The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1888-11-15
WHAT STRUCK Us.

o. The Tariff
(2) Civil Service Reform.
90 The Old Soldiers.
Numbers % and (3) were active. No.
| (2) contributed to the general result by
the passivity of the appointees of the ad-
ministration and the active opposition of
the residual contingent of republican ad-
| illustrations.
The tariff, in itself was not sufficient to
cause the defeat though the most impor-
tant factor In it. The circumstances
which make it most difficult to bear the
| political landslide is, that those who were
to be most benefited by the revision of
the tariff advocated by the democrats,
were those most pronounced in opposing
policy of which they were to be the
chief benefciaries. The farmers defeated
Cleveland.
1t was the basest ingratitude. History
fails to furnish a parallel to the foolish
action of the agricultural classes in the
election recently held. They slaughtered
their friends with such brutal delibera-
ton as to surprise those in whose inter-
est it was DONE The manufacturer is
justified in fighting for high tariff; the
laborer is e1cusable in view of the spe-
cious arguments used and his dependence
upon those whom the tariff benefits. But
the farmer is absolutely without excuse
unless dense ignorance be urged in ex-
tenuation.
The benefit accruing to him from re-
duction of the tariff is so patent that fail
ure to perceive it is conclusive proof of
mental obtuseness. But it was the far
mer who most bitterly opposed the re-
ductlon of the tariff which wrings from
him sum, in excess of real value of
everything he purchases, greater than all
the direct taxes which hepays. This tax
which he pays just as often as he makes
purchases goes to the benefit of the favored
Glass; manufacturers. The President
sought to relieve the agricultural classes OF
this tribute to monopoly and the farmers
| slaughtered him for his benevolent inten-
ton. The President labored to make the
farm more profitable by reducing the
annual expenses of the farmer, furnish
ing him cheaper necessaries and equaliz-
ing public burdens by protecting him
from the rapacity of those grown power
full by reason of special favored legisla-
ton, and the farmer recognizes the obi
cation by making common cause with
the favored classes and driving the Presi-
dent from power.
Then sectionalism reared it's front in
tariff 'guise. The Mills bill was denounced
as confederate measure. The ghost Of
the confederacy was invoked and stalked
about to brighten those who are SO weak
minded as to believe that nothing good
can come out of Nazareth. Reduction of
taxes was represented as confederate
measure! The northern men rejected
relief because a man south of
the committee which prepared the meas
ure designed to prevent the manufac-
turers from depressing the general pub
licl What lofty patriotism What evil
dence of intelligence! What proof that
we are reunited nation!
People refused to hear the truth be-
cause there were such things as southern
states. People in the north voted against
!. their own interests because the people Of
the south were working in the interests
of the people without regard to sectional
lines. People love above all things to be
humbugged and they played the fool in
this election with such consummate per-
lection as to justify the remark of Car
lyle that this world contains so many
billion people-mostly FOOLS
The tariff question, one injected by
President Cleveland not because he
thought it was popular but because he
knew it was right, one which his cabinet
disapproved because they thought it
inexpedient, but which his sublime con-
victions of duty made it impossible to
ignore, contributed most to his defeat.
He foresaw the result but had the cour-
age and devotion to immediate himself for
the public good. Demagogues at once
took hold of the subject. Reduction of
taxes was described as % measure for
the benefit of England, as GA blow at
nothern industries by confederate i'm
placables, and, oh heavens, what depth
of folly it presupposes among farmers
fully justified by the result,-as 81
blow at the home market. English poll
tics, the southern brigadier and utter
want of reason on the part of the farmer
constituted the full presentation of the
protectionist side of the argument. The
| duped farmer was loudest in his demand
for crucifixion.
Had the President been less of a civil
service reformer the result would have
been different. Officials, except in a few
HONORABLE instances in view of the
result the term honorable is fifty applied
were quiescent. Those who held over
| from former administrations were not in
active. They worked against the man
whose sense OF duty retained them in
their positions. In this they were not
one whit more culpable than the far
mers. The ramifyIng branches of the
departments swarmed with republican
officials. The New York post Office was
In the hands of a republican, and his |
force contained majority of republicans.
Throughout the state republicans re-
manned in Office who were either active in |
behalf OF Harrison or simulated indiffer- |
ence. There were comparatively few |
changes made in the Chicago post office
Half of the force in Washington are re-
publican legacies and all were for Har-
rison. Thus the party in power furnished