Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-07-24
ISSUE OF THE DAY
II Is Squareiy Protectioo
Against Free Trade
The DEMOCRATS CANNOT WIN
Ne Longer Can the cohd<nisss Hide -
hind the Mash Of Taun . Relarm~
This Is psosecsion,ss Country.

A canvass Of the delegates 20 sl,s a.
flonal Democratic convention IN ChinUo
showed that every one u thean favuu1
q reyenue tariff. which 10 raerely snr1hee
name for Cobdenism or Ea,xhsh fpeo
trade. II further proof we've nsmssry
the free trade platform sdoptsd BY IL
Chicago convention Is ample Ii proves
beyond the shadow Ct . douts thai IL
Democratic party viii in this eAznpsigu
take bolder ground on the tariff aues-
ticn than ever before. Hitherto Tiers
have always bcen SOME Democrats who
indignantly denied the charge that fhsie
party was committed 10 free trade. But
each succeeding year the numter with
the requisite cheek 20 keep up this de-
NAL has diminished. tlli this yesx 10 -
not likely that amy sesf respecting Demo
Graf viii he found a. disclain for his
party lite manifest radical Coldenissio
tendencies. Democrat and fire. trader
have come Ia be almost synonymous
terms. a
We welcome this uncloaking 81 the
free trade party. We have mo fears ~
10 how the people will decide wheu
asked 10 choose between q protective
and free trade tariff. The only dam
ger in past contests hss bcHn the reluo-
lance Of the Democratic leaders u take
an unequivocal position.
Though employing the arguments q
Golden aud Bright. Of Sumner and
Perry. 81 Carlisle and Mills, ell Of whom
are avowed free traders. upoompro-
misingly hostile TO protection In any.
form, Democratic orators and editors
have disclaimed that they were teaching
free trade. To their success in psrsua<-
ing the people that they were opposing
only the abuses Of protection. not pro-
lection itself. mas been due whsfever i'm
preston they hare been able 10 make %
the popular mind.
For this is protectionist country.
Let no one forget that. IL started in -
protectionist under Washington and
Hamilton and Jefferson and MasisUns
ard il continued such in later years m
der the teachings Of Jackson, Clay and
Webster Nor has il forgotten that Linz
coin and Gran, and Greeley taught the
same policy.
And today IL seee the greatest and
noblest OF its statesmen advocating fts
continuance Many years win have
passed before the American people de-
sert these statesmen for the shallow
school of American free traders. repre-
scented by Cleveland. Carlisle and Mills.
SO the palmer the issue lie made the
better il will suit ns. And il must OF
necessity lie made plain in this CAM
paign, after tho many rahid free trade
speeches and editorials which have been
put forth in defense Of no called tariff
reform" After the bold free trade
declarations from The recognized leaders
of the Democratic party during the pat
four years, the party managers can
hardly have the impudence TO insult the
intelligence Of the people by instructing
their parsders, ~ they did four years
ago, 30 cry in unison:
Don';. don't. don't be afraid.
Tariff .rcforn" h not free trsde-
AS for the Republicans. they cannot
hedge If they wosid. and would not II
they could. Their Mckinley tariff IL
there 70 define their position more clear
~ and forcibl. than II could possibly be
defined in mere words There IL not .
line Of il which is notprosective, and he
who attacks IL At any point is attacking
protection.
Let its enemies come on The people
of this country know whist IL has doaa
for them. psrtsculssly the working rso-
pie and the fnrmers, and they win know.
enough 10 recognize in fs< ssssilsns the
ensny a their own intsseetS. Thnu
VIII he no snap Judgment like that u
1890 in this election Let the ftps
traders keep that in mind In tl,o
words Of President Harrison. I'm 10
il wac conflict Of predictions, Dow our
adv~ssr1es must faos trade ststistkm
a -