The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-09-17
PROPHET OF CALAMITY.
Whitolaw Reid Endeavors to Scare an
telligent Audience.

Whitelaw Reid Endeavors to Scare an In
telligent Audience.
BUFFALO. Sept. 16.--A mass meeting was
held in Music hall tonight. Hon. ]. 8.
Clarkson introduced Hon. Whitelaw Reid
as the next vioe-president of the United
States. The announcement was received
with loud cheers. MIR. Reid spoke at some
length on tho issues of tho campaign. He
said there 10 one vital questions: 'Are the
people 80 dissatisfied With the present PROS
porous course that they are ready to invite
z dangerous shock by suddenly reversing
years in the direction of high protective
tariff? How serious the disturbance even u
modification of that course made? You all
remember the long suspense and arrest of
operations attending the debates on the
Mckinley bill. The opponents, now that
the bill is working we'll, declare it uncon-
stltutional and reciprocity sham, and de-
mand reversal. They also demand the
abandonment OF our magnifcent system of
national banking currency. Such is
the sudden shock our opponents invite
You to bring upon yourselves. and it is a
proposition to be considered by practical
business people in a practical business like
way. Presidential year always has been
considered bad business year because the
future is so uncertain. Now for the first
time presidential campaign ia far from
producing staRnation. 1t is attended by
general prosperity and brisk business Not
even the unusual and radical threats of
change and the unexpected spectre of
cholera combined have this year been able
to cast chill over the general confidence
or slack the activities of buoyant business
Why? Is it not because the business world
has made up its mind that there il to be no
change with an abiding faith In the COM
mon sense and sober second thought of the
ave age American citizen?
docs not every business man, whatever
his party convictions or his political preiu-
dices, absolutely know as 4 cold business
proposition that the complete reversal Of
the existing order of things. demanded by
the democratic party in it's present platform
as to tariff, reciprocity and the national
banking system, would necessarily unsettle
business for the next eighteen months or
two years, in view of our having adapted
ourselves to the Mckinley bill, and our
practically unbroken conduct of business
since 1862 under high protective tariff sys-
tenn? Most men. whether free traders or
proteotionists, know that anything like a
broad and thorough execution of the scheme
laid down in the democratic platform would
be the precipitation of business chaos Is
enough alone. or to upset everything and
90 hunting for theoretical rsinbows? The
present activity of business, in the face of
the cholera and a democratic campaign
combined, 10 the best proof of the peoples
faith that both invaders will be repelled.
For the first time the policy is boldly
enunciated and frankly defended by the
national democratic party that the tariff
should have no relation to wages and afford
no protection to American industries; that
it should be solely arranged for the purpose
of raising revenue, and have all the charac-
teristics of u revenue tariff. which presses
only upon articles We are bound to import
from abroad, like coffee, tea and sugar, and
so that the tariff should be as direct tax
and az directly felt by every American oiti-
zen az if imposed upon tho watch in Your
pocket or the flour in your pantry. In
brief, it 10 the democratic demand. at last
honestly made. for All English tariff, with,
of course English wages to follow it"