The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1888-10-11
THE FREE TRADE HOWL

rho Attempt 1T tho Republican, 10 Nxias
represent the Position pf Democracy.
Nothing shows moro clearly the poverty
Of Republican resources In the way Of argu-
mont than the scnseless reitcration Of the
outcry Of "frce trade" in description Of
the Democratic platform, tho Mills bill and
the purposes Of tho Democratic party.
There is not tho slightest ambiguity in the
platform or tho biz referred to-; there Is
not tho slightest doubt Or uncertainty rs to
tho Democratic intent. Tho platform and
the bill both call Tor tho puttingof certain
articles on tho free list and for the rcduc-
ton Of duty on certain others. The Demo
cratic purpose is to carry ont these propo-
sitions to the end that = stop may be put to
the piling UP in the Treasury Of millions
Nat needed for the purposes Of government
and tho burden Of tariff taxation may DO
lightencd.
IT this II "rree trade" there is not tho
elghtest objection to calling 1t So The
Democratic party courts tho fullest publici-
ty for Its plans and purposes in DEALING
with tho tariff; and il tho facts make 1t .
free trade party or justify the charging it
with demanding free trade 30 be it. But no
, nan Of intelligence who will give the sub
ject moments thought can fail to SEQ that
1t is not u free trade party and that its de-
mand is not for FREQ trade. With all tho
changes proposed by tho Mills bill the tariff
will still call for an average Of duties higher
than tho tariff framed by tho fathers Of tho
American systcm" Of protection. 1t will
hc higher, indeed, than tho average under
tho original "war tariff"
No ono. says the Detroit Free Press. under
stands this better than the leaders and or
gans which keep up the cry Of free trade"
They dare not attack the Democratic plan
and purpose as plainly set forth in tho plat
form, in the message Of President clcve-
land and tho Mills bill. They dare not show
what tho demand actually is which they
gall demand for frcc trade. They know that
they can mako no case with tho people by
dealing honestly and oandidly with tho
facts They appeal, therefore, to q preju-
dica which exists. or which they assume to
exist, against free trade, and IN 50 doing
deliberately attempt to mislead their read
| ers.
This appeal to prejudice is a favoritc re-
sort Of men who have no argument and who
dare notstackle the facts. The history Of
slavery agitation furnishes conspicuous
| illustl alton Of this. When the Northern
defender Of or apologist fer slavery was
thoroughly stumhnl ny tho anti-slavery
showing that q negro was human beng,
| xnd deserved better treatment than he re-
ceived, his favorite response was: "Oh. no!
| you want your daughter to marry nig9eh
do ysus" And it is in the saMo spirit and
with the same logic that the defender of tho
war tariff answers TO- the popular demand
for some relief from the war tariff: "Oh,
DO! you want free trade and An abolition Of
the custom house, do your
Tho Democratic party welcomes discus
sion Of its demands a. actually made, OF its
purpose ~ defined. It welcomes the full
ost consideration Of oil probable or possible
results from tho passage Of tho Mills bill
and the reformation therein proposed Of the
burdcnsome war tariff. It believes that
tho fuller such discussion and consideration
are the more clearly understood will the
people see that tho bill ia in theil intcrcs,
and the larger viii be the Democratic
majority. But It protests, as it has right
to protest, against all attempts to befog the
iasae nv senaelesa bowling about "frea
| tra60 ~