The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-10-28
A FALTER1NG PARTY.

A FALTERING PARTY.
The republican party was in sore
straits when it passed the Carter-M
Kinley bill. 1t was on the horns of
terrible dilemma. There was no posi-
bility Of sneaking out between them, and
it had to choose which it should prefer
to be gored by. On the one side three
was the manufacturing interest. 1t had
proved itself q strong factor in election
contests. On successful election con-
tests depended the power Of the party.
That interest was rich and powerful. 1t
had strong and clamorous lobby at
Washington. 1t had contributed liber-
ally in 1888 to put the republican party
in power. 1t was ready to do SO again
on certain conditions, but these condi-
tions had to be fulfilled or not another
cent for campaign frauds would be
forthcoming. The tariff had to be in
creased, and the pockets of manufactur-
ers filled. That was the one horn Of the
dilemma. The other was the interests
Of the people, the people whose best in
terests the republican majority had been
elected to preserve. For time, it may
be, they stood hesitating between duty
and party interest. But the struggle
did not last long. The people were at
comparative distance; the lobbyists never
absent. The people might possibly be
gulled, the manufacturers could not.
Duty had to go; interest prevailed. The
risk, they decided, was worth running
for such valuable stakes as party power
and party spoils, and Carter passed Nc
Kinley's tariff bill.
The wage-earners Of this country have
signally failed to be gulled. They are
wide awake to the fimsiness OF the argu-
ments of republican campaign orators.
They see that this measure was framed
to meet the demands of a favored class,
that public necessity and public good
we're sacrificed, and that it's real effect
will be to increase the burdens they
have to bear. They understand that
the prohibition Of foreign importation
by tariff duties simply means that they
shall pay taxes to the manufacturer, in
stead of to the government There is
no loyal citizen who objects to support
the expenditure Of this government in
every necessary way. But the enrich
ment of the manufacturer is not the sup
port Of the government. These laborers
know that this fraudulent scheme will
better than now enable manufacturers
to sell plows, reapers and thousand
other articles cheaper to Mexican and
South American Indians than to them
selves and their fellow citizens. 1t needs
no argument to prove to them that q
bill that effects that purpose provides
them with no protection. It's protection
is reserved for Mexicans, Spaniards and
half-breeds, and the farmers, laborers,
and consumers of the United States
have to "put up" for their benefit. Elk
perience teaches our workers that the
duty on hundreds of articles, such as
steel rails, is largely in excess Of the en-
tire labor cost OF their production; that
the manufacturer gets his labor for
nothing, and pockets a remarkably hand
some surplus. Workingmen in Montana
have discovered that, while the prices Of
necessities have risen, there has been
no advance in wages to meet the in.
creased demands on their pockets. In
other words, they feel that the republi-
can party has reduced their wages with
a kiss. And they value Carter accord
ingly.
But the republican party and it's
newspapers have already recoznized the
fact that their tariff fraud was hugh
strategic mistake. Under the storm Of
popular disspproval it has called forth,
they are beginning to wonder whether il
might not have been wiser to brave the
vengeance OF the wealthy manufacturers
And Blaine, their ablest leader, went
back on them. He journeyed to Canton
to the temple and home OF the great
high priest Of the tariff fraud, and hi
had not a word to say on the measure
He had already committed himself
Our country, he had declared, hal
reached the point where one Of ito high
est duties is to enlarge the area Of it
foreign trade. He had added that Their,
was not section or line in the entire
bill that would open market for an
other bushel of wheat or a barrel o
pork. And the name Of the man from
Maine is name to conjure with in re
publican ranks. So, Mckinley had t,
welcome the leader who had struck
fatal blow at the greatest effort OF hi
life. He had to assume the appearance,
Of virtuous harmony and agreement, ant
all seemed merry AZ marriage bell
But he il not in love with Mr.. Blaine
and the republican national convention
OF 1892 may prove his opportunity for ,
return blow. He was very much in tn,
position OF the unfortunate individual
who was personstlng Christ in som,
Roman street pageant The natural ir.
reverence OF the small boy manifested
itself in q oopious shower OF sticks ans
stones. Mr.. Blaine, it is true, threw
only one stone, but it hit his object righ
between the eyes. The unfortunat
representative. goaded beyond endur
ance, at last assured the small boys tina
as soon as he was finished playing hi
patient aud sacred part, he would max
it his bounden duty to punch thei
heads. Mr.. Blaine's head 10 going to b
punched some day,