The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1892-09-15

this demand was the passage by Re-
publican Congress of the Mckinley bill.
The avowed object of this bill was to
check importation. Its purpose so to
increase the rate of duties, as in many
instances to exclude absolutely foreign
goods from our markets, and thus by
cutting off competition, enable the home
manufacturer without let or hindrance
to fix the price of his wares. In word,
the Mckinley law, by its prohibitory
features gave its benefciaries prac-
tical monopoly, and enabled them in
fact to levy an additional tax upon the
consumer, to the extent that the duty
had been increased. Was this not class
legislation of the most odious character2
The American people Enthusiastically set
their seal of condemnation upon this
bill. Slowly but surely they have be-
come convinced that protection does
not protect them.
cit is worse than idle to speak of its
benefits to the American farmer. 1t is
mockery to tell him he is protected
against the corn and wheat products of
the old world. While he is compelled
to sell in the open markets of the world
he should be allowed the poor privilege
of buying what his necessities require
without paying high tribute to the pro-
tected classes of his own country. To
the mechanic and laborer no less than to
the farmer, protection has proved a de-
lusion and snare. In no instance has
it opened up to the farmer additional
market for pound of meat or bushel
given to the mechshic or laborer in
creased wages9 The present high tariff
adds largely to the cost of articles nec-
essary to the comfort of the wage Garner.
How has he been benefited2 Has it in
creased his wagesa Has 1t any manner
benefited his condition2
"Recent events connected with the
most highly protected establishments of
this country sadly attest the fact that a
high protective tariff affords no protection
to those who earn their bread by daily
toll. 1t was never intended to benefit
them. If the claim of the protectionlst
is we'll founded, why have not wages in
creased, as tariffs have increaseda Why
constant reduction of wages in the most
highly protected establishments in the
land9
"To the toiler the Mckinley bill has
'kept the word of promise to the ear.
but broken it to the hope
"My citizens. To you the
tariff is thesalR.important question. The
question is not how much of your earn
ings shall be given to the support of the
Government, but how much shall under
the forms of law be seized by the favored
the "protected' classes. Are your
interests safe in the hands of party
controlled by the protected monopollsts
of this country2 This is the important
question for your determination at the
polls. The Democratic Party believes
that the burdens of taxation should be
equally distributed. We oppose all leg
islation that enriches the few by taxing
the many.
"Shall high tariff, continually fncreas
inc with the demands of the protected
classes, be the settled policy OF our Gov
ernment, or shall there be relief to the
people from the burdens OF unjust tax
ation2
THE FORCE ELL.
"Another issue of great moment in
the pending contest Is the Force bill.
The magnitude of this issue cannot be
overstated. 1t may mean the control of
the election of Representatives in Con-
gress by the bayonet.
"The Republican Party, by its acts in
the Fifty-frst Congress, and by its
platform, in its late National Conven-
ton, stands pledged to the passage of
the Force bill. That it will pass this
bill, when it has the power, no sane man
can doubt. To all of sthe people, all
who desire the peace and prosperity of
our common country, this question is
important. To the people of the South
ern States il is one of transcendent i'm.
portance. Shall they still have peace
and the protection OF the law, or shall
the horrors with which they sre nenace1
find their counterpart only in those ot
the darkest hours of the reconstEucsion