Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-09-13
DAILY RECORD-UNION
observation-disclosures 10, 1888
GENERAL H&RREsoN's LETTER.

Mr.. Cleveland, who holds the affirmative |
of the main issue Of the campaign But, |
though Mr.. Cleveland occupies that posi- |
ton, his letter is clearly defensive while |
that of General Harrison is as unmistaka-
bly, aggressive. In this comparison Of the
character of the letters, General Harrison
comes off first best beyond all doubt We
have read his letter with as much judicial
calm as could be commanded, and while
our Democratic contemporaries pronounce
the document weak, a repetition of the
platform of his party and an uncertain and
heavily laboring efiusion, We find it to be
quite the reverse.
it Is not sophomoric platitudinous or
gushing. Il is plain, frank and
easily understandable paper, forcible,
simple in construction, straightforward
and misleading, confused and hating in
nothing. The proofs of these affirmative
virtues we have no difficulty in present
ing. To the charge that he follows and
repeats the platform the only response
necessary is that it was his privilege and
his duty, since he must be in harmony with
the platform or at outs with it or some
parts of it. 1t was, therefore, the right
thing to 90 put himself squarely in front
Of that party instrument and to frankly
state the relation between it and his
own beliefs. The letter is dispassionate
aad therein reflects the man; it is undra-
matte and thereby illustrates chief traits
in General Harrison's character, perfect
self-possession and the utter absence of the
sensational.
The evidences Of the strength of the let
ter and the wisdom of the method adopted
by its writer are patent. Thus, he asserts
that the Democracy has assaulted the pro-
tective system openly and defantly; that
as the party has pronounced it unconstitu-
tional in law, its opponents cannot stop
short OF its elimination from our tariff
laws. This IS logical and iorcible and
trenchant charge. For, as General Harri-
son adds, with incisiveness: ''The Mills
bill is only step, but it is toward an OBJ
ject the leaders of the Democratic party
have in mind" And again: "The import
ant question is not so much the length of
the step, as the direction of it." A truth
that cannot be too deeply impressed upon
the voters mind.
1t is not enough to say that the bill
does not establish free trade; the question
cannot be thus hippantly put aside, for it
is the tendency, the direction, the ultimate
end to which the doctrine of the bill leads
There can be no mistake about this-that
the election of Mr.. Cleveland would mean
the Endorsement of that doctrine and APP
proval of its direction. That accomplished,
the Democracy would make no conceal
ments, and what is now but the expression
of a desire by the English press and states
men would become au American policy,
to be hastened to its ultimate conclusion.
General Harrison holds that, to put the
tariff upon purely revenue basis would
be TO achieve practical free trade, in the
English sense. He puts the issue in
srong light, and delivers a telling blow
when he says, with dispassionate calm, that
those who advance the doctrines of Mr..
Cieveland's message and his lieutenants
who attempt legislation upon that plane,
are students Of maXims, not of markets"
On the other hand the Republican party
is not theorist, and hence its revision of
the tariff schedules will always be with in
telligent caution as to the effect upon do
nestle production and wages of workers.
He unhesitatingly announces his con
viction that the right policy is to be found
in the preservation of the American mar
ket for American producers and in main
tanning the American scale of wages by
adequate discriminating duties upon for
eign competing products. Responding to
the argument that if the wage-earners' in
come IS reduced, there is compensa-
ton in the undiminished purchas-
ing power of his dollar, and that
in an enlarged foreign market he will
fnl compensation for the loss Of the home
AholhOSi OChCA al LIN 4oNi4 1GJl4Cb JilGt llle
American workingmen a0w receive higher
wages than those of Europe, and live
more comfortably. They must therefore
for themselves judge if they will exchange
the certainty for the theory.
Concerning the surplus there is no I'M
certainty or hating in the expression of
the letter; he would do that to which Mr..
Cleveland in his letter made no reference,
consider its application to the economy of
saving interest upon the public debt, and
apply it as the law directs. Nor does he
deem it an absolute necessity to make a
choice between the protective system and
the entire repeal of the internal revenue
taxes. This surplus business" he
charges, has been magnihed and distorted
evidently with view of reoanciling the
people to the scheme of the administra-
ton.
He is direct ard outspoken in opposition
to the importation Of contract laborers
and points out the unwisdom of pro-
tecting labor By tariff, and net pro-
tecting the warkingmen and women
from inequitable competition IN the
importation of pauper laborers. The eff
feet is different Cniy in degree, if at all.
says the candidate "whether the cheap
laborer is across The street or over
the sea-" Upon the Chinese question Gen
eral Harrison is Gear and convincing.
The objections Is Chinese immigration
are conclusive and nc longer questions to
be debated, having passed beyond the stage
of argument. lie believes in effective
laws to stop the immigration and a strong.
executive to enforce then.
Other topics which were noticeable in
Mr.. Cleveland's letter by their total olxis-
sion, are treated by General Harrison, such
as the abuse of the election laws the rob |
berry of citizens of their right to come te
The ballot-box, aud their Acknowledgement |
by fraud or intimidation: the necessity of
guaranteeing the right to a free ballot and |
a fair count; the promotion 81 our educa- |