorously opposing
all attempts at this session of Congress
to reduce the war duties to the level OF
the revenue necesitates of the govern
ment. Mr.. Blaine appears to assume
that the proper role to be played by the
Republicans of the present Congress to
prevent any reform or reduction of the
war tariff before entering upon the next
Presidential struggle. Upon that policy
he would have the Republican members
ask reelection to Congress as a reward
for pursuing obstructive tactice and de-
feating with the aid, of course of Sam
Randall's faction) any reduction of tar
iff taxes which are abstracting more
than ten millions q month from the
people in excess of the necessities of
the Government. There are many
REPUBLICANS WHO DO NOT FEEL MIR.
.. .f9.Fs4 BLAINE's FE r.e.
confidence in the popularity and
strength of the anti-tariff reform issue
with the masses at the polls next fall,
and it be difficult to inspire them with
his idea of the wisdom of making the
campaign upon such a policy. By
adopting his recommendation in deal
ing with the tariff the Republican Ma
tional Convention that meets in Chi
cago next June would be obliged to
repudiate the plank in the last National
platform pledging the party to tariff re-
form and the removal of the irregu-
Iarites in the present schedule of duties,
and to reduction to the same to the
of the unnecessary surplus
revenue in the Treasury out of the
of labor. In this event, also
the next Convention would be obliged
to abandon the policy of denouncing
the Democratic party for not passing a
tariff reform bill when controlling the
House of Representatives.
WESTERN REPUBLICANS WOULD FEEL
in the knees if the next Convention
made such a platform as this and COM
mitted the party to policy of obstruc-
tive tariff reform in order to perpetuate
war duties in time of peace for the
especial benefit of none but the "trust
robbers" and take shelter behind such |
, tariff, which enables them to limit |
production, reduce employment, cut |
lown wages, and charge consumers the |
full amount ofthe bounties that such |
protection affords them. Few
Western politicians in their sober senses
would regard such an anti-reform plat
" n
Except Overwhelming defeat. If the Re-
publican party really desire to win the
lext National race 1t must take grounds
n favor of protecting the masses from
he greed. of the organized monopolies
hat are now taking advantage of Excess
i've tariff taxation no longer required by
he Government, but which furnishes
apscious syndicates an opportunity for
robbery upon the farmers
md other industrial classes. Any
ridge with less sound or strong tim
1t g will not safely carry the 'RepubIi-
e Il ticket across the stream and bring
Is chief to the White House front door.
The Republican party E&
CANNOT WIN THE NEXT ELECTION
~ going back on the tariff reform
pledges of 1884. Reforms like revolu-
ions, do not go backwards. The out
'ome of former National contests for
high tariff taxation for the sake of
he protection of special inter-
'sts has always been adverse tC it, and
loes not hold forth the promise of win
ling victory next year.
The precedents are against it. For ex-
mpfe, the Wings under Henry Clay
ought the great political battle of 1874
nd lost 1t on the high tariffissues. The
Democrats contended for revenue
ariff, and the country sustained them
n that position. The protection ques-
ion was never contested before or since
D Reenly as in that political campaign,
I Involved the reduction of the CLAY
tariff of 1S42 which the
Wings were determined to uphold.
Vew York State which had gone for
he Wings in 1910 on the National
,ank and hard times issue by large
majority, turned over to the Demo-
rats In favor of tariff reduction and
Iaa against Clay on the protection
question, as also did Maine, Indiana,
3eorgia louisiana, and even Pennsyl-
Jana which voted for Harrison In 1910.
THE WHIGs OF THOSE DAYS WERE
much more united in behalf of and de-
'Oted to maintenance of the protec-
i've duties of the tariff of 1942 than the
at this time are devoted
o othe perpetuity of the excessive war
luties of the present tariff. As o con-
sequence the. Democratic victory of
844, won on the anti-protection issue,
hat party passed the moderates rev.
nue. tariff bill of 1846, which continued
n force without any serious effort be-
ng made by the Wings to disturb it
lntil 1859, when 1t was reduced to O
tariff -for-revenue onlyn basis by the
irst Congress which the Republican
,arty ever elected.
I'm 1S4S the Wings completely ignor-