Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1892-08-22

'AIter free Jrade What
With large portion of the Pennsyl-
vania, New York, Tennessee and Mon
tana militia doing duty around iron
mills and mines in their respective
states, it must be apparent to any man
with an unprejudiced mind that there is
something radically wrong with the So
cial conditions of this country. 1t is
only few years since Americans viewed
with surprise the outbreaks of the lower
classes in foreign countries, but not one
in every hundred thought the time was
so near at hand when these scenes
would be enacted at our own doors.
Americans. intrenched behind their
boasted high tariff, considered that
their country would never be menaced
by these upheavals, but the past few
months. have caused many to pause and
wonder what the end will be.
Republican organs and orators told the
people of the United States that the pas
sage of the Mckinley bill would inaugu.
rate an era of prosperity such as the
world had never seen before. Granted
that these men were sincere in there ad.
vocacy of a protective tariff, the proof
lies before them in thousand different
parts of the country that protection is a
failure. Protection has not only failed
to relieve labor of its burden, but the
higher the protection the more strife
and antagonism we find between labor
and capital. 1t is only logical, then, to
assume that a reduction or entire aboli-
ton of the tariff would lessen this con-
flict between the classes. The Mckinley
bill is not entirely responsible for the
conditions of society, but it is the very
first barrier that must be removed be-
fore any relief can come to the laboring
or business people.
Free trade would not bring the millen-
mum, but it would go great distance in
turning the attention of the public to a
more efficient and equal system of taxa
ton. With free imports the govern
ment would have to look elsewhere for
revenue, and until the government is
placed in that position it is useless to ask
or hope for any legislation that can bet
ter the condition of the masses. The
tax system of this country differs but
very little from that in vogue throughout
the world. We see what it has done for
European nations, and American intelli-
gence is able to devise something differ
ent if the question is fairly brought be-
fore the people. This question cannot
be discussed at any length until protec-
tion is abolished, unless it be to answer
those who ask, after free trade, what
them"
After free trade will come great and
aggressive crusade against system
which thousands believe to be the cause
of the evils existing to-day. That cru
SADIE will be against landlordism, against
the theory that there is justice in allow
ing any number of people to own the
earth without returning to the govern
ment an annual rental equivalent to its
value. Those who advocate these prin-
ciples have nearly all identified them
selves with the Democratic party, be-
cause the party is becoming more
pronounced for free trade each success
sive year. While not having majority
of the voters in the party still the single
takers are the controlling element, and
would make short work of a candidate
or the party should either show a leaning
again toward protective tariff. The
election of Democratic president and
house of representatives this year will
give the movement considerable ad-
vance, and would be the first important
step in the emancipation of American
workingmen.