The Sully County watchman. (Clifton, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1894, 1892-10-15
CLEvELAND'S LETTER,
Charm An Carter Makes q Few Remarks
About 1t.

Chairman Carter and his colleagues
OF the Republican national committee
was asked recently for an expression of
views on Mr.. Cleveland's letter of ac-
ceptance. He said:
1t is rather difficult to figure out from
Mr.. Cleveland's letter of acceptance pre-
cisely what he believes about anything.
He starts out by saying that he is more
than ever confirmed in the belief that
all the things which he has heretofore
believed are true and excellent. | sup
pose that nobody will doubt Mr.. Cleve-
lands regard for his opinions. Still, in
the present situation, the Republican
party having declared plainly and ex-
plicitly in tariff SO devised to protect
American industries while raising the
revenue necessary to support the gov
ernment, and the Democratic party
having explicitly declared that such an
arrangement Of the tariff is unconstitu-
tional, it would have been interesting to
know whether Mr. Cleveland agreed
with the Republican or Democratic
theory.
1t will be remembered that in 1884
Mr.. Cleveland ran for the presidency
and was elected on platform which
stated that the Democratic party simply
desired to reform the tariff, and that in
reforming it they did not intend to dis
turb existing industries. They said that
they We're aware Of the fact that many
industries depended Oh the protective
tariff, and that all changes of existing
law must take note of the interests of
the labor and capital invested. This,
was one Of those characteristic Demo
cratic dodglng planks which was i'll
tended to mean, and did mean, anything
to anybody. Mr.. Randall stumped New
York saying that i. meant protection:
Mr.. Hurd stu1nped Ohio saying that it
meant free trade: Mr. Mills stumped
Texas saying that it meant an income
tax; Mr.. Watterson stumped Kentucky
saying that it was exactly in line with
the views Of the star eyed goddess of
reform.
But the Democratic convention of
1892, when this Identical plank was pre-
sented to it by it's platform committee.
overwhelmingly threw it out, and by a
vote of SAG to 342 the convention de-
clared itself for free trade pure and sim
pie. To have regard for any other pur-
pose, it said, in devising a tariff, than
the one purpose of raising revenue, was
unconstitutional. In dealing with this
plank Mr.. Cleveland has twisted in evi-
dent distress. He means what the plank
means, but does not dare to say so. In
stead he says he believes what he always
believed, and that everybody knows
what he has always believed, and that
that ought to be enough. Finally he
says the people cannot be frightened by
the specter of impossible free trade,
which means, if it means anything, that
the people must have confidence in him
and his party, because they do not really
mean what they say and have not the
courage Of their convictions.
This is certainly curious ground on
which to appeal to intelligent people for
their suffrages. The Democratic con-
"ontion declared at Chicago in favor of
the repeal for the 10 per cent. tax on
state bank issues. This has excited the
profound alarm of every believer in
stable currency the country over. Those
Of our people who lived before the war
will remember the condition of con-
gress and affairs when everybody was
permitted to start bank and print slips
of paper called money to the extent of
his inclination. Millions on millions of
more or less worthless money foated
around the country, nobody knowing
precisely what the bills he had in his
pocket would be received for at the
bank, nor indeed whether they were
genuine or counterfeit.
The Republican party is fighting in
this campaign for protection to Amer
lean industries and American labor.
The Democratic party is fighting for free
trade. Mr.. Cleveland lodges the issue.
The Republican party is fighting in this
campaign for honest money, dollars of
equal value and that value 100 cents on
the dollar. The Democratic party is
fighting for wildcat money, an unlim-
tied issue Of meaningless paper. On
this issue Mr.. Cleveland is silent.