Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-09-07
THE ARGUS.
WEDNESDAY. SEPTEMBER z. 1892
BLAINE'S LETTER.
His Contribution to the Repub.
lican Campaign.
HE WILL NOT TAKE THE STUMP.

dG WILL NUI IAhb Idh STUMP,
But Gives His Party Friends Three Is
sues to Make the Fight Upon-Tarif.
Reciprocity and State Banks-A Briei
Argument Each of the Questions,
With u Definition of the Second-Com-
ments on the Democratic Position as
Compared With Those of Calhoun and
Jefferson.
AUGUSTA, Me-, Sept. THE following
letter from Hon. James G. Blaine to
Chairman Manley. of the Republican
state committee, is made public. 1t is
written at Bar Harbor. Me-, Sept. 8, 1899,
and addressed to Hon Joseph II. Manley,
chairman, etc, Augusta, Me-:
'MY DEAR SIR:-Not being able for rea-
sons which have explained to you to de-
liver public speeches in the present cam
paign, 1 take the liberty of submitting my
views on the issues which 1 regard as being
strongest for the Republicans to urge be-
fore the people.
Tariff the Param CUNT Issue.
81. The issue of the greatest consequence
is the tariff on imports. and it will con-
tinue to be until a settlement is effected
by a majority so large that it will be tan
tamount to general acquiescence. The
Republicans are aggressive on this sub
ject. Two years ago they passed a general
enactment known as the Mckinley tariff,
which for time failed to meet with popu-
lar approval and was regarded with a GER
tain degree of distrust by those who had
always upheld the protective system.
Claims n Favorable Reaction.
"But a powerful reaction has come in
consequence of the vindication of the Nc
Kinley tariff by experience. 1t is found
to have worked admirably and within the
last year has produced greater volume
of business, internal and external, export
and import, than the United States ever
transacted before. Notwithstanding the
character and extent of the opposition to
it agriculture is remunerative, manufact-
ures are prosperous and commerce is more
fiourishing than at any previous time;
thus indicating the Mckinley tariff by
an impressive and undeniable series of
facts.
Position of the Democracy.
Against this tariff the Democratic par
ty have taken position almost without
parallel in the history of the country.
They reject entirely the doctrine of pro-
ection-pronounce it a fraud and auathe-
Matte it generally. A resolution to this
effect was adopted by the Democratic con-
NenIlOn against lHc TepoIb VI llS GULL
mittee on resolutions by two thirds
vote, thus manifesting the intelligent
participation of every man in the corven-
ton. Sometimes resolution may be
adopted in haste or when the convention
is adjourniI it may fail to receive the
attention of members; but this resolution
was debated, pro and con, adopted after a
contest, and was perfectly understood by
the members of the convention"
Goes Further Than Calhoun.
Mr.. Blaine then gu otes the tariff plank
in the national Democratic platform and
proceeds "If any one will take the trou-
BILE to read the resolution by which MIR.
Calhoun sought to defend his null1hca-
ton scheme in 1888 he will find the tariff
platform of the Democratic party in gen.
eral harmony therewith; and If he exam
ines the subject further he will discover
that the duties in the compromise tariff
viii CHI reconciled Mr.. Calhoun and ap-
peased his angry followers in South Caro-
lima were of a more comprehensive char
acter than those contemplated in the Dem
ocratic resolution of 1892.
Jefferson's Views on the Tariff
aThe Democrats are in the habit OF
naming Jefferson as the founder of their
party; and yet, ON the subject of tariff,
they are in radical opposition to the prin-
ciples laid down by Jefferson. Toward
the close of his administration the reve-
nue. from the tariff on imports produced q
considerable surplus, and the question
was, what should be done? Should the
tariff be reduced or should this surplus be
maintainedf Jefferson pointedly asked:
Shall we suppress the imports and give
that advantage to foreign over domestic
manufacturersf' For himself he recon-
mended that the imports be maintained
and that the surplus created should be
appropriated to the improvement of roads,
canals rivers and education
Would Have Changed the Constitution.
"If the constitution did not give suffi-
cient power to warrant these appropria-
lions. jefferson went so far as to recon-
mend that it be amended. This Pc
sents the strongest condition of affairs
upon which protective tariff can be JUS
tilted. and jefferson did not hesitate to
recommend it. The Democrats OF the
present day, it is needless to say, are the
direct opponents of the policy which
Jefferson thus outlined and adhered to.
nENioonHlT~