Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1891-10-10
PETER VERSUS PEFFER.
Topeka Correspondents of Kansas City, Nc

As kind Of prelude to his dizzy
dances with the digits, which deal al
most exclusively with enormous sums
of money, and which lead up to 81, $780,
600, 900 of paper currency as about the
sum we need, sum the magnitude OF
which the average farmer or business
man can comprehend with about the
same case as he reads Xendphon's
Anabasis in the original tongue. Sem
ator PETER endeavored gravely to i'm
press upon his hearers the belief that
what republican speakers say is not
true, and further that they know it Is
not true. 1.-THE man who states, for
instance, that the tariff benefits farmers
and wage earners, knows BETTER" says
the senator. ''He knows better" is re-
peated with solemn emphasis and chest
intonatlon: she knows better"
BY inference it is to be understood
that the reform orator tells only the
simple truth, and that he knows it.
And this brings up question. 1t is 3
tariff question, for the truth about the
tariff is the only matter to which the
senator referred specifically. The ques-
ton is, When does q man '.know it !"
When he is republican, or after he has
changed, not his head, but his coat ?
Senator PETER is on record on both
sides OF this question, and the matter
as to when he is to be taken as 'know-
ing better" is one Of special interest as
we'll as of great importance.
Besides being the author of tariff
manual in which is set forth with lucid
ity and compactness the strongest ar
guments for protection, Mr.. PETER is
also responsible for the tariff editorials
which appeared in the Topeka Capital
during the campaign of 1883. One Of
those articles is headed "Mr. Cleveland
on Both Sides" and contains these
words: "Mr. Cleveland began his high
political career as protectionist. = =
But change came over the presi-
dents opinions. Makes quotations to
illustrate: ~ The president
will find it difficult to handle both sides
of this subject in an approving way"
Words to apply more fitly to the case
OF Mr.. PETER it would be difficult t.
choose. In order to be with his party
it was necessary for Mr.. Cleveland t.
take the course which Mr.. PETER criti.
cises, but ths senator did not have even
this excuse for going the way which
he bad condemned. Speaking again Of
Cleveland's free trade message, Mr.
Pslfel says: ''The president's msssag,
was tho most dangerous document evel
given by . high Official to the American
people. - There are plenty o.
facts accessible to every intelligent per
SON which viii fully and completely up
| eet the presidents doctrine" A. Mr.
PETERS doctrine at present i identica
With that Of N. Cleveland, the saml
facts, which are we'll marshaled in tn
tariff manual, makes tho footing Of tn,
new senator very slippery. TAs ques
ton 10, when doe Mr.. PETER '.knov
better," when he talks for protection
or whom be talks against it
|. On September 8. after the election IL
| Vermont, Mr.. PefRsr wrote: ut Va
| protection that swept Vermont. and i
win b protection that will sweep th,
. entire country on November 6. Dix
Mr.. Psffer willfully make that stasemen
Ito his readers when IN his heart b
sskuev betterY
Did Mr.. PETER ssknow better" thar
to say in tho Topeka Capital Of Angus
liz, 1853, that ssvery manufacture,
article he (ths farmer) hae to buy j
. cheaper nov than it Was vhen most Q
! our goods were brought to ~ acros
Tho ocean!"
sThs man Who states, Ter instan0a,
dsolarss Senator Psasr in his 9psschs