Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1890-08-29
WITHIN TIE GRASP OF PARTY.


Let us look further at the position
Mr. LaFollette holds in supporting the
Mckinley bill.
Contrasting the Mills bill with the
Mckinley bin, he says:
1t is because one bill favors the
protection of American agriculture,
manufactures and labor, the other (the
Mills) bill opposes this policy, because
the republicans propose to save this
people whenever they (the republicans)
can supply it, and because the demo
Gratis propose TO invite the other coun-
tries of the world to take this market
from our people whenever it is in their
power to do So"
One question comes up at this point:
What is meant by "our people"
whose "market is this ? Is it a mar
ket enjoyed by democrats and repub-
licans alike If SO, the democrats,
are, to say the least, standing in their
own light in supporting a measure
which opposes their own interests. To
say that at least half-the democrats
easily number half-of the people of
this country are trying to destroy the
markets of their own country, is to
say something startling, but not true.
Further, will the Mckinley bill "save
this market to our people ?" Is not
this market safe enough, and do we
not need further outlet for our pro-
duets? our factories are capable of
turning out in eight months enough
for twelve months consumption in
this market, meanwhile shutting
down, and turning adrrt the "pro-
tccted labor.
We need and no one knows this
better than Mr.. la market as large
as our ability to supply.
There is no such thing possible as
taking " this market away from our
people" A market implies the pres
ence of ut least two things buyers
and sellers. Foreigners receive from
us our products, the moment we cease
to exchange, that moment they would
cease to land their products. They
will not make presents to us of their
goods. The fact of exchanging pro-
ducts at all shows both parties to be
mutually benefited Now, taking the
g market away" means that we would
neither buy nor sell in it; and when
Americans neither buy no sell in
market located in the United States, it
may be worth while to enquire, who
would buy and sell in it2
Again, he says:
THE republican system would place
Il tariff duty for protection upon for
eign articles only the like of which
can be supplied in this country. To
be protective, that rate must be high
enough upon the foreign article to in
sure the production of the domestic.
(article),
In other words, we will have the
products other nations enjoy, and we
are going to have them produced right
here, too. We will charge our people
enough extra to enable some favorite
of ours to produce them; and if
American "freemen are caught out
side this tariff fence buying goods for
their families of any one else who will
sell them lower, we will prosecute
them, buyer and seller. We have the
people like apples in cider press,
and we will turn the lever till they
" produce" What do we care if the |
farmers can exchange their foodstuffs |
with foreigners for cheaper blankets, !
tinware, iron and steel goods; we will !
make them pay enough more by our
tariff for protection " and make the
farmers independent of the pauper
labor of Europe" Seriously, Mr.. Ed
itor, are not the whimS and caprices
and prejudices and emergencies of
POLITICS a clumsy and unsafe basis
for the labor and business of a CONT
nent? Can business men look to the
future for prosperity and the laborer
for his just need and reward when the
industries of the nation are as a foot
ball between political parties? Just
here is exposed the worst feature-its
disturbing influence.
That the road between the Producer
and the Consumer should be as direct
and with as few obstacles in it as pos
sible all men admit. Else why do we
have the cable under the sea, the Suez
Canal, the telegraphs and bridges
which are the pride and wonder of
the age. We have them that as
few obstacles rs possible may lie
in the way of Supply and Demand.
let we have the spectacle OF our wise
men at Washington raising all the OBJ
structions and barriers that party ex-
tremity demands or party ingenuity
suggests, to the interchange of pro-
products. Why do you, suppose, Mr..
Editor, that thirty million people on
the farms of our land are willing to
have the fruits of their toll, WHAT
they shall raise, WHEN and WHERE they