The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1888-08-04
TIE PLAIN English of 1t.

Grover Cleveland" has done more
to advance the cause of free trade than
any Prime Minister of England has
ever done.-L0ndon Spectator.
And because British free traders and
British free trade journals like Grover
Cleveland's policy, the greater the rea-
son for American mechanics and Amer
lean laborers disliking 1t. Indeed they
may thank these same British free
trade advocates for placing Mr. Cleve-
land and his Democratic party in their
proper attitude before the American
people. They propose to degrade the
American mechanic to the poverty
level of his English and European
brothers. The Republican party OF
this country says, "the working men
of America shall not be SO degraded"
1t considers the moral side of the tariff
question as we'll as its economic side,
and it proposes in this campaign of
1888, to wage another war for national
independence of British manufacturers,
as the fathers OF this country did in the
war of the Revolution. The Republican
party recognises the undeniable fact,
that through the agency of the tariff as
the expression Of the doctrine of pro-
lection to American industries, the
working classes of this country have
been enabled to attain sef-respecting
position for themselves and their fami
lies. To them the tariff means com
Portable abodes, a reasonable enjoyment
of the comforts of life, the ability to
keep the wolf away from the door,
education for their children, and the
prospect of advancement in life. 1t
means everything to an American me-
chanic embraced in that enticing word
"home," with the civiIizing and chris
tanning influences of American domes-
tic life. 1t has indeed been truly said
that it is impossible to carry the gospel
of Christ to a man or woman sunk in
poverty and ignorance. Self respect
goes along with, if it does not precede,
Christianity, and there can be no self
respect without the ability to maintain
ones self honestly though some honor,
able calling. Poverty demoralizes a
man socially and intellectually. So
largely do thrift and providence char
acterize the American people that lack
of employment invariably lowers man
in the eyes OF his neighbors and friends.
1t Is a disgrace to be avoided and
summed as one would flee from a bale
full epidemic.
1t is just this disgrace which the
policy OF free trade threatens to bring
upon the working men of this country.
| The English papers claim, rightly, that
the adoption OF Mr.. Cleveland's policy
will be followed by greatly enlarged
importatlons of British manufactures to
this country. These goods must take
the place of American manufactures,
and to just the degree that they produce
this change must the American work
ingman be derived of his labor or be
reduced to the level of the British
workingman's wages. There is no
logic, however intricate or scholarly
that can alter this conclusion.
1t is the duty of every man to care for
his own household and it is the duty
of every government to care for its own
people. Protection has made the Amer
lean workingman the envy of the work.
ingman in every country in the world
and given him advantages and com.
forts enjoyed by the masses of no other
nationality. President Cleveland and
his party have set out deliberately to
break down this benefcent policy, and
1t behooves every workingman to ask
himself wether he will give his vote and
influence to aid in bringing about that
result.