The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1892-09-03
Strikes the Keynote Of the Cam
paign on the Tariff
Question.
A Bankrupt Treasury tine Result
of the Tariff Fraud-The
Force Bill.

StuNN Va II "o5 'BShN' tcN'ts "AfA
great enthusiasm. An immense GROVE
was present to hear Gen. .Adlai E
Stevenson. the vice-presidential candi
date. Many noted Illinois democrats
leaders we're present-Springfield. Peo-
ria. Joliet and other points being pres,
emit. The town was gaily decorated and
such aids to effective campaigning as
the Tri Color Democratic club. braying
bands. marching and oratory were con-
tinued from morning until night. Gen.
Stevenson. in the presence of a vast
concourse of people, delivered the fol-
lowing speech:
Ours is a government Of the people. 1t
is wisely provided in our federal consti-
tuition that once in four years political
power shall return to the hands of the
people. T~wenty-siy times during the one
hundred and three years of our history
have the American people. in the eyer-
else OF their rights as electors, cast their
ballots for the candidat. of their choice
for the high office of president of the
United States. We are now on the eve
Of another presidential election. The
responsibility of determining what line
of public policy shall be pursued, and
who shall be selected as chief magistrate.
is again upon US.
In the pending struggle for political
supremacy. grave public questions are at
issue. Upon the correct determination
Of these questions through the peaceful
methods prescribed by law. will depend
the welfare of the people.
a,-,. t:
During the short time | shall detain
YOU. il will be my endeavor to suggest
some Of the reasons why Mr.. Cleveland
should be elected president. and the
democratic party restored to power. The
four years administration of ex-Presi-
dent Cleveland was confessedly an hon
est administration Those who predicted
evil from Mr.. Cleveland's election proved
false prophets. The democratic admins
tration that ended March /. 1889. has
zone into history as an economical and
able administration OF the governuent.
No scandals attached TO any of its ap-
pointments TO office. Under il the rights
Of all property-of all se~ctions-of all the
people. were recognized and enforced.
Under il the bonded debt of the govern
ment was paid at maturity. At the close
Of Mr.. Clevelands administration the
surplus in the treasury. exclusive of the
gold reserve. was. in round numbers.
S~S3.00O,OO0.
Harri.on', administration.
What is the condition that now con-
fronts us at the end Of three and a half
years of republican administration: On
the basis of to the government
as estimated by the secretary of the
treasury, for the present fiscal year. and
Of the liabilities of the government on &C
count Of the annual and permanent ap
preparations for the same period, there
will be a deficit of , 100000. Upon the
assum 1tlon that the law requiring $4s.-
100000 Tor the sinking fund will be com
piled with there is nc escaping the de-
ticiency have mentioned. And this.
too. Notwithstanding the fact that the
administration made default in provid-
ing for the sinking fund to an amount
exceeding 5~1l,OO0.O00 during the last
fiscal year. The bankruptcy which now
threatens the treasury is the result. first.
Of the Mckinley tariff law. and secondly,
Of the lavish appropriations Of the Fifty
first congress.
The appropriations Of the last repub-
lican congress far exceeded that of any
Of its democratic predecessors. The
large appropriations of the first session
Of the present congress are due to the
reckless Legislation of the billion dollar
congress imposing the necessity of heavy
appropriations upon its successors. The
republican senate of the present con-
gress added more than 532,0OO,OOO to the
appropriation bills as they originally
passed the democratic house. This reck-
less expenditure of public money merits
the condemnation Of the people.
For twenty-four years preceding the
Inauguration Of President Cleveland all
departments Of the government were in
the main under republican control. Dur
ing that period the larger part of the
legislation which has been so potent in
alton was enacted. That legislation was
resisted by the democratic minority in
congress.
The Tariff.
The tariff is the all-important issue of
the campaign upon which we have now
entered. Shall there be a revision Of our
tariff laws, and as a consequence Of such
Legislation a reduction OF taxatlon; or.
shall it become the policy of our govern
ment to maintain, permanently, high
protection? The position of the two
leading political parties upon that ques-
ton cannot be misunderstood. The re-
publican party, as illustrated by it's re-
cent enactment Of the Mckinley law,
stands for a high protective-in other
words, a prohibitory tariff. The demo
cratic party, as emphasized by it's utter
ances and it's acts, is the advocate OF
tariff reform. The issue is squarely pre-
sented. Upon the one side are the advo-
Gates OF a high protective or prohibitory
policy-a policy that enriches the few at
the expense Of the many. On the other
the advocates Of such reduction Of tariff
duties as will give to our manufacturers
the benefit OF cheap raw material, and
lessen to the consumer the cost Of the
n~ecessaries Of life. The argument ad-