The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-11-10
A LAST DITCH LEADER.

One man who has learned nothing
from last Tuesdays elections, if he be-
lieves as he talks, is William Wallace
Mckinley, OF Ohio. In an interview in
Cleveland on Saturday he is represented
as saying: "Protection is stronger to-
day than it ever was, and it will con-
tinue to grow in favor. The tariff bill
was misunderstood and shamefully mis-
represented. The latter was done by
importers, many OF whom are not citi-
zens of the United States and are free
traders l am sure we will win in the
end. The same issue will come to the
front in 1892, and it will then be better
understood"
1t would be charitable to assume that
Mr.. McKinley's mind has boon un-
hinged by the stunning blow he re-
ceived last Tuesday, and that he still
fancies himself on the stump before
election. II there ever we're mass of
voters who knew exactly what they
we're about, it was the people Of the
United States on Tuesday last, when
they almost unanimously declared that
they did not want at this time GO per
cent. tariff "a tariff higher by Is per
cent. than that which was imposed by
the exlgencies Of the war-a tariff aver
aging Is per cent. higher than that
which was in existence before the enact
ment Of the Mckinley law.
The Mills bill of 1883 reduced duties
on an averaged little more than seven
per cent. and on that proposition the
democrats had popular majority OF
nearly 100000 in the country, and only
lost the presidency by slender, DOODLE
bought majorities in New York and In
diana. Even then the republicans could
not have held their majorities in lii
nois, Wisconsin, Michigan, Kansas and
other western states had they not
pledged themselves to reduction Of the
tariff. As soon as they came into power
they ignored their pledges and proceed
cd to frame such tariff bill as Quay,
Wanamaker 4 Co. had agreed to give to
the Pennsylvania manufacturers in re-
turn for their millions OF campaign
Doodle in 1888.
Isit any wonder the revolution came?
The only marvel is that men as bright
and intelligent as Mr.. Mckinley is re-
puted to be failed to read the signs OF
the times. Two years ago, after very
short campaign in which it was impossi-
BILE to fully present the merits Of the
question, the democrats, on the propo-
sition to lower the tariff duties, lost the
house OF representatives by only five or
six majority, and the electoral vote by a
slender margin. That fact of itself
should have shown the republican lead
ers this temper of the times and led them
into the path Of safety. What strange
madness was it that seized these mon
and led them to disregard their pledges
to the toiling masses? We're they made
80 intoxicated by regaining power that
they could not see? Or, must we ac-
cept the other and more discredltable
alternative that the party leaders
pawned the administration in advance
to the trusts and protected interests
and were compelled to pay over the
pound of flesh even though it killed the
debtor?
No, Mr.. Mckinley, no little handful of
New York importers have misled the
people Of the United States. You and
your associates have done that, and the
punishment that has overtaken you for
your betrayal Of their interests is the
swiftest, severest and most thoroughly
merited that was ever inflicted by any
sovereign people upon unfaithful serv-
ants.