Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser., 1889-08-09
The Progress of Education.

The Progress of Education.
The educational campaign" of last
fall, Of which the Republicans were
accustomed to speak with levity after
the election, did not die with the elec.
ton. The seed then sown have TAX
en- a deep root in the popular under
standing and every day gives futher
evidence that they will ultimately
bear good and abundant fruit. The
substantial information upon the vital
questions Of the day, then disseminat-
ed among the masses by the educa-
tional campaign, was not sown in bar
rens soil. 1t has served to dispel
the mist of ignorance with which the
popular mind had been clouded anc
henceforth the blatant demagogue,
who howls about the blessings of the
robber tariff, will find himself beset
on all sides by eager and practical
questions, which he cannot or dare
not answer.
The broad and glittering platitudes
aboot protecting and dignifying
american labor" will never do again.
The striking and starving laborers
throughout the country, who increase
in numbers as the protected bar
ons become more thoroughly en-
trenched in their position, will give
the lie to this false and deceitful pre-
tense. That capital alone-arrogant,
selfish capitals protected by the
robber tariff was demonstrated in the
last campaign and has been emphas-
lied by subsequent events.
The kinship between the tariff and
the trusts has been conclusively es-
tablished, to the satisfaction of the
popular mind. 1t is in vain that the
Republicans, while boasting of the
paternity of the one, make a clumsy
attempt to deny that the other is their
legitimate progency. The stringency
Of the times. resulting from overtaxa-
ton of the poor for the benefit of the
rich, are becoming daily more and
more painfully apparent. The large
sums of money thus withdrawn from
circulation and locked mp in the pub
lie treasury embarrasses business at
every turn and threatens financial
ranic. The gilded campaign promise
of the frightened protectionists, that
this stringency would disappear when
the tariff agitation was settled in
favor of protection by the election of
their candidates, has already been
shown to be false and Elusive, The
stringency is Tightening all the time,
instead of relaxing, and part of the
Republican press is already urging the
necessity of immediate tariff reform
as cause for the calling of an extra
session of Congress.
There is no doubt that the Repub-
licans in the next Congress will realize
the necessity of taking some decisive
steps to avert the financial disaster OF
which Mr.. Cleveland forewarned Con-
gress in his great tariff message. But
the question is what means will they
adopt to accomplish the end? Win
they diminish the revenues and fore
stall. The surplus accumulalions by
abolishing the the taxes on whiskey
and tobacco and increasing the tariff
on the necessaries of life, as they
promised to do in their last platform ?
That Is the question. This is what
they promised the tariff "barons" they
would do, and it was upon thestrength
of the promise that the barons put
their money up so literally. Not to
do 80 now would be serious breach OF
faith !; but then the g. o. p. can do
this gracefully when occasion serves.
If they do not pursue that line of
policy, 1t will be simply because they
realize the great force of the education
al campaign. II they thus break their
pledges to the classes, it will be sim
ply because they have wholesome
fear of the educated masses. They
realize now that their every action is
watched By an intelligent and exact
ing public mind. A majority of near
ly million of the intelligent people
of the country, who can read their bal
lots, have condemned their policy ;
and they hold their power by political
accident. Under these circumstances
they will of necessity be cautious
They will doubtless maneuvre skill
fully for position; but although the
Republican party is skillful acrobat
and can. turn some wondeful somer-
saults it will hardly be able to get on
the right side of the tariff question
now.
Governor Jackson has appointed Asso-
ciate Judge David Fowler chief Judge
of the third Judicial circuit,,to succeed
Hon. George Yellott, who had become dis
qualified by age. The commission was
issued yesterday from the executive de-