Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1891-08-26

No nation OF the world can present such q
picture Of progress, prosperity and plenty.
In twenty years the national debt has
been reduced from S23S6, 100000 to $685.
100000; state debts from $685., 000,000 to
$152000,000, and county debts from $751;
100000 to S115, 100000. Our per capita debt
is only $28 compared with nearly $40
twenty years ago. The per capita debt Of
this country is less than that Of any other
nation IN the world. Free trade England
increased her rate of taxation between 1870
and 1880 over "a per cent: the United
States diminished theirs nearly 10 per
cent. 1t is SAID by our opponents that the
protective system enricheS the few and
ImDoverishes the many. The wealth in
England has been concentrated in the
hands OF few to far greater extent than
in the United States. x x
You may try this system of protection
by whatever test you Wilt care not what
1t iS-and it meets every emergency and
answers every demand. More than that,
1t has never been against this country,
either IN peace or in war. 1t believes IN
America for Americans, native and nat
uralized. 1t legislates for them and no
body else. 1t has never sustained any flag
III the United States out the American
flag, and that cannot be saia of the reve-
nue. tariff, fol it was the ally Of our enc
mics in war.
Gov. Campbell, in his Cleveland speech,
said much about the low price of wool,
and the inference would be that the in
creased duty on wool is the cause of de-
pressed prices. If this be SO then the
tariff is not tax; but this was not Demo
cratic doctrine in '83 and "a, when they
declared great outrage had been COM
mitted on the wool grower by the II per
cent reduction in duty. The wrong of
80 was 1i9hted at the very first moment
the Republican party secured control of
Congress, and was not righted in all the
years the Democrats were in control.
Maj. Mckinley cited statistics to
show that the new tariff law has in
creased our trade. During the nine
months 1t was IN operation up to June
30, 1891, the value of imports was $751;
436, 100 more than III the corresponding
period Of 80 under the old law Under
the new act 46 9-10 per cent. of the i'm
ports were free, compared with 81 $40
per cent. under the old. He continued:
Such showing of free imports cannot
be found in any tariff law since the be-
ginning of the government Our foreign
commerce for the fiscal year ending June
30 was greater than ever before, the value
OF our imports exceeding those of the pre-
y1OuS year by $55, 595, 082 And yet, with
this unprecedented Importation, our eX-
ports exceeded our imports by SS39, $40, 81
The predictions made by the enemies Of the
law have been shown to be mere aSSump-
ton, utterly without foundation. They
served political purpose and worked a
positive injury TO the manufacturer, mer-
chant and consumer.
Speaking Of sugar, Mai. Mckinley
said the Democrats are now claiming
that free trade in sugar is in the direct
line Of their economic theory and
principle. They would have the coun-
try believe they have always advocated
free sugar, but this is most remote from
the truth. Every tariff bill which the
Democrats have formulated has placed
duty upon sugar, raw and refined.
Every Democrat in the House voted for
the retention of the tax, and in the
Senate q united Democratic vote OPP
posed free sugar, justifying their opposi
ton because it was a revenue duty and
principles advocated by the Democratic
party. So We have free sugar under a
protective tariff, which has been impos-
sible under free trade or a revenue
tariff. By this one section $50 y000,00
of taxes are removed from the shout
ders of the people The bounty, which
has been called more burdensome than
the tax, will encourage and stimulate
the production of sugar if anything will,
and will cost the government this year
less than $1l 100000, an annual saving
of S44, 100000.
Major Mckinley touched briefly On
reciprocity which, he said, is provision
that In no way encr0aehes upon the pre-
tective principle. AS regards tin platey
there has been as much misrepresenta-
ton as criticism. 1t IS, he said absurd
to say that We cannot make tin plate, for
we ape already making IT. and it will not
be long until we shall make the largest
part Of the consumption He devoted
some space to a review of British con-
demna5sons OF the protective tariff and
the delight of certain English ne wspa-
pers over the Republican, defeat last fall,
and in closing said
Much as the Republics rarUy, has
done Ii has great things yet to
do It VIII be mighty force in
the futuus as it has been a mighty
force In the past. It's glOries WEll continue
to blaze on the heights, a light to the
world, pointing to a higher destiny Tor
mankind and the upholding and uplifting
of a nations approved of God. 1t will not
tarry in its march and achievements until
the f1ag-tsee flag of the StaTs-Shal be
the unquessioned symbol of sovereignty
at home and Of American rights
abroad; until American labor shall be Sc
curely shielded from the degrading COM
petition of ahe Old World and our entire
citizenship from the vicious end criminal
classes who are crOWding our shores;
never while the advocates of al debaSed dol
lar threate1g She country with their fnan-
clal hereaias- and never unsil the free
right to vote In every corner OF the country
shall be protected under the aaw and for
the law, and the American ballot-box be
held as SaeDed as the American home.
OVER, a MILLION INVOLVED.