Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1892-10-01
For Commissioner District No. /
PROTECTION OR FREE TRADE
WHICHp

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PROTECTION OR FREE TRADE
WHICHp
Every American citizen is confronted
with the issue stated in the above head
line, and must express bis opinion, his
wish, at the polls next November.
Never before in its history has the re-
publican party been given an opportun-
ity 10 fight battle with its old antagon-
list, Democracy, with Issues so fairly and
squarely stated as they are this fall.
This is only one of them, but it is the
main one, and the result means the
decisive triumph Of one policy over the
other, and the acceptstion Of the one
and the rejection of the other. Demo-
cratic politicians and orators, with well
meant diplomacy, may seek to deceive
the voter by evasion of the real issue,
by clouding the real purpose and inten-
ton of his party, which would be put
into execution in case it triumphed ;
Just as Senator Hill did in his Brooklyn
speech few days ago when he said:
favor tariff for revenue only, limited
to tha necessities of the government
economically administered. and so ad.
justed in its application, as far as prac-
ticable, as to prevent unequal burdens,
encourage productive industries at home
and afford just compensation to labor.
But the democratic party has spoken
through its representatives, assembled
in national convention, and what it has
said cannot be unsaid in this campaign
at least. 1t has declared its belief that
the levyIng of tariff on any import for
protective purposes, is unconstitutional,
and avowed its intention of sweeping
away all such duties. That it will do
just that must be believed, unless the
party is acknowledged to be guilty Of
the grossest deception, and therefore
altogether unreliable. 1t is argued by q
few that the tariff is not an issue, but
that it is, must be apparent to any reas-
oning man who is familiar with the
platforms and principles promulgated
by the two great parties. The republi-
can party is the champion Of policy
which has been In operation for more
than quarter of "a century. 1t main
tains that this pelicy is necessary for
the preservation Of the commercial and
industrial interests of the country. 1t
insists that IL operates in behalf Of ev-
cry man, woman and child in the
union, and that directly or indirectly 1t
benefits each one Of them. On the
other hand the democratic party de-
nounces the whole system a. unjust, un.
American, unconstitutional. In terms
that cannot be misconstrued democracy
has, in its platform, repudiated The great
system of American protection and
reciprocity, and demanded its total de-
struction. Under the dictation of one
Of these parties the government of the
United States will be administered dur
ing the next four years. No matter
what the independent party has been
in the past or may be in the future, il
cannot ard does not expect to fll the
presidential chair this fall, or control
either branch Of the next congress
Hence we say, the question, protection
or free trade. is an issue. TO be passed
upon next month, and It bshooves every
American citizen to give the matter due
thought, and let reason and judgment
be embodied In his ballot. He is MOI
simply requested to pass upon this mat
ter. but is compelled, either to endorse
or repudiate that which has been par
Of his government for many years. HI
must stand firmly for that which he be-
lieves is sound and good, or convinc'
himself that il ID utterly bad, and cas-