Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1891-02-20
Mr.. Mckinley to Mr.. Cleveland.

Mr.. Mckinley to Mr.. Cleveland.
A cRrTIcI.M or THE EX-PREsIDENTs TAR
IFF REFORM ARGUMENTS.
TOLEDO, ONO. Feb. 12.-Congressman
| William Mckinley made the principal
speech at the banquet of the Ohio League
of Republican Clubs tonight. His speech
was essentially a reply TO Mr.. Cleveland's
speech at the Thurman banquet at Column
| bns last November He said:
cit is worth something in the discus
sion Of economic questions to have an
avowal from our political opponents of
the real meaning aud effect of their eco
nomlc theories IL is always we'll in po.iti-
cal controversy to understand one another
| 1t was, therefore gratifying to the friends
, of protection to have that eminent Demo-
cratic leader from the State OF New York,
on recent occasion IN the capital city
of our State, make open confession OF the
purposes which he aud bis party assoc-
ates aim to accomplish by free.trade
tariff. Assigned to respond to the inspir-
ing sentiment, American Citizenship he
made 'Cheapness' the theme of his dis
course, and counted it among the highest
aspirations of American life. His avowa1
Ia OILY lDdb MulCu hafc
always claimed to he the inevitable ten
cheap goods from abroad above good
wages at home"
Mr.. Mckinley argued that protection
lifted up the working man and gave him
heart and ambition in llfe's struggle.
What does it matter if coats are cheap If
the working man has no money! He
! quoted Thomas Jefferson's letter to Jean
Baptiste advising Americans to buy moth
ing of foreign manufacture which could
be produced at home. Mr.. Mckinley con-
timed:
"Ihe gentleman who is now so insistent
for cheap necessares OF life, while in
Office and and clott ed with authority,
was unwilling that sugar, an article of
prime necessity to every household, should
come uutaxed to the American people,
when it was known that it was an annual
burden upon them of sixty millions of dol
lars He stood then as the uncompromis-
ing friend of dear sugar for the masses.
During all of his years at the head OF the
government he was dishonoring one OF
onr precious metals one OF our own great
products, discrediting silver an d
enhancing the price of gold. lie endeay-
ored even before his Inauguration to offlce
to stop the coinage OK silver dollars and
afterwards 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 scarcs and therefore dear.
He would have increased the value of
money and diminished the value of every
thing 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 de-
fehse.' Cheap coats, cheap labor and
dear money the sponsor and promoter OF
these protesting to stand guard over the
welfare of the poor and lowly. was there
ever more glazing inconsistency, OF reck-
/ less assumrt ionl The tariff rtformer has
at last, in his wild ecstacy over SOCIAL
ed victory, been betrayed into an avowal
Of his real design. He believes that pow
esty is blessing to be promoted and EN-
couragcd, and that a shrnkage IN the
value of everything but money is national
benedictiOn.
I'VE believe the American policy best
adapted to our citizenship and civillza-
ton, and this belief is sustained by the
highest American authorities from Wash
ington down by a hundred years of ex-
perience. We know what it has already
accomplished for a self-goyerned people.
The world knows of the wonderful pro-
gress we have made. II this policy is to
be reversed it mist be done not by clamor
and Misrepresentation, not by school men
and theories, not by falsebood and hypo-
critical solicitude for the poor man, moi
by exaggerated laudatIon of the cheap
coat, but after the fullest discussion and
investigation by the sober and intelligent
Judgment of the majority constitutionally
registered. 1t will never be so reversed
while we remain a nation OF political
equals. Time aud experience have yindl'
Gated the great system. Time and truth
will vindicate the new law, which was
founded upon il. False witnesses will be
COMPOUNDED by the unimpeachable testl-
mony Of trade and experience. Their
portents have already been impeached.
False prophecy must fail before good
times aud Astounding prosperity. Cam
paign prices have already been cOnyic; ed
as campaign lies. New industries are be-
ing founded, Others. now established are
enlarging their capacity. Idle mills are
being started. The only menace to our
advancement and prosperity to our wage
earners and farming interests, is the par
ty which is pledged to the repeal of the
neS law and the substitution OF the Brlt-
lsh system IN its place. Free and full dis
cussion will avert the danger. Nothing
else will"