The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-09-08
THE DEMOCRACY MEANS FREE
TRADE.

Mr.. Blaine's admirable letter comes just
in time to supplement and strengthen the
powerful effect of President Harrison's
letter of acceptance. There is not an
honest, intelligent voter in the land who
reads the letter Of Mr.. Harrison and then
reads the letter of Mr.. Blaine, that can
plead ignorance as to the position
of the Republican and Democratic
parties. Mr.. Harrison and Mr.. Blaine
have between them defined the issues
of tariff and finance 80 clearly that
he who runs may read. The arguments
pro and con for protection, for reciprocity,
in behalf of sound currency and against
free silver and state banking are set forth
with such force, simplicity and perspi-
cacity that either one of these admirable
letters contains full materials of fact. logic
and illustration for a half dozen effective
campaign speeches.
Following the lines set forth by Presi-
dent Harrison and Mr.. Bisine, the party
orators, East and West, can fearlessly 90
before the people and submit the "Repub-
lican case" as now made up, to the judg-
ment of the country with full confidence
of success. Mr.. Harrison and Mr.. Blaine
have pinned the Democratic party down
to the record of the Chicago platform SO
hard and fast that they cannot possibly
get away from 1t. Mr.. Cleveland cannot
afford to ''crawfsh" in his letter of accept
on his platform of tariff for revenue
only" with its declaration that in prin-
ciple protection, high or low, is uncons.i-
tutionai.
Any pretense that the Democracy in de-
claring for Stree trade" do not mean what
they say will be fatal blunder. The
original plank, which recognized protec-
ton and the interests of American labor.
was discussed thoroughly. denounced and
damned without qualification by Waiter
son and the South, who substituted for it
the unequivocal declaration in favor
of tariff for revenue only, and
defined protection as unconstitutional.
The Democratic party in 1883 offered the
Eastern manufacturer free raw materials
and protection for his finished goods. but
today the Democratic party withdraws all
protection from both the Western pro-
Queer and the Eastern manufacturer.
1t proposes free raw materials and free
goods in all competitive industries East
or West. for 4 tariff for revenue only can
only be levied on non-competitive articles,
ike sugar, tea, coffee, ETC., which. under
protection. are placed on the free list.
OF course Mr.. Cleveland and his friends
who devised and presented the original
plank at Chicago, know perfectly well that
il was frightful blunder TO substitute tor
it tariff for revenue only" but the South
did IL; the South inserted in the Demo
cratic platform substantially that clause
OF the Confederate constitution which de-
ciareJ congress shall have power To Law
and collect taxes and excise for revenue
only bIt no duties or taxes on
importstions from foreign nations shall
be laid TO promote or foster any branch of
industry"
The Southern envoys to Great Britain
said at this time to Lord John Russell:
Tho principal cause which led the Southern
states TO seceds from the Northern was no,
slavery. but the high prices which. for the ssle
O. pro.eetion. the south was obliged TO raw Tor
manufactured GOODS.
The South then only repeated what
John c. Calhoun wrote leading English
statesmen in 1sS2, that in the event of sue
cessfGi secession the South, having no
manufactures OF It's own, because Of slay-
cry. would become one Of Ensland's best
customers The South ii lS6l-6s really
"ased war against protection and in favor
Of free trade; she had Eng ands sympathy
then and she has England's sympathy TO-
day because she has forced the Dem
| ccfstic party 10 declare for free trade.
J k1s victory for the Union was, as John