Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-02-13
THE AMERICAN rAnrrr.
Mckinley Attacks ex-Prss
SReut ClevelanA.s PoaafTcn -.

Representative Mckinley Attacks ex-Prss1-
dent Cieveland's PositIon. 4ss
The annual banquet Of the Otto League Of
Republican Clubs was held at Toledo last night
in memory Of Lincoln, yesterday being the an
niversary Of his birth. Hon. James NJ Ashley,
Representative in Congress from the Toledo
district from 1853 to 1863, and an intimate
friend Of Abraham Lincoln, told his reminis.
cences Of the emancipator and Superintendent
Porter Of the census bureau spoke ON the prsss
Hon. VIM. Mckinley spoke on the American
tariff, his speech being somewhat in the nature
Of reply to Mr.. Cleveland's speech at the
Thurman banquet in Columbus last November.
Mr.. MKINLxY's ADDRESS.
Mr.. Mckinley said:
Mr.. President and Gentlemen Of the Ohio Re-
publican League:
1t is worth something in the discussion Of
economic questions to have an avowal from
our political opponents of the real meaning
and effect Of their economic theories. II is
stand one another. 1t was, therefore, gratify-
ing to the friends Of protection to have that
eminent democratic leader from New York. on
recent occasion in the capital city of our
state. make open confession Of the purposes
which he and his party associates aim to &C.
complish by free trade tariff. Assigned to
respond to the inspiring sentiment, American
citizenship" he made ''cheapness" the theme
Of his discourse and counted it among the
highest aspirations of American life. His
always claimed to be the inevitable tendency Of
his tariff policy, which exalts cheap goods from
abroad above good wages ut home.
THE woRKINGMAN's POINT Of VIEW.
Mr.. Mckinley argued that protection lifted
up the working man and gave him heart and
ambition in life's struggle What does it mat
ter if coats are cheap if the working man has
no money? He quoted Thomas Jefferson's
letter to Jean Baptiste. advising Americans to
buy nothing OF foreign manufacture which
could be produced at home. Mr.. Mckinley
continued:
1.-The gentleman who is now so insistent for
cheap necessaries of life. while in Office and
clothed with authority, was unwilling that
sugar, an article of prime necessity to every
household, should come untaxed to the Ameri-
can people. when it was known that it was an
annual burden upon them of $50 ,O00, 900. He
stood then as the uncompromising friend of
dear sugar for the masses. During all of his
years at the head of the government he was
dishonoring one of our precious metals. one Of
our own great products, discrediting silver and
enhancing the price of gold. He endeavored
the coinage of silver dollars and
afterward and to the end of his admins
tration persistently used his power to
that end. He was determined to contract their
circulating medium and demonetize one of the
coins of commerce, limit the volume OF money
among the people and make money scarce and
therefore dear He would have increased the
value of money and diminished the value of
everything else: money the master. everything
else its servant. He was not thinking of the
poor then. He had left their side He was
not standing forth in their defense Cheap
coats. cheap labor and dear money the spon-
sor and promoter Of these protesting to stand
guard over the welfare of the poor and lowly,
WAS there ever more glaring inconsistency or
reckless assumption? The tariff reformer has
at last. in his wild ecstacy over sO-called vie
tory, been betrayed into an avOwal of his real
design. He believes that poverty is blessing
to be promoted and encouraged, and that u
shrinkage in the value of everything but money
Is a national benedictiOn.
THE AMERICAN POLICY.
''We believe the American policy best adapted
to our citizenship and civilization. and this be-
lief If sustained by the highes. American au-
thori:ics from Washington down and by hun
bred years of experience. We know what it has
already accomplished for self governed people.
The world knows of the wonderful progress we
have made If this policy il to be reverted it must
be done not by clamOr and misrcpreseE tation,
not by school men and theories. not by false
hood and hypccritical solicitudc for the poor
man, not by exaggerated laudation of the cheap
coat. but after the fullest discussion and inves-
tigation by the sober and intelligent Judgment
Of the majority cOnstitutiO.Rlly registered. 1t
will never be so reversed while we remain q
nation Of political equals. Time and experience
have vindicated the great system. Time and
truth will yindica.e the new law, which was
founded npOn it. False witnesses will be con-
founded by the unimpeachable testimony of
trade and experience. Their portents have
already been impeached. False prophecy must
fail before good times and Astounding pros
perity. Campaign prices have already been
convicted campaign lies. New industries
are being founded. others now established are
enlarging their capacity. Idle mills are being
started The only menace to our advancement
and prosperity to our wage-eerners and farm
ing interests is the patty which is pledged TO
the repeal of the new law and the substitution
Of the British system in its place. Free and
full discussion will avert the danger. Nothing
else will" 4. % :. .fSl.-