Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-08-09
WHAT DEMOCRACY WILL DO.
And What Free Trade VIII Do for the
Workingman as Shown by the Past.

workingman as Shown by the Past.
S. w. Allerton. the Chicago packer.
and who is a practical and successful
farmer, being extensively engaged In
that industry, in recent letter says:
1--WE find, through the whole history
Of the Democratic party, whenever they
have been in power, they have reduced
the tariff In the fall of 1874 they elect
ed James K. Polk, and in 1916 they had
a ma Ority in both houses of Congress
and reduced the tariff from 45 to IA Del
cent. Mark what followed. A general
CRY of hard times. Farmers in 1848 in
New York State sold their pork fo1
$3.50 per hundred net; a pair Of steers
weighing $500 only brought $50: the
best farm hands could get but IS pei
month for seven months, and were glad
of an opportunity to work for board dur
ing the winter. A good book-keeper re-
ceived only from $50 to $3.50 per year.
Well do / remember the old Wing cam
paign cry Of 1848, "a dollar day, roast
beef, and free schools So hard were
the times that this was supposed to rep
resent all that man could desire. Though
the Democrats did not elect their candi-
date in 1913 they had control of Congress
throughout Taylor's and Fillmore's adj
ministrations. In 1856 James Buchanan
was elected President The following
extract is from the first message to Con-
gress OF that shrewd Democrat; after
his party had had control of the govern
ment for ten years, and had enforced
during that time the low tariff they are
now clamoring after:
We have possessed all the elements of
material wealth in rich abundance and
vet notwithstanding all these advantages
orr pGuDfIsV ia al this MON in a 6apl0r-
able condition. In the midst of unsur-
passed plenty, in all the productions of
agriculture and in all the elements of Ma
tional wealth we find our manufactures
suspended, our public works retarded;
our private enterprises abandoned, and
thousands of useful labOrers thrown out
of employment and reduced to want. The
revenue of the government, which Is
chiefly derived from duties on imports
from abroad, IS greatly reduced. Under
tie circumstances, a loan may be required
before the close of the present session.
But this, although deeply to be regretted,
would prove to be only Slight misfortune
when compared with the suffering and
distress among the people.
Will some good old Democrat who
mas shown that he loves his country bet
ter than any party or any other country,
arise and explain why he wants to go
back to low tariff and free trade after
thirty years of high tariff which has
brought prosperity and National growth
unparalleled in the history Of the world,
while the laboring man has had the
benefits Of free schools, and has had
higher wages, the necessaries of life,
and more of its luxuries than working
men have ever bad in any country.
| understand why the Mugwumps
want to back to go low tariff They are
class of men who have more money
than they ever expected to have. They
are afraid Of a free government and
prosperous condition of the workingman.
They admit they want a stronger govern
ment and they hope to obtain it by re-
ducing wages IN this country to the
pauper labor of Europe. For the sake
of having free trade man, like Grover
at the head of the government, they will
swallow his civil service pretensions and
his one-term dodge, allow the South to
control the government, and keep from
900 600 voters in Dakota the right of
franchise which is the very foundation
of free government. | should like to
have a war Democrat explain how he
can support that party. Nor do | see
how a Norwegian, or a German, or
liberty loving Irishman, who has made
America his adopted country, can sup
port the Democratic nominee. He owes
his position to a few Mugwumps in New
York, whose wishes he is bound to re-
spect These men are but too anxious
TO toady to the English aristocracy be-
cause they have been dined at the Cob
den Club and allowed to look at the
crown.
For one who loves a republican form
of government this is the most important
election we have ever had. We see IN
der Democratic administration 2,000,-
900 of voters DISTINGUISHED We see the
control of the government handed over
to the sectionalism of the solid South
We see the duty taken off of wool and
kept on sugar at the demand of that Sec
ton of the country, President elect
under the solemn pledge of reducing the
surplus. BY reducing the tariff on sugal
it could be reduced $50, O00, 900. But in
sted of reducing the surplus what has he
done with it? Eighty millions are de-
posted in few favored banks in New
York. Has Chicago. Cincinnati, St.
Louis, or any other Western city been
favored with any deposit? No, not one
dollar! Is there man on this green
earth SO green that he does not under
stand that these favored banks are to
contribute to the democratic campaign
fund.- What a humilating position for
free people! A party in power
evying taxes to increase its surplus and
using the income of that surplus to carry
the next election. Has the marvellous
prosperity which the grand old Republi-
can party with high tariff has given us
during the last quarter of a century
dulled the sense of justice and lulled to
sleep the patriotism of the American
people? If Grover is elected l shall be-
lieve it has.
The time has come when the young
men of this country should study its
history, that they may learn its develop
ment and know its interests and its
needs. that they may become enthused
with the desire to continue the prosper
ity their fathers have had, and enjoy the
blessings which its liberty affords. The
young men who will this fall cast their
FIRST Presidential ballot are TO determine
the future policy of the government.
1t lies with them to decide whether we
are to be controlled by the English Cob
den Club. and be forbidden at England
nod to fish in our own waters, or wheth
er we are to continue a self-governing
people.
POLITICAL OPINION.