Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1890-05-24
WASHINGTON.

The protection ring is struggling hard
for life. AS long as its demands were
confirmed within the limits of hui
manity the producer cheerfully bore
the burdens it imposed. But like all
oppressors, it grew more and more
eXacting, sudacious and blind until
the patientjade tired out, and is now
in a state of rebellion.
For many years the farmer has
starved himself to fatten the protec-
ZIONIST, assured that there would
come a butchering time when this
outlay would return. He has follow
ed the ignisfatus of specious argu-
ments and alluring promises that this
burden would be removed. He has
been lowered over and fondled by
pick-pockets, who distracted him
with prohibition or whiskey while he
was robbed. But while the popula-
ton doubled in numbers, farms di-
minished one half in value. While
the farmer pays double for all the
necessaries for farm use and consump-
ton his own products are reduced in
price, and his eyes are opening. The
protectionists, too, see that their ship
is sinking, and the instructive rats
have already commenced to leave.
They had bad fright the other
day when Mr.. Butterw0lth deserted.
They are fast losing in the North and
West, but to gaina temporary re-
spite are about to exercise their brain
and money from their present van-
tage ground ofpower, unfettered by
scruples and bold with the success of
long>practiced deception. Protection,
of course, is the soul and prop Of the
republican party, and the means
sought to perpetuate it is a
federal election law. 1t is
not concealed that it is a purely
partisan measure but tho following
by Speaker Reed at recent banquent
explains the matter concisely, "The
only wise course is to take into feder-
la hands the federal elections. Let us
cut loose from the state elections ; do
our own registration, our own count
ing our own certifcation. Then the
nation. will be satisfied. The south.
ern states can by themselves grapple
with the problem whether state can
permanently enthrone injustice.
Freed from all right of interference
from the North, within their, own
borders and their Town state rights
they will have the power for which
they have longed, the power to work
out their own peculiar problem them
selves. "
So the G. O. p. cares nothing for
the negroes whose wrong it has been
heralding so loud. They may be
bullied and cheated and murdered as
) it has been claimed they have been
tedlheretofore, at State elections
Just sOthat their votes are recorded fol
protection high tariff and the repub
lican party in the federal contests
e For greater security Senators Sher'
man, Hoar and others advocate max
: ing the tenure of election officers fol
life. Others wish to charge the judi
ciary with this duty; but so far M
one has been able to devise any practi
8 cal bill that didn't run counter to thu
y constitution. This additional cleo
3 ton will involve an extra expense o
x ten or fifteen millions, but the TART
x men and salaried officials will regarC
= that as small sum well appropria
10 ted lit answers their purposes.
20 In the House the tariff debate las
II week was no better than a squabble
d" the amendments being regularly VIC
Is ted down as they were offered. Il
"a the Senate Mr.. Teller denounced tn
- Window Silver bill in vigorous term
: and promised that with free coinag
wheat would go up to $l.10. II
didn't say that it would go to tina
price in Liverpool, where the world
- price is made, but virtually confesse
- that initiation was the object. Til
= bill will be voted on Wednesday an
-, will pass the House all right. Blu
! wait until it gets to the Senate. Ser
10 ator Allison is waiting for it. TIL
= west will show its teeth. He say
~ that he is profoundly convinced ths
- the conditions have changed and wi
handle the Mckinley bill SO that tn
10 author won't know it, when he see
20 it.
is At an evening session of the Hou;
III last Wednesday 159 private pensio
I.lI. 100000 A. 4looo aIo,,