The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-11-14
THE REPUBLICAN DEFEAT.
Some Of the Causes That Led to lt--Predic-
tion of Speedy Return to Protection.
, the Edi,or Of the Ipo,anapolis Journar

~~s"@%s
To the Editor OF the Indianapolis Journal
Blessed are they that have not seen. and
yet have believed. There are great many
people just now under the jumper tree.
but they will recover when they have lit
tie time to reflect and without the services
of an angel. 1t is not the first time major
tiles have gone wrong, but 1T is ALWAYS
right to bow to majorities. This Is one of
the great and distinctive features of our
American civilization. Time and exper-
fence have many times. indeed always,
brought relief and the country has recov-
cred under other majorit,es. 1t will again.
The people and the commercial interests
and the Industries are In far reader touch
with oil that enters into general prosper
ity, or brings disaster, than ever before IN
the history of this or any other country.
More sensitive To all these things. the
causes of them Will be more quickly par-
celved. Therefore, there will never agar
be ten yearslperiods of free-trade expert
ments as In the pasr. The causes which
may make necessary again the public
soup stations in the great cities will be far
more quickly perceived, and the remedy IN
yoked
On every hand is the query: What was
the cause of this reversal of the pm bic pol
icy. AS indicated by tho electionf Who
ever falters in his faith in history and all
experience will see his folly in few years
mot ten years, as between 1850 and 1860.
The general cause may be summarized In
single sentence: 1t il a universal weakness
among men TO believe some things only
after suffering. Let rs look into this mat
ter little in the light of the past Inc
of 1912 prevailed till 1916. when
we had approximate free trade for
eight years. when, in 1924, disaster brought
IN a protection period under the act of that
year. Protection then prevailed for nine
for nine years, to 1912. The act
of this year gave the country the
protective policy for four years when the
tree-trade act OF 1886 was passed. How
very clearly by Col. Thomas h. Benton, In
his second volume of Thirty Years IN the
Senate" 1t was the beginning Of the
period of complete dominance of the slave
power of the Southern States. which grew
more isolent every year, till In 1860 it was
overthrown by the election OF Abraham
Lincoln. This was the longest period OF
free trade in the history of the Nation.
The protectiye policy menaced the S domi,
nance of the slave power. The South
owned its labor as other chattels. and felt
no interest in the Detterment of the condi-
ton of the laborlDg classes. nor anything
else. besides cotton and n'gSers:" to use
tendency of the Republicans, the
successors of the old Wing party,
and large following, broken
away from the now slsve-dominated
Southern Democracy, in 1861 the protective
now about thirty one years. This has been
the longest period of protection the Nation
has ever had. A new generation has grown
up under II. They know nothing abont the
suffering and disaster. the breaking down
OF the industries by the inundation of the
cheap.labOr goods made in Europe nnder
free trade. They know nothing about the
necessity then of soup stations to feed the
idle thousands in the great cities. Mani.
festatlons of the Almighty as to the jews
in tho wilderness might have convinced
and saved them. but the period OF those
days was fulfilled when the Jordan was
and opportunity given by which men
might be governed. If they will not
believe history anu the prophets. no other
sign Will be gwen.
The next step looks like another plunge
in the darkness of unbelief for more expe-
rience. Some of rs, little older. have had
enough. Blessed would all be If they had
believed. though they had not seer. and
tasted and touched the bitter chalice which
all may again press. l say MAY all again
have to taste. The campaign just over has
been q .wonderful one IN educating. To-.
wards the end some persons very Abiga IN
the Democratic party SHE'D, and trimmed,
and evaded free trade: They seemed to
They may try TO steer between the myth,
zeal rocks, as Mr.. Villas and his committee
on resolutions did at the June Chicago con-
vention, but there stand the Wattersons and
the solid South, who put tho plank In the
platform upon which the fight was made.
and with ali consistency, and what 10 more
potent, with all power as In the past, Will
demand and compel to the point OF breaking,
the enactment of the thing pledged. The
Democratic party never has wltbstood that
demand and the danger is they VIII not
now. More than eighty majority In the
House, with the President and very soon
the Senate the Democratic party will have
opportunity for the first time In thirty-two
years to show their hands In economic aud
fiscal policies. If they carry out their plat
form pledges. of course we must suffer
brief period of free trade, an inundation of
British. made goods, q subsistence of many
of our industries, low wages. numberless
strikes and distress. with crippled and
broken-down home markets, and little to
buy with. As before stated. wo shall feel
the results quicker and the remedy of pro-
lection restoration will come In with as
high tide as IL has gone out
There is q middle ground which, If taken
by the dominant party, might give them
longer lease of power As before stated; it
at Chicago. But has that party either the
wisdom or courage To take itf In the past
they have had neither. By tradition and
prejudice the South is sincerely opposed to
Northern faction which will oppose free
trade, free silver and other heresies. Bnt
it will yield. as ever before. when the South
cracks It's whip and charges them with
inconsistency in the lace of the Chicago
declarations. 1t is both possible and prob
able that free-silver coinage will be stayed
by the executive veto. Tor Mr. Cleveland
| has said rs much. On free trade he can
hardly stop his rapid pace. The free State
bank is q Southern hobby. and in some
form the country may get the elastic" cur
rency and the old banking system. These
| will soon again bring disaster and add
| momentum to the universal demand for q
| change of policy.
1t is a pity that each generation is not in
| some way imbued with the political his
tory of the country. Is it the fanlt of our
educational systeIns Perhaps another OK
cnrsion through the wilderness. with tho
gift of free soup in lieu of mamma and quails,
is the only education for this weak ness.
But with tho help of some of the old
soldiers in sntfering. tho period cannot lie
the tenth of forty years. JNo. b. CONNER
INDIANAPOLIS, Nov. 10.