St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-11-12
A FALSE CRY.

In their endeavor to find solace for
their defeat the Republicans now claim
that it was all owing to Democratic mis-.
representation of the MCKINLEY law.
The prominent Republican leaders and
Republican organs all unite i'll the opln-
ion that when the people once come to
have fair understanding of the opera
ton of the new tariff law they will be-
rome enamored with it, and will be
ready by 1892 to sustain the Republican
Tariff policy. This is far-fetched con-
ciuSioh at best, and merely serves to
show what little standing room tie Re-
publicans have left.
No public issue ever had fuller or
clearer discussion than the tariff cues
ton in the late campaign. The Repuh-
licanS enjoyed the same opportunity the
Democrats did to elucidate the subject
They bad their best speakers in the
field, and the party organs never before
made such an eXertion to put the tariff
question before the people in q Repub-
lcan light. The country was flooded
with high tariff literature, and every
agency employed that would appeai to
the prejudices of the Republican masses.
1t was not necessary for the Demo-
Gratis to mIsreprescnt anything. The
MCKINLEY law was printed in black
and white and every man could read
1T for himself. The Democrats took
the law as it stood on the statute books
and went before the people with it IN
their hands claiming that its effect was
10 increase prices on the neceSsaries.
and that this vas done for the exclu-
siyc benefit of the privileged classes.
The people heard What the Democrats
had to say and then they went to hear
what the Republicans had to say in re-
ply, After hearing both sides they
took the MCKINLEY law home with
them and sat down by their firesides to
study it. The result was that after an
Intelligent consideration OF the whole
subject the masses concluded that the
Democrats were right in their interpre
tatIon OF the law, and voted according
ly. That is the whole secret of this
unprecedented tidal wave OF tariff re-
form which swept the Republican
party from the face Of the earth.
Misrepresentation never wins in a no.
litical campaign. The party which is
guilty OF it is sure to suffer. But there
was no necessity for misrepresentation
IN this instance on the Democratic side.
The facts were horrid enough without
the addition of hideous features. When
the Democrats said that the MCKINLEY
law raised prices the statement was con-
1irmed to the satisfaction Of the voter
every time lie reached across the conn
ter to pay bill. That the law was de-
signed for the exclusive benefit of a
privileged class was self-cvident prop
osition. The talk about the aggre gate
wealth of the nation being increased
under high tariff law counted for MOTH
ing as long as the distributive wealth, of
the nation was being decreased. The
people are not interested in any scheme
which builds up colossal fortunes for a
few individuals and impoyerishes the
masses. Nor will they ever be. As long
as this is free country and every man
Is privileged to vote his convictions the
elections will go just as the last one
: did when such an Infamous proposition
as this MCKINLEY bill is before the
people.
Ii the Republicans are inclined to
hold on to the MCKINLEY law and to
make 1t an issue in 1892, as they now
seem disposed to do, the Democrats will
be grateful for another opportunity to
discuss the tariff question before the
people. Ii is question that will bear
\ discussion We only want 4 few more