The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1891-05-21
FREE E-TRADERS ON TOP.
PROTEcTNNlST DEMOCRATS MUST
TAKE :. * SEAT.

The election Of last November was not
. victory for Free-trade, as such. It was
a triumph Of lying" The primal, funda-
mental lie was the idea instilled into the
popular mind that tariff reform" is not
Free-trads. The approximate lie to which
tho result Of the November election was
Immediately due was the Mckinley prices
humbug.
The victory was SO overwhelmingly on
the side of the foes of Protection that in
theexuberance Of their great joy they for
got that 1t was victory for Free trade
only because the people did not know
that they were voting for that policy.
A triumph for Free-trade as such at the
polls is an event unheard of in American
politics, and the people are just as far
from it today as they ever were. Mug
wumps and other theorists may construe
the victory as an Endorsement of Golden
ism, but the shrewd, practical politicians,
who are in touch with the people and
have accurately gauged popular senti-
ment on the tariff, know better.
The Democratic party managers realize
how hopeless must be their fight, if made
on an openly avowed Free-trade plat
form. They are therefore alarmed at the
boldness Of the party organs since last
November in claiming the victory for
Free-trade and openly advocating its
principles. Already the note Of warning
has been sounded by that shrewdest of
practical politicians, Governor D. B. Hill,
Of New York. He was invited to attend
the Free-trsde mass meeting recently
held in New York city, but declined the
invitation ON the ground that he had no
sympathy with the proposed meeting.
"I am no advocate of Free-trade," he
said, "and never have been" "They
greatly mistake public sentiment" he
continues, "who assume to construe the
revolution last autumn at the polls as a
popular manifestation in favor Of radical
tariff legislation" The following para
graph closes the letter:
"As Democrat l must respectfully
decline to support any movement, no
matter by whom instigated or cham
pioned, having for its purpose the adop-
ton of any such suicidal policy as is
sought to be promoted by the meeting
to which you invite me. In my opinion
such movements only embarrass and en-
danger the cause OF tariff reform"
Governor Hill knows how fondly hun
dreds of thousands Of Democrats cling
to the Proteotionist sentiments Of Jefer-
son and Jackson He simply voiced ths
sentiment Of the northsrn democracy in
rep~diAtinG Frse-trade. But, unfortu-
nately. the policy of his party IS dictatsd
by men who are bound by tradition to
the Free trade doctrines Of Calhoun.
The Millses, and the Carhsles, and tho
Breekinridges were tbs real authors of
Mr.. Ceveland's Fres-xads message It's
issue was the price he paid the nominal
ing solid south for a denomination. The
most they would concede to the north
ern Democracy was that the real aim of
the message should be concealed under
the lying label Of ''tarif reform" Since
the indorsemens Of that message and it's
auth0r by the Democracy the Free
trade wing Of the party has been in con-
troll. They have pushed forward their
radical tariff policy with 80 much ardor
that the Protectionists in the party could
find 10 bearing, but were forced 10 drif,
with the Free-trade current, trying to
ease their conscisnces Ia the meantime
With the assurance that the policy fuz
vksA NY stsovs vAs ee&y hasualasl
reform" Of the tariff.
A time went on the Free-trads lead
ers gradually lost the caution which had
formerly Characterised their tariff utter
anoea Leading party Organs assumed
IN sttituas of hostility 10 Protective
tariffs Of any kind. and met Protection
ist arguments by the baldsst Free-kadl
thsoriing. Protectionist Democrats o.
the Randall school have grown moro aai
more restiys under the arrogant rule o.
their Frse-trads leaders, and even in u,
south there has set Ia, consequent on tn
development Of her great mineral 10
souvoes, rsvulsion against the old foeu
Fres-tads ideas whose enactment intt
law must prove fatal to the south's new
born industries. Moreover, the pok
ticiaus have observed the growing pops
larity Of the Mckinley bill. They not,
the new tin plate mills, the new woole.
mills, the linen mills, the plush mill
and the revivication Of many othe
branches Of industry, which is unmis
takably das to the Mckinley bill Il
the wake OF the campaign cry abou
Mckinley prices" they have seen neaxl.
all kinds Of family supplies selling cheap
er under tho new than under the Oh
| tariff. They realize what the outcom
, of the revulsion against the campaign
lies must be unless the party ''hedges
, on the tariff. Hence Governor Hill
J letter.
But we fear that it is too late. Free
traders are in command Of the Demo
cratic hosts, whs are almost fanatical i
their enthusiasm for Free-trade. FroE
present indications they will pass Go,
ernor Hills danger signal with avexte
eyes, and bitter expsrianoe must com
to teach them how wise his warning wa,
Whatever the outcome, Projections