, 1890-09-24
RENoUNCING rs ERRoRS

years an advocate Of the protective tariff,
recently renowned the ideas which it had
long upheld In doing so It says: When
such recognized Republican lenders as
James 6. Blaine and Preston B. Plumb
essay to depart very widely from their
lifelong convictions on the tariff question,
it certainly will not be seriously contended
that other Republicans, who have never
faltered in their adherence to the protec-
tive tariff idea. forfeit their party stand
ing, or furnish grounds for impcachiog
their Republication. if they, too, upon
mature dehberation, make bold to ex-
press views on that subject at variance
with the accepted party doemas. =
What has led the Champion to this
conclusion. this radical change in its eco
pomic opinions? Briefly this: 1t has
found that under the dominance OF the
protective idea the east has steadily grown
in wealth at the Q and to the den-
ment of the west, In other words, that
eastern manufacturers and capitalists have
increased their aecumulatiOns enormously,
while the farmers of the west have, dur
ing the same period, made no proportion
ate gain. put on the contrary, have been
reduced to a condition OF vas alage, of
tribute paying serfs.
To put it in still another form. The
capitalists and manufacturers. in the cast,
aided and abettei by a protective tariff,
have made money in fabulous sums.
while the farmers Of the west have been
scarcely able to maintain themselves re-
specially. Not only SO. but eastern man
ufacturers and capitalists have, by reason
OF this protective tariff, been placed 10 a
position where their financial power gives
them practical control of our government
in all its departments, DESPITE the vote
aud wishes of the people Of the western
states-who By reason Of being large cred
itors, OF necessity borrowers. of and de-
pendents upon the east, and virtually pc
litically disfranchised.
These facts have induced the Champion
at this time to make public its conviction
that a protective tariff is one of tine many
things the west does not want and cannot
sustain.
The western farmer has no interest
whatever in a protective tariff. His inter
est rather lies in the direction of free
trade. OF access to all markets-where-
ever his products may be in demand. 1t
is for his interest to sell what he raises
wherever in all the wide world he can
find a purchaser, aud thus provide himself
with the means Of disposing of his SUR
plus crops, Not only is he vitality inter.
ested 10 securing all possible markets.
bur also 10 buying what he needs as
cheaply as possible. Sell where he may,
and buy at the lowest figures this, selfish
as it may seem, is what concerns the
western farmer,
Free trade will give the West the mar
kets Of the world and an opportunity to
buy what it requires at less hat half it
now pays for these same articles.
Lumber, hardware, furniture, clothing,
groceries and agricultural implements
these the West needs principally. Free
trsde will bring these things to US at fig
ufes far below protective prices,
10 all this the Champion speaks solely
from the standpoint of self interest. 1t
is with states and sections as with indi-
vidual citizens-self preservation is the
first obligation. A due regard to our sec
tional preservation. our territorial inter
est. demands the adoption of free trade
commercial reciprocity with all nations.
The East, as we have stated, has grown
dangerously rich by means Of a protective
tariff. Now let the West assert itself and
aud use the means at its command to
change Its economic policy to one more
conducive to sectional welfare.
The question is broader than party
lines. It'll more vital than mere formal
political organizations and more essential
than the dominance of any particular
set of politicians, for it touches our life
and is indissolubly iuterwoyen with our
existence.
Protection continued twenty years
longer, and the West, with its vast agri'
cultural possibilities, would be a pluper,
bound hand and foot. Let us who live
here in the West be fools no longer, but
let US exercise our common sense and
protect our own interests by obtaining,
just as quick as possible, the freest trade,
With al ITS attendant hana6ts