Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1892-09-28
D|SSECTED BY CARTER
Republican Chairman on
CIeveIand's Letter.
A SWEEPING CHALLENGE.
Halle and Wolcott Asked to Face
Russell and Carroll on the Stump.

NFw YORK, Sept. 2s.-In reply 20 a re-
quest for statement of his views con-
cerning Cleveland's letter Of acceptance,
Chairman Caster Of the Republican ma
tional committee saidi
1T is rather difficult to figure out from
Mr. Cleveland's letter precisely what he
believes about anything. He starts out
by saying that nc is more than ever con-
frmed in the belief that all the things
which he has heretofore believed are true
and excellent. | suppose that nobody
will doubt Mr.. Cleveland's regard for his
opinion. Still, in the present situation,
the Republican party has declared plainly
and explicitly In a tariff so de-
vised To protect American Industries
while raising the revenues necessary to
support the government, and the Demo
cratic party having explicitly declared
that such an arrangement Of the tariff IL
unconstitutional, 1t would be interesting
TO know whether Mr.. Cleveland agreed
with the Republican or Democratic
theory.
'It will be remembered that In 1884 Mr..
Cleveland ran for the presidency and was
elected on a platform which stated that
the Democratic party simply desired
To Reform the Tariff,
and that In reforming II they did not in
tend to disturb existing industries. They
said that they were aware of the fact that
many industries depended on the protec-
tive tariff, and that all changes Of existing
law must take note OF the interests of
labor and the capital invested. This was
one Of the characteristics Of the Demo
cratic dodging planks, which was intended
to mean and did mean anything to any
body. Mr.. Randall stumped in New York,
saying IL meant protection: Mr.. Hurd Of
Ohio said IL meant free trade; Mr.. Mills
stumped Texas and said It meant an in
come tax; Mr.. Watterson explained In
Kentucky that 1t was exactly In line with
the star eyed goddess Of reform.
"But the Democratic platform OF 1892
overwhelmingly threw this plank out, and,
by vote of 54S TO $40, the convention de =
clared for
Free Trade, Pure and Simple.
In dealing with this plank Mr.. Cleveland
has twisted II in evident distress He means
what the plank means, but he does not
dare to say So Finally he says the people
cannot be frightened by the spectre Of i'm
possible free trade, which means, II IL
means anything, that the people must
have confidence in him and his party be-
cause they do not really mean what they
say. This Is certainly a curious ground
on which 10 appeal TO an intelligent
people for their suffrage
"The Democratic convention NJ Chicago
declared In favor Of a repeal Of the 10 per
cent. tax on state bank issues. This has
excited the profound alarm Of every be-
lever in a stable currency. Those Of our
people who lived before the war will re-
member the condition OF affairs when
everybody was permitted to start a bank
and print slips Of paper called money 10
the extent Of his inclination. Millions
and millions OF more or less worthless
money foated around the country, no one
knowing precisely what the money in his
possession was worth or what IL would
he worth on the following day. People
had to go around with bank detector In
order TO do business
Concerning the startling proposition
that this great proposition OF the govern
ment must be abandoned, and that In
order
To Increase the Volume Of Currency
everyone must be permitted to make his
own money, Mr.. Cleveland says nothing.
His silence must be construed rs an APP
proval of the proposition to resurrect the
wildcat money.
"The contamination OF the currency
would entail more and greater evil upon
the count" than any possible alteration
Of tariff So odules could involve. No pa
triotic citizen can fail TO view, with grave
concern, the possibility Of such an afilic-
tion being visited upon his country, and
with equal concern our people must view
the candidate who rears a platform pro-
posing TO pollute our currency and who
does not think enough about the subject
TO mention H. The Democratic party Is
fighting for wild cat money, and upon
this issue Cleveland is silent"