The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1892-09-16
MR.. BLAINE,S LETTER.

The Democrats have been trying tt
make people believe for some time
back that Mr.. Blaine had turned colo
toward the Republican party, and
would not interest himself in it's be-
half during the present campaign
But they have been disappointed fol
Mr.. Blaine has proved true to the party
that has honored him so many times
and has published ringing letter
filled with suggestions as to the con.
duct of the campaign. Those who
have been telling that he does not ad-
mire the Mckinley law, and is really
opposed to it, will not find much con-
ISOLATION in his remarks upon the
workings of that law wherein he says:
1t is found to have worked admira-
bly,, and within the last year has pro-
duced greater volume of business,
internal and external, export and i'm
port, than the United States ever
transacted before. Notwithstanding
the character and extent of the OppO-
sition to it, agriculture is renumer-
ative, manufactures are prosperous,
and commerce is more flourishing than
at any time, thus indicating the Nc
Kinley tariff by an impressive and I'M
deniable series of fact.
Referring to the Democratic tariff
plank, Mr.. Blaine advises the people
to contrast it with the resolutions by
which Mr.. Calhoun sought to defend
his notifications scheme in 1888, and
states that they will find the plank in
harmony Herewith. And he could
have truthfully added here, that the
plank might also be contrasted and
found in harmony with that portion
of the confederate constitution which
referred to the tariff question.
There is one point in his letter in
which Mr.. Blaine hits the Democrats
hard, and that is where he speaks of
their habit of referring to Thomas
Jefferson as the founder of their par
ty. He shows that Mr.. Jefferson was
not in sympathy with any of the the
cries advocated by modern Democra-
cy, and that when toward the close of
his administration the tariff on i'm
ports produced considerable of sur
plus, and the question arose as to
whether the surplus should be con-
tinued or the tariff reduced, Mr.. JEFF
ferson pointedly asked: ''Shall we
suppress the imports and give that
advantage to foreign over domestic
manufacturers" Mr.. Jefferson pre-
ferred and recommended that "the
imports be maintained" and that the
surplus created SHOULD be appropri-
ated to the improvement of roads,
canals, rivers and education" From
this it would seem that if Mr.. Jeffer-
son were alive today, modern Demo-
cracy would read him out of the party.
Upon the question of reciprocity,
which Mr.. Blaine has been so interest
ed in for years, and upon which he is
perfectly at home, he points out the
gained to the nation by
the clause in relation
to it in the tariff law. He deals with
the Democratic opposition to it by
asking why the Democrats were so
ardent in their support of it until it
was taken up and made a part of Re-
publican principle by it's incorpora
ton in their great tariff law.
AS regards the financial issue there
IS no question as to where Mr.. Blaine
stands. He is for honest money first
asst and all the time. Out of all the
of the great war, he thinks
there was surely one blessing-an
honest national currency He briefly
but clearly points out the ills which
the nation suffered from wildcat mon
ey and lauds national system of cur
rency that has guarantee behind it
for every dollar of currency issued,
clearly pointing out the benefits that
accrue to the workingmen from the
latter. In closing Mr. Blaine says:
The three issues which l have given
are the issues on which l would ar
raign the Democratic party. l would |
not multiply issues nor be diverted by
our opponents from steadfast adher-
ence to and constant representation
IF these questions before the people,
until every voter is made to know and |
understand their true and weighty
The unqualified endorsement by Mr..
Blaine, of the principles of the party
rs set forth by it's representatives in
it's convention, will silence those
tongues which have claimed that the
great leader was sulking. Mr.. Blaine
IS not that kind of Republican, and J
while his health will not permit his
taking an active part upon the stump
MS vigorous letter will undoubtedly
nave more farreaching effect than
would one or two speeches.