Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1892-09-15
OF its sailors, in carrying the trade OF

ships and great and permanent bene-
fit to farmers and manufacturers as
well, Is the reciprocity policy declared
by section three OF the tariff act OF
1890, and now in practical operation
with five nations OF fCentral and Sout h
America, San Domingo, Spanish and
British West India islands, and with
Germany, under special trade arrange
ments with each. The removal of the
duty on sugar, and thecontinuance OF
coffee and tea upon the free list, while
giving great relief to our own people
by cheapening articles used increas-
ingly in every household, was also OF
such enormous advantage to the
countries exporting those articles as
to suggest that, in consideration
thereof, reciprocal favors should be
shown in their tariffs to articles ex-
ported by us to their markets. Great
credit is due Mr.. Blaine for the vigor
with which he pressed this view upon
the country. We have only begun to
realize the benefit of these trade ar
rangements.
1.-The Democratic platform promises
a repeal OF the tariff law contain
ing this provision. and especi-
ally denounces as a sham that reci-
proclty section of the law under which
these trade arrangements have been
made. Ii no other ISSUE were involved
in the campaign, this alone would give
1t momentous Importance. Are the
farmers of the great grain growing
sta; es willing to surrender these new.
large and increasing markets for their
surplus? Are we to have nothing in
exchange for the free Importation OF
sugar and coffee, and at the same time
to destrt y the sugar planters of the
south and the beet sugar industry OF
the northwest, and of the Pacific
coast; or are we to have the taxed
sugar and coffee, which tariff for
revenue only necessarily involves,
with the added loss of the new mar
kets which have been opened. AS
have shown, our commercial rivals in
Europe do not regard this reciprocity
policy as a ''sham," but as a =, rious
threat to a trade supremacy they
have long enjoyed. They would re-
joice, and ifprudence did not restrain,
would illuminate their depressed man.
featuring cities, over the news that the
United States had abandoned its sys-
TEN of protection and reciprocity.
They see very clearly that the restric-
| tion OF American products and trade,
and corresponding increase OF
European production and trade,
| would follow, and l will not believe
that what is so plain to them can be
hidden from our own people.
1.-The declaration of the platform in
| favor OF The American doctrine OF
protection meets my most hearty
| approval. The convention did not
adopt a schedule but II principle that
is to control all the tariff schedules.
| There may be differences of opinion
among protectionists as to the rate
upon particular articles necessary to
effect an equalization between wages
abroad and at home. In some not
remote national campaigns the issue
has been, or more correctly, has been
made to appear to be between high
and low protective tariff, both parties
expressing some solicitous regard OF
our working peoI lie and for the pros
perity of our domestic industries. But
under Il more courageous leadership
the Democratic party has now practi-
cally declared that if given power it
will enact tariff Law without any re-
gard to its effect upon wages, or upon
the capital invested in our great in
dnstr rias
If any one suggests that this radical
policy will not be executed if the Dem
ocratic party attains power, what t
shall be thought of a party that is
capable of thus trifling with great in
terests. The threat of such legisla.
ton would be only less hurtful than
the fact that IL distinguished Demo.
crat rightly described this movement
as a challenge to the protected indus
tries to fight of determination, and
another such rightly expressed the
logic of the situation when he in
terpreted the Chicago platform to be
an invitation to all Democrats hold
ing even the most moderate protec.
ton views to go into the Republican
party.
The resolution of the convention in
favor of bi-met allism declares, think,
the true and necessary conditions oI
the movement, and has upon these
lines my cordial adherence and sup
port. | am thoroughly convinced that
the free coinage of silver at such ratio
to gold as will maintain equality in
the commercial use of the two coined
dollars and conduce to the prosperity
of all great producing and commercial
nations of the world. One essentia
condition is that these dollars shall
have and retain equal acceptability
and value in all commercial transac
tions. They are not only the medium
of exchange, but measures OF values
and when unequal measures are called
in law by the same name, commercei il
unsettled and confused and the un
wary and ignorant are cheated. Dol
lars of unequal commercial value viii
rot circulate together. The bette
dollar is withdrawn and becomes mer
: chandise. True, the interest of al
our people, and especially the farmer
J and working people, who canno
closely observe the money market, i
that every dollar or paper or coin
issued and authorized by the govern
! ment, shall at all times aud in all it
{ uses he the exact equivalent, not onl
in debt-paying, but in the purchasin
5 power of any other dollar. L al
4 quite sure that if we should now &C
e upon this subject independently {
, other nations, We would greatly pre-
r mote their interests and injure on
D own"
e The president favors an electio
/ that will guarantee free ballot an
= a full count to every voter in tn
Y United States, and cites the recen
d state election in Alabama, where th
contest was between two factions {
t the Democratic party, as fair illu
0 tration of the frauds possible unde
e existing circumstances. The work {
e the various departments is con
t mended, and particular stress is lai
e upon the valuable concessions secure
o by the department ofagriculture froi
l. various European countries, resultir
4 in an increased demand for our meat
: and cereals.
n "The tariff bill of 1890 gives bette
y protection to farm Iproducts subleI
n to foreign competition than they ha,
n ever had before, ami home market