The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1890-07-11

fufted (ongrsn.nssn Bnync THROUGH
How the iar,ff Divides Manufactured
Into ~Ni"rk> "f Ise"-A fisc-cent tsrifse
q" t~e larunsr.
Republicans always resent the charge
that the grand old party IS snbscryient
% the manufacturing Interests OF the
country and Is dependent upon them for
financial and moral support in return
Tor tariff laws made for their benefit.
When these laws are put through Con-
R7ess the manufacturer are expected 10
show their gratitude BY supporting the
high tariff makers for reelection and 10
contribute q liberal supply OF fat for
campaign expenses. This i the theory
Of the celebrated ''fry-thc-fat circular. I"
in which 4 prominent Republican Sem
at0r from Kansas or Vermont claimed
that the manufacturers got practically
the sole benefit Of protection and that
they should therefore come down libcr-
ally with heir cash.
An interesting practical illustration OF
all this is found in the case Of
Congressman Bayne. OF Pittsburgh.
Pa. The other day he declined to run
for Congress again. after having been
rcnomlnatcd by the convention OF his
district
Colonel Bayne gave as a reason for
mis- derlination the fact that he had
grown weary OF public life and he had
intended for some time 4 quit 1t for
rr rate life.
But why u he tired OF politics7 One
reason given is the ingratitude OF the
rich manufacturers OF his district. Col
..f n,~.. - 49,. -.*lA- 49, -x.-1
schedule in the Mckinley bill, and for
years he has lone the tariff work for
the iron and steel men Of his district
many Of whom are now millionaires
lie succeeded in getting the metal duties
through the House without amendment
-tin-plafc duty and all.
Notwithstanding all this the iron and
steel men ~ his district were seeking
the defeat Of the very man who had
looked after their interests so carefully.
But the Tariff bill had in the meantime
gone over to the Senate. and the news
had gone forth that the Senator's were
going to butcher the metal schedule to
such an extent that IL would not
be recognized when it got back
into the House. Under the fear
Of such . calamity tbs Pittsburgh
iron and steel men decided four
days before the primaries hat they
would rally TO the support OF Bayne and
have him renominated This was done
and the maker OF cast-iron tariffs was
again honored with a nomination. but
he declined. and the high protectionist
th~ick-and-thin party organ OF Pittsburgh
speaks Of "a base conspiracy" Of tho
whole ~disrepufable business and ac-
cnscs Eaync ''of a most wanton and in
defcnsiblc act Of bad faith"
But 1.-THE whole disreputable business
Is very instructive in one way: 1t FIR
nishes a proof-:f proof were needcd-of
what tariff reformcrs have all along
been saying OF the evil effect Of class
legislation.
The protective tariff is the best ex-
ample we have OF this legislation II is
enacted into law for the benefit OF .
class. as was confessed by the prominent
Republican Senator referred to. and
legislation for the benefit OF any class
OF men clearly acts as . bride for the
support Of these men. To buy . vote Is
everywhere among honest men looked
n t|'H - AVt ~ |IANl4AAI- - IL 0MN
less corrupt and criminal for a great
party 70 pass avs for the enrichment Of
class OF citizens in order thatthey may
gain their votes and also fry the fat
from them for use in ''bl~ocks-of-fve"
campaigns OF direct bribery?
Furthermore. We usually look upon
the poor devils who are out 81 a Job and
70 whom a few dollars mean bread and
butter for a week or two, as the men
who are most susceptible TO a bribe.
Everybody who uses money in elections
approaches the poor fellow who is hard
up; nobody will make an attempt on the
rich. well-fcd man who drives up to the
polls In his carriage.
But Is IL certain that he is above taking
. br.be? Is il certain that Congress has
not put him into a block Of five for
el~cctionday? Look below the surface and
both these men have sold themselves
aud are therefore equally base.
But with the bribe-givcrs the case. il
different. When a dudley writes >
letter from his party's headquarters di-
recting that the fioaters be divided into
.blocks Of five" that is a case Of very
grave corruption-bnt it IS the corrup-
ton in the management OF a particular
party only-what. on the other hand.
shall be said Of this party when 1t uses
the law-making power OF the Govern
ment in such a way as TO divide
the manufacturers into blocks Of five
for the support Of that party? Is
not this a prostitution Of the Govern
mcnt 70 the bascst party uses: and
Is II not a corrupting Of the people in
the most insidious and dangerous man
ner? What shall be thought Of men
who are elected 10 guard the interests OF
the whole people and to establish jus
tice between man and man throughout
the whole land-what shall BE- thought
OF them when they use their legislative
functions for party purposes BY corrupt
ing a large class Of voters through spe-
cial laws in their private interests?
The party that does such things
knows only too well the meaning Of its
actions Accordingly il CLOSES over
with glib words Of patriotism the shame
full policy that il pursues-stcals the liv-
cry Of the patriot to serve the party in.
Like the cuttle-lsh II blackens the
water around it so that its crooked
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