New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-08-23
uaJoR WEJNLEY,S SPEECH.

The Ohio campaign was formally opened by
Major Mckinley in his speech at Miles, DIS
birthplace, yesterday. Clearly the RepuD-
Gcans of that State have never been more en-
thlusiastc; clearly in no campaign have they
had a leader who more perfectly represents
their present purposes or arouses their nobleSt
aspirations than Major Mckinley. He has been
one of the few statesmen able to consolidate
the wishes of great National party into
Tariff bill which neither friends nor foes nave
deridcd as a compromise Ior makeshift. Inc
Mills bill was confessedly sacrifice of con-
viction to temporary expediency. The only
other tariffs framed and passed by the Dem
ocrats during the whole history of that party
were the horizontal revenue tariffs OF lS4o
and 1851 and neither at that time nor slnce
has any person ever pretended that those were
thing but a cowardly evasion OF the con-
victiOns the party professed. Nor were the
tariffs enacted by friends of Protection in years
before the War at all comparable to the Act OF
1890 in breadth, fidelity to Protective prln-
ciples, courage or true craftsmanship Inc
leader who was not only able to devise but
also to carry such measure through closely
divided House has few equals in the history Oh
economic legislation.
Mr. Mckinley gives his attention first to the
question of sound currency. 1t is an issue
which Ohio has already decided, and decideo
rightly, and at time when the policy OF inc
whole country depended on that State. In the
desperate struggle of 1875 that State turned
the tide against financial folly and dishonesty,
and Major Mckinley is confident it will do the
same in the contests of 1891, essentially the
same issue being presented. His argument Is
that the Republican party has already erected
a mighty bulwark for the protection OF silver;
"has preserved and enlarged its monetary uses
upon a safe basis, apd has provided that the
silver dollar shall be kept as good as the best
dollar of our currency" lie shows that I'M
limited coinage would mean that 1.-THE silver
producer whose 412 IL grains of silver are
worth only so cents in the markets OF this
country and the world is thus enabled to de-
mand that the Government shall take 1t at
100 centsD Then he asks with Irresistible
force "Will the Government be as kind to the
producer of wheat, and pay him 20 cents more
per bushe than the market price %
Mr.. Mckinley believes an international agree
ment on coinage the only true remedy, but that
it is prevented by the belief OF Europe that
this country will eventually go to silver basis.
eff Europe believed otherwise she would not
be slow to give consent" He then quotes the
letter of President Cleveland, and with especial
force in Ohio, the declaration of Congressman
Harter, a distinguished Democrat, who said !:
1.-THE adoption of this wild idea will not bring
into the Democratic power solitary State IN
The Union. 1t will be political suicide and we
might as well make an assignment OF the party
and have a receiver appointed" Finally,
Major Mckinley showed that free coinage would
be robbery of pensioners whose claims against
Government are not less sacred than those OF
men who loaned it money in its time OF need
When reputation sought to plumber bOndhold-
ers. the soldiers stood firm for the public honor.
Now the debt has been SO far paid that interest
thereon is only S27,000,000 annually, as
against S143, 100000 in 1867 and the pen
son-roll of the soldiers is $137 600, 900, against
$4,000, 900 in 1867. Mr. Mckinley asks
"Shall the soldier have his great debt paid of
in the same coin as the bondholder? Is it
right to force upon him dollar worth so cents
when other creditors of the Government were
p.id dollar worth 100 centsr
Major Mckinley discussion of the tariff ques-
ton is exhaustive and convincing, and deserves
the careful attention of candid citizens in every
State. He shows that a revenue tariff " does
not move a single spindle except in foreign
| countries 1t increases the demand for foreign
goods and diminishes the use of domestic goods
it is for the foreign shop and against the
| American shop" He recites the history of the
! country under various tariffs and the result OF
each with great cearness, and then discusses
! the position of the two parties with regard to
the wool duty in particular, showing that the
Democrats now complain because the farmer
receives low price for his wool. "If this be
so, then the tariff is not a tax" He shows that
the Democrats in previous years have affirmed
that reduction of duties on wool was a great
outrage upon the wool-grower, and that the
Republican party has restored substantially the
duties of the Tariff of 1867.
Mr. McKiney's exposition of the results Of
the new tariff thus far and of the precise
changes of duty it has made is much the ceares
vet made by any debater His defence of The
duty on tin plates is the more forcibe because
as he stated, works are about to be established
in the very town where he spoke. In closing, hC
quotes with great effect the remarks of Eng
lish journals on the new tariff and its results
and especially their rejoicing at Democratic
victories last fall. He submits to every Amer
can, for his earnest and patriotic consideration
whether it is right for him by his votes 10 serv,
the ends of hostile industries in foreign coun
tries instead of unfolding the industry an(
prosperity of our own country.