The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-06-13
CONFIDENTIAL
HEADQUARTERS OF THE REPUBLICAN
LEAGUE or THE UNITED STATES.

=
LEAGUE or THE UNITED STATES,
NEW YORK. Nav p. iSsS.
My DEAR SIR-The Republican league of the
United States desires 10 bring YOU face TO face
with the startling fact that the coming presi-
dental election is not 10 be fought on the old
party lines which have heretofore divided dem.
ocrats and republicans, but upon the direct Is
sue of free trade protection.
The league stands for protection and is
fighting in your interest. 1t is no Fourth Of
July organization for dress parade, but il is an
everyday working force of practical political
workers, who have IN four months enrolled al
army OF over 100000 men, to fight against Brit.
ish free trade ideas British gold, and demo-
cratic HcSsians, who are fighting under heI
banners. 1t is useless to argue the case:
democracy stands for free trade and against
your Interests, and you know it. no matter
whether you have heretofore been a democrat
or a republican. High-sounding platforms Of
words cannot gainsay this fact, nor fool you
unless you wish 10 be fooled.
The coming election will be fought for pro.
lection under disadvantages never before en-
countered. Ninety-nine per cent of the federal
othcers are democrats, and viii contribute
financially TO the hoped for success of the free
traders. Never before has the democratic free
trade or tariff reform" party been in fortu-
nate a position.
The Republican league is not composed Of
theorists who are forever promising to do some
thing and never keeping their promises. Ii
has already done more than any other political
organization ever attempted before the presi-
dental candidates had been placed in the field.
As our patriotic volunteers sprang to the
cOuntry's defense when secession threatened its
destruction, at the call of the league vast
armies have enrolled 10 fight the thousand
times more dangerous foe 10 the countrys con-
tinued prosperity-free trade.
We will win this fight if you will do your share
and help US to finish what We have begun; we
want money and want it at once. We are
-nal,, I~t-ffE lie
and for speakers and organizers. We propose
to organize and fight against free trade in every
doubtful congressional and legislative district
in the United States. To-day there is but one
majority in the senate of the United States
when the lines are drawn between democrats
and republicans, and unless much is done the
next congress viii see free trade house senate
| and president and then good-by to your pros
perity.
It may not be of your personal knowledge,
but II Is fact, nevertheless, that the manu-
facturers of the United States who are most
benefited by our tariff laws have been the least
willing TO contribute TO the success OF the party
which gave them protection and which 10
about TO engage in a lfe-and-death struggle
with free trade.
republican L. s. senator from a state
which never had democratic representative
in either house Of congress or a democratic
state officer, in speaking of the well known dis
position OF the manufacturing interest 10 Loeb
up its money, fold its hands, and look or
while somebody else fights for its success, says.
''The campaign which we are about to enter
will concern more than anybody else the man
ufacturers of this country. They have hereto
fore been laggaTd in their contributions to the
republican cause. In fact if ] could punish
them without Furnishing the cause Of
hottest place | could think of, on account o.
their cavenal parSimOny. If this class OF
people do not care TO contribute 10 the success
OF the republican party, they are welcome "a
try their chances under a democratic admins
tratiOn; | can stand it as long as they can"
And, again: Il was solicited 10 contribute to g
prOtective-tarii leauge, and ! replied that il
the manufacturers of the United States in their
associated capacity were on eleemosynary
institution, that | would vote to give them q
pension, but do not myself propose to con-
tribute money TO advance the interests
OF men who were getting practically
the sole benefit, or at least the most directly
important benefits of the tariff laws. ! am in
favor OF protection not precisely the kind We
are having, but might be willing to keep even
that rather than not TO have any, but am sure
| can get along without any of it fully as well
as the manufacturers can and if they think the
republican party is going TO maintain high
protective corps for their benefit, and the men
who do the work in that party are going to
keep up the expenses of u campaign out OF
their own pockets leaving them to reap the
fruits OF the tariff without any deduction fOt
political expenses, they are very greatly mis-
taken. l understand that in 4 general way the
manufacturers OF New England have been
more liberal in their contributions than those
of Pennsylvania.
I'm fact have it from the best possible
source that the manufacturers OF PennSyl
vania, who are more highly protected than
anybody else, and who make large fortunes
every year when times are prosperous, prae
tically give nothing toward the maintenance
OF the ascendancy of the republican party OF
course, shall not violate what consider ia
be proper principle of action; but if had
my way about it, | would put the manufactur.
ers of Pennsylvania under the fire and FRY all
the fat out of them. II the Mills tariff bill
comes to the senate, there will be some votes
cast there which will open the eyes OF some of
these people who have, while gathering their
millions, treated the republican party as their
humble servant"
These are strong words, and bitter, but they
are true. and il now remans with you and your
associates 10 determine whether they can be
reiterated after this campaign is over, and pro-
lection has, through your apathy been struck
its deathblow. If you give us the means to
win the victory, we will do it. Are you will
ing? Yours very truly,
JAS p FOSTER President