The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1890-03-15
CLETELANDS LAST LETTER.

CLE IL LdN ~ . LdSl LII L L d a.
The ex-prcs,dent still holds to the
free trade plank which wrecked HIM
and his party in 1888. He speaks
AMI writes with equal volubili,y. He
has one string to his harp, and he
thrums it ON every occasion. The In
ter Oceau well says: "Free trade, or,
as he would prefer to phrase 1t, tariff
reform, occupies all his thoughts" He
is resolutely determined that the peo-
pie shall not forget that he is still in
the ring, alneit seriously dis6sured
and greatly weakened by the phlebo-
tony or "claret tapping" OF 1883.
His latest appearance on the free
trade stage was at Indianapolis. Some
three hundred people convened in Ma
sonic Hall, in that city, Tuesday night
TO hear several gentlemen air their
views on the tariff, on which occasion
q letter was read from the ex-presi-
dent in which he went over once
more the ground traversed by his mes
sage of December, 1887. He is very
gracious. He admits that the Ameri-
can people are intelligent and patrl
otic, but they are busy and apt to neg
lect the study of public questions. 1t
is on that ground, presumably, that he
condones the great crime of his own
defeat in 1888. 1t was all wrong,
but the folks were too Lusy to read
his message and "inwardly digest" its
meaning. With rhetoric as ponder
GUS as himself he remarks that "in the
engrossment of their daily avocations
they are too ready to rely upon the
Judgment and avowed principles of the
party with which they have affiliated
as guides to their political action"
This sounds we'll enough, but it is
really an insult to the people. To ssy
that they support the party Of protec-
ton because they are slaves to party
prejudice i'll becomes a man whose
first election was due to the most gi-
gantic frauds and outrages in several
States, and who was defeated in bis
second candidacy in spite of those
frauds and outrages. 1t is notorious
and undeniable that the Democracy is
strong in proportion as illiteracy is
prevalent. The Democratic party
would have no chance whatever if it
were not for the ignorant lower strata,
men who vote their party ticket from
instinct. It would have died long ago
if it had been dependent on intelli-
gence and thoughtfulness, or, rather,
It would never have been born. But
Dir, Cleveland's argument, if such it
may be called, would indicate that he
himself has always been too busy to
study the subject which he discusses,
and too ready to rely upon the judg-
ment and avowed principles of the
party with which he has affiliated as
guide to his political action. He has
never thrown single ray of light
upon the subject, simply repeating the
trite sophisms of his party, to which
party he pays the following compli-
ment:
The Democretic party, as the party of the
people, opposed to selfish schemes which ig-
more the public good, and pledged to the in
terests Of all their countrymen, instead of
the furtherance Of the interests of the few
who seek to pervert governmental powers
for their enrichment, was never nearer to
its fundamental principles than it was in its
contests for tariff reform.
Every Republican in the land should
earnestly desire that the Democratic
party should keep right on opposing
protection and favoring the British
policy. Nothing could contribute more
directly to the popularity of the party
now in power. This old talk about
the tariff enriching the few at the e1-
pense of the many is one of those long
since exploded fallacies, and Mr.. Cleve-
land must te Bourbon in every fiber
of his nature or his intelligence would
spleen against such stupid declar-
alton. But he wants to say something
to keep his name before his party and
shield it from the dry rot of "innocu-
Gus desuetude."