The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1892-11-11
MEANING OF THE AVALANCHE.

ONO has always been regarded as the
companion of Pennsylvania in the front
line of the republican phalanx. Nobody
ever expects either Ohio or Pennsylvania
to 90 otherwise than straight republican
and usually with overwhelming MAORI
ties. One would almost as soon expect
to see Georgia or Tennessee go republi.
can as to see Ohio 60 democratic, and
t yet there are indications at this moment
which seem to prove hat the old Buck.
eye state has come to its senses and is
actually in line with the party of tariff
reform and national progress.
California also has been regarded as
safely republican though it gave Harri-
son "A plurality of but 7,0S7 in 1888, and
in 1884 its electoral vote was given for
Blaine; in 1880 it gave five electoral
votes for Hancock, and one for Garfield,
but in 1876 gave its six electoral votes
for Hayes, in 1872 for Grant, and in 1868
its full number of electoral votes, five, to
Grant. During this entire period Ohio
has zone republican by large pluralities,
and gave Harrison 1889 in the last
election.
1t will. therefore, be seen at a glance
that the conversion of Ohio to democra-
cy, or even SO close an election as to make
the results doubtful, is indicative of an
astonishing upheaval of public opinion
even in that republican stronghold.
which would seem to presage tho com
plete emancipation of many of the great
industrial states from the unwholesome
and pernicious rule of the nigh tariff
idea.
In Connecticut there are many pro-
tected industries, but they have not been
thriving under the operation of the Nc
kInley bill for the simple reason hat
this bill contains within itself the ele-
ments to Illustrate the purpose for which
it was made. The people Of Connecticut
have given their votes to the democratic
party as aprotest against this outrageous
law. and when it is remembered that the
greatest manufacturing state in the
union is New York, and that New Jersey
is also an important factor to the manu-
featuring interests of the country, it will
be readily seen that the Mckinleylbill
has actually proven "A boomerang of the
most serious nature.
There are excellent reasons why this
should be the case. In the first place to
make manufacturing profitable there
must be free access Of raw materials
which must be abundant, at reasonable
prices and OF certain qualities. 1t is not
sufficient, for instance. for the manu-
facturcr Of wooden goods to have simply
the woods that are grown in Montana or
other wool regions Of the United States.
To manufacture WOODEN goods success
fully it is necessary to mix several grades
Of wool. and some of these grades can
only be had from Australia and South
America.
The election Of Mr.. Cleveland will
lead TO the almost immediate placing of
wool on the free list. OR manufactur-
ers will then be placed upon an exact
equality with those in Europe in respect
Of having their raw materials at a uni
form market price, and they will have
the advantage over their European com
petitors because they will have first call
upon the wool product of the United
States. An immediate impetus will be |
given to the manufacture Of fine wooden
goods and the demand for the American
wool product, which is at present so small
in proportion to the amount consumed
in this country, will bring up the price
OF American woOls for a considerable
period. and the time can scarcely be
forcseen when they will be any cheaper
than at present. The principal differ
ence in the wooden industry will be that
the poor will be able to purchase real
WOODEN goods instead of the shoddy and
slop stuff now made in this country by
clever Yankee manufacturers out of the
old wooden clothes Of Europe.
We have in the action OF the manu-
featuring states, and also the pastoral
states, d most striking proof that Mr..
Cleveland's theories on the tariff have
been understood and appreciated. But
probably the point which has been most !
impressive to all. and which has had
most to do with bringing about this rev.
o~lutiOn, is the awakening of the Amer
lean people to the fact that national laws
had been passed with the idea of grant.
ing special privileges to certain classes
for the purpose of wringing taxes from
the nation at large. The results of this
election are a complete vindication of the
doctrines of Mr.. Cleveland and of the
sense of the American nnonle