The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1892-09-03

1000 Ok misrepresentation CANNOT De
tho pcrsisteutly followed up, exposed
and "naiied." In every State and
locality where the tariff issue is Of
| importance, and that is in every State
| in the Union, the attempt is being
made to represent the democratic
party as 'free-trade party" pure
and simple, and as having declared
its hostility in its platform TO the
collection of any duties on imports
as being contrary to the constitution.
This is, to put it plainly, the staple
campaign lie" Of republican orators
and journalists in the present can.
vass. Governor Mckinley, of Ohio,
who Of all men ought to know better
in his recent address to the Nebras
ka farmers made this direct asser-
tioD, and followed it up by the fur
Their statement, equally gratuitous
and groundless, that it was the avow-
ed purpose and policy Of democratic
leaders to abolish all custom house
and customs duties, and to raise the
necessary revenues for the support OF
the government by direct taxation.
The Sun commented upon this ex-
traordinary statement on the part OF
Governor Mckinley as soon as his
Nebraska speech was published.
We regret to see that within the
past day or two Governor Mckinley
is reported, without contradiction,
comforting the members of the ma
tional republican committee in New
York with the personal assurance
that the people of Ohio thoroughly
understand the vital issue in the
campaign, and that they recognize
the Chicago platform as an undis-
guised declaration on the part of the
democratic party in favor of free
trade and Of letting in the products
of European looms and workshops
duty free. We have only to say that
if Governor Mckinley is correctly
quoted, the people of Ohio are gross
ly ignorant and willfully misinform-
ed as to the language and the mean
ing Of the Chicago platform and the
purposes and principles of the demo
cratic party.
We have already quoted the en-
phatic declaration of that platform
to the effect that the revenue raised
by customs, like every other kind and
species of taxation, should be re-
stricted to the necessities of the gov
eminent. Would it be fair thing
would it be decent or honest-to
charge that man who says that all
unnecessary taxation is unjust taxa
tion, is robbery of the people, and
to that extent and in that sense is
illogical taxation-is opposed to any
taxation whatever, and is in favor OF
withholding the means necessary for
the indispensable support of govern
ment and the maintenance of society
But that practically is what Govern
or Mckinley and all republicans who
agree with him are guilty of doing
when they endeavor to torture and
pervert. thedemocratic protest against
Tariff imposed not for the support
of government and in excess of the
requirements of revenue, but for the
benefit of favored industries and
classes, into declaration against
raising any revenue whatever through
the imposition of duties ON foreign
importations.
In marked and agreeable contrast
with this studied and dishonest at
tempt to misrepresent the position
of the democratic party and the plain
language of it's platform upon the
subject of the tariff are the views OF
distinguished New York republi.
can, upon this identical question
Mr.. Chester d. Burrows, republi
can elector in the State of New York
in 1888 and member of the New
York Produce Exchange, thus ex-
plains his reasons for voting the
democratic ticket in the present cam
paign: II have been studying" he
says, 1.-The tariff question for several
years. | have watched the operation
Of the Mckinley bill carefully. The
effect of the high protective tariff is
the cause of my resolution to become
democrat. I don't believe in free
trade. ! think the government should
have tariff for revenue, hut not the
high protective tariff Endorsed by the
republican party. / do not believe
in opening the flood gates to allow
foreign countries to send their goods
free to America, and l am sure that
is not the meaning of the democratic
tariff plank" That is the way in
which an intelligent business man, a
lifelong republican, reads and un-
derstands the Chicago platform. 1t
is the way every intelligent and hon.
est man will read it and understand
it. Governor Mckinley, who is in
telligent enough, but apparently is
not honest, chooses to read it back
wards and interpret it as meaning
the opposite of what it says. Gov
ernor Mckinley was the president of
the National Republican Convention
at Minneapolis. When he accuses
the democratic convention at Chica-
go Of favoring the abolition of all
tariffs all custom houses and all du
Ties ne can scarcely pretend to speak
with the authority of the Hon. VIM.
L. Wilson, who presided over that