Huntsville gazette., 1892-12-03
STILL FOR PROTECTION.
The Republican Party RemalnsSteadfast
What the Democrats Want.

:.
Tho Republican Party Remains steadfast-
What the Democrats Want.
High democratic authority attributes
the republican Waterloo to popular
dissatisfaction with the doctrines of
protection and the result is loudly ac-
claimed as a substantial victory for
free trade. One prominent democratic
organ declares it to be "a revolution, !"
political emancipation for the great
agricultural and producing classes" !"
''the end of war taxes" which means
the end of protection to American in
dustry. Another halls the popular ver-
dict as decision by the people that
''there shall be no further exaction of
tribute for particular industries from
the general pocket and the democracy,
in good time. will give effect to that
decision" "The overthrow of the
thieving protective tariff" !" ''the down
fall of the plutocracy," ''the end of un-
constitutional taxes" are conspicuous
among the expressions with which the
democrats hail their victory. Accord
ing to these declarations their party is
about to usher in a new order of things.
Old abuses are to be corrected, the
burden of oppression" is to be re-
moved. The state rights doctrines of
Calhoun are to prevail in regard to the
constitutional power of the government
to protect industry, and to tax state
banks. Eminent democrats insist
that the victory was won upon these
issues and that the promised reforms"
will follow in due time. 1t will soon
be within the power of the democracy
to carry out their pledges. They will
rave the president, senate and house of
representatives. They will have the
power and the right to reduce customs
duties to free trade basis. If they be-
lieve what they have proclaimed with
such persistent emphasis they will do
it. If their accession to power is not
marked by the enactment of their
principles into laws they will prove
their victory to have been won purely
upon fraudulent pretenses and that
they lack the honesty and courage to
give the country what they contend is
for its best interests.
Whatever use the national democracy
may make of its power the republican
party will remain true to the doctrines
of protection TO American industries
and to the present national banking
system as long as the outstanding gov
ernment bonds will permit of it's con-
tinuance. The flag of protection will
remain unfurled at the head of the re-
publican column, where it was planted
by the patriotic founders OF the great
party. We do not believe the people of
the United States want free trade If
the democracy entertain a different
opinion let them inaugurate mn era of
free trade and see how the people will
take it.
The democrats elected will, in enter
ing upon Office. swear to support the
constitution, and if they believe in the
declaration of their platform that pro-
lection is unconstitutional they must
remodel the tariff system upon a free
trade basis. A failure 70 do SO will
prove to the world that they are afraid
to live up to the doctrines proclaimed
with SO much sound and fury If they
enact free trade tariff law they can
seek a vindication before the people.
IT they allow protection to remain in
force they will have only broken
pledges to show for their possession of
the government. During the last quar-
ter of a century they have rallied
against the protected plutocrats, -
the ''robber barons of American indus
try" the gigantic fortunes amassed
at the expense of oppressed labor" re-
sorting to all the wiles of the dema-
gogue to array the working classes
against their employers. At last they
have succeeded in achieving sweep
ing victory. But we do not believe
that even a respectable minority of the
men who voted with the democrats in
the northern and western states favor
free trade or the wildcat banking sys-
tenn. The farmers alliance and labor
agitations have unsettled political
opinions and weakened the influences
that bound men to their parties. The
democratic party is political omnium
gatherum. All the cranks, isms and
factions find common meeting place
within its ranks. Its platforms are as
broad as economic heresies of vote
catching character can make them. 1t
favors protection. national banks and
a gold standard in one section; free
trade, bimetallism and wildcat cur
rency in another. What it will do with
the power now intrusted to it, even its
foremost leaders can do no more than
surmise. But whatever policy the de-
mocracy may pursue the republican
party will stand unfiinchingly by its
colors in support OF protection to
American industry, a sound and secure
system of finances fair, free ballot,
and an honest count for every citizen
in the land. Cleveland Leader.
nlIR NEWT DDECtnEAr