The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-09-08
O, A,NE,s LETTER.


to Chairman ManLey of the Republican
state committee, a synopsis of which was
printed yesterday:
BAR HARBoR, Me-, Sept. 8.
Hon. Joseph q. Maniey. Chairman. etc. Augusta.
MY DEAR SIR-Not being able, for
reasons which have explained to you, to
deliver public speeches in the present cam
paign, take the liberty of submitting my
views on the issues which l regard as be-
ing strongest for Republicans to urge
before the people.
1. "The issue of the greatest conse-
que3ce is the tariff ON imports, and it viii
continue to be until a settlement is effect
ed by a majority so large that 1t Will be
tantamount to general acquiescence. The
Republicans are aggressive on this sub
ject. Two years ago they passed general
enactment known as the Mckinley tariff,
which for time failed to meet with popu-
lar approval and was regarded with ce-!
tain degree of distrust by those who had
always upheld the protective system. Blu:
a powerful reaction has come in conse-
quence of the vindicatioH of the Mckinley
tariff by experience. 1t is found to
have worked admirably, and within
the last year has produced greater
volume of business, internal and
external, export and import. than the
Notwithstanding the character and extent
of the opposition to it. agriculture IS re-
munerative, manufactures are prosperous
and commerce is more fourishing than at
any previous time-thus vindlcat!ng the
Mckinley tariff by Ali impressive and I'm
deniable series OF facts. Against the tarlf
the Democratic party has taken position
almost without parallel in the history of
the country. They reject entirely the doc
trine of protection, pronounced it fraud
and anathematize it generally. A resoiu-
tion to this effect was adopted by the Dem
ocratlc convention against the report on
the committee on resolutions, py two
thirds vote, thus manlfestlng the lnteiil-
gent manifestations of every man
in the convention. Some times
resolutions may be adopted in haste or just
when the convention is adjonrning it may
fail to receive the attention of the MEM
bers; but this resolution was debated pro
and con, adopted after contest, and was
perfectly understood by the members of
the convention. 1t contained these words:
eve denounce the Republican protec-
tion as fraud upon the labor of the great
majority of the American people for the
benefit of few. We declare it a funda-
mental principle of the Democratic party
that the federal government mas no consti-
tutional power Ito impose and collect tariff
Duties except for the purpose of revenue
only We demand that the collection of
such taxes be limited to the necessities of
the government when honestly and
economically administered.
IF any one will take the trouble to read
the resolutions by which Mr.. Calhoun
sought TO defend his nulification scheme
in 1888, he will find the tariff platform of
the Democratic party in general harmony
Herewith, and if be examines the subject
farther he will discover that the duties in
the compromise tariff which reconciled
Mr. Calhoun and appeased his angry
followers in South Carolina, were of a
more comprehensive character than those
contemplated in the Democratic resolution
of 1892
"The Democrats are in the habit of
naming jefferson as the founder of their
party, and yet on the subject of tariff they
are in radical opposition to the principles
laid down by Jefferson. Toward the close
of his administration the revenue
from the tariff on imports pro-
question was what should be dones Should
the tariff be reduced or should this sur
plus be maintaineds Jefferson pointedly
asked. Shall we suppress the imports and
give that advantage to foreign over do
mestic manufactures" For himself he
recommended that the imports be main
tained, aud that the surplus created
should be appropriated to the improve
ment of roads. canals, rivers and educa.
tlon.' Ii the constitution did not give
sufficient power to warrant these appro-
priations, Jefferson went so far as to rec
ommend that it be amended. This pre-
sents the strongest condition of affairs
upon which protective tariff can be
justified, aud Jefferson did not hesitate to
recommend it. The Democrats of the
present day, It is needless to say, are the
direct opponents of the policy which JET
ferson thus outlined and adhered to.
''2. When the principle OF reciprocal
trade was first proposed to be introduced
into the tariff system the Democrats
showed much appreciation Of the ques-
ton aud gave it their support as long as
Republicans refused to accept it, but when
tue Republicans came to approve 1t the
Democratic support vanished, and instead
OF fayoripg, We find the Democratic ma
tional convention passing resolution
hostile to the system. But in spite of
Democratic opposition we have attained
through reciprocity a new and valuable
trade, and the system has demonstrated
its many advantages. We were able TO
declare, sugar. molasses, coffee and hides
free of all duties in the Mckinley bill,
but instead of that we passed law by
which We asked the several nations inter
ested what they would give to
We found that the privileges
which we were about to give without cost
and without charge would secure large
trade In Brazil, in Cuba and Porto Rico, IN
the Wiudward and Leeward islands. in
Jamaica, San Domingo aud the five Cen
trail American states, and, to minor de-
gree, i'll Australia, France and Germany,
all in exchange for the articles which we
had intended to admit free. The free list
of the Mckinley tariff is larger in the
of articles and import value than
the dutiabie list. What would haye been
the result to us if every article, before it
was put on the free list, had been made
the subject of inquiry to see what we could
get in exchange tor It? We omicted to do
so for many years, and that neglect has
cost the government advantages in trade
which would have amounted to tens of
millions of dollars. This is the whole of
the reciprocity scheme. IL is very plain
and very simple. II secures valuable
trade in exchange for articles otherwise
destined to be put OH the free list. The
Democratic party think they can discredit
1t, and they make the effort apparently
for the unpatriotic reason that they did
not originate it.
'3 With all its calamities, the war
brought US one great blessing-new cur
rency. There are many who will say it
was worth the cost to bring this about.
Prior to the war we had the worst cur
rency system OF any enlightened nation in
the world. The state banks, with some
exceptions, were thoroughly irresponsible
They existed by thousands throughout the
United States Wherever one of them
failed the result was "A large loss and great
distress among the people. No one was
responsible for their bills. and they were
generally found scattered In the pockets Of
men to whom they were a total
loss. OF the st tie banks il was often and
truly said that their debts were the meas