Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1889-09-13
Tendencies of the Times.
THE REPUBLICAN POLICY A POLITICAL
BLUNDER-TO BECOME A POLITICAL
CRIME.

THE REPUBLICAN POLICY A POLITICAL
BLUNDER-To BECOME A POLITICAL
CRIME.
From the New York Herald, independently
| The Democratic leaders can afford to sit
still while the country slowly drifts in
| their direction.
The people made mistake last autumn
when they voted for Republican policy,
and are beginning to see it.
| AS to Mr.. Harrison, he is an able and an
honest man. There isn't a Republican on
the continent who could make a better re-
cord than he. Personally he has claim
on the respect and good will of every one.
| He represents certain party policies how
ever, which he is bound to carry out. He
will undoubtedly be true to his convictions
and there is the danger. for the more he in
sists on carrying out those convictions the
worse it will be for the country.
Hamilton, the father of the Republican
party, was an arlstocrat He had no SYM
patty with the governing masses, always
distruSted them and preferred a monarchy
to a republic. He had very little faith in
the perpetuity of American institutions, be-
cause he despised what are known as ''the
people"
He felt that the moneyed class should be
the ruling class and that the masses ought
to be kept in the background.
Mr.. Harrisons party has inherited that
| conviction and represents it at this moment.
| Under the rule of that party the rich con-
tinually grow richer while the poor CONT
nually grow poorer
Its policy is, therefore, political blum
der. and in its last results will become a
political crime.
1t consistently throws its influence in
favor of the monopolist and is the natural
parent of the combine.
While it continues, syndicates will flour
ish like a green bay tree and the working
linen will be ruthlessly sacrificed.
| What it calls protection is simply prOtec-
ton of the few, while the many are driven
to strikes in order to obtain wages above
starvation point.
The word f'prOtectiOn has an allurine
sound, the thing 1T really stands for is
damnable.
The mill owners of Connecticut and
Massachusetts were hoodwinked last arl-
tumn. They were told that if the protec-
tive tariff were taken off their raw materi-
ais they would be ruined. They therefore
voted for the Republican policy, and Went
to sleep with the feeling that they had done
a public service.
They now see that unless they get theil
raw materials free of duty they will sool
have to close their works and lose what
little they have made.
A very great change in this respect has
taken place within a few months. East
ern manufacturers are in the dumps; they
voted for the sword which cut their owl
threats, unless they jam it back into it.
sheath. They now demand very materia
reduction of tariff duties. 1t is a matter q
life and death with them.
They couldn't understand this last year
but now their decaying business has made
it altogether too plain. They are penitent
but the penitence comes too late:
If they had re-established the Democrat
ic policy of lower tariff their business
would now be booming. They want lar
ger market for their products Ii the.
could get access to the markets OF tn
world they would undersell all competi
TORS. and their mills might be run on full
time with profit to owners and working
men alike.
But the Republican bosses won't admi
this, and so the mill owners nlnst dodg
must keep from starving If possible.
IT is not MI. HarrisOn'S fault. He is
good man with 2 bad theory, that is all.
The Democrats have been speered at b,
party workers because the last campaigi
was an educational" one, in which til
Democratic party was knocked out.
All right: Mr. Harrison's four year
will also be educational, ana when they en-
| the people will refuse to be the cats paw
of monopolists any longer. Then the Re
publican party, with its protective hum
buggery, will be sent flying,
J The people are learning their lessol
: very rapidly