Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-06-24
TERMS OF THE DISPATCH,
PITTSBURG. FRIDAY, JUNE2a. 1882.
TWELVE-PAGES
THE MAN AND PLATFORM.

The Democrats yesterday finished theiI
business at Chicago, with the result of
Cleveland and Stevenson as the national
ticket Cleveland is the great known
quantity in this combination-the tail of
the ticket being less known and of less
weight than usual, even for Vice Presi-
dental nominations
Mr.. Cleveland is in every sense a very
large figure in American politics. There
is none but the purblind partisan, or one
who has not studied Mr.. Cleveland S
character, who will refuse to admit that
the nomination is the most creditable the
Democrats could have made. 1t is only
the plainest justice to say that during his
career in politics Mr.. Cleveland has con-
stantly shown the highest type of moral
courage. He has been bold and steadfaSt
in the expression of his convictions, even
when they threatened loss of popularity;
and those who felt sure that at times he
has been wronE-greatly wrong, as upon
the tariff issue-have felt obliged to pay
the unstinted tribute which is always due
TO candor and conscience. As public
man always true to himself, trimming
yet relying upon vicious machine methods
in politics, Mr.. Cleveland was entitled to
the recognition which he obtained at the
hands of his party. More than that, he
possesses deservedly public esteem and
respect
When this is said all is said that can be
urged on behalf of his candidacy. Per-
lH- -, ha ae4on LOFT
which. if there was the slightest proba-
bility of its being carried out, would in its
most vital part menace with embar-
rassment, disruption, and largely with de-
struction the great industrial interests of
the country. Happily there is no such
likelihood The policy of protection for
American industries has now been long
enough before the people for every grown
person to understand its bearings. 1t
means American markets for Americans
II would be carrying Goals to Newcastle
to discuss /. anew for the community. For
one hundred miles around, the lighted
fires, the changing wheels, the busy towns,
the brisk trade, the populous centers of
manufacturing and mercantile activity,
are the living testimony of the wisdom of
the economic policy under which, in the
sight of the present generation, they have
thrived anG grown. The issue of the pol
icy to be maintained for our domestic in
dustnes will dominate and outweigh any
personal qualities which in a less crucial
campaign might attract popular support
Mr.. Cleveland stands pre-eminently as
the leader and representative of the free
trade cause.-the cause which would throw
down the gates OF American markets to
the cheap labor products of foreign coun-
tries. There was time when the Demo-
Gratis had leaders who believed in policy
Of tariff for revenue with incidental pro-
lection for American industries. Samuel
j. Randall, of Pennsylvania, represented
that view, and it deserves to be noted
with some qualification that 49 of the 81
Democratic votes from Pennsylvania at
the Chicago Convention were cast against
The ultra free-trade doctrine which the
majority of the convention on Thursday
night incorporated in the platform. Un-
disguised free trade is, however, now the
shIbboleth of the Democracy. The openly
avOwed doctrine is that the Government
has no business fostering our industries,
or promoting our industrial activitiess
Its function, according to the specific
words of the platform, is purely that of a
tax gatherer-to raise money to meet the
official expenses; and the expressed view
Of the Chicago Convention is that it is the
right economic policy to secure the cheapest
articles for our market, even if foreign
manufacturers by using foreign cheap
labor can supply it to the exclusion and
destruction of our American industries.
The effect of this, if carried out can be
computed in general sort of WAY. 1t
would mean either the reduction of wages
of American workingmen to point TO en-
able the production of goods in the United
States at as low cost as in Europe, or else
the closing of vast lines of industrial busi-
ness which were unable to keep up with
the cheap European procession. 1t would
mean at ali times the harassing of our
manufacturers and workingmen by for
eign competition, with such consequent
disturbing and evil effects upon business,
and upon capital and labor, as may more
readily be imagined than described. The
political motive of this free-trade vagary
is TO tickle the farmer. From the farmers
of the country the Democrats expect by
this coaxing Of a free market, into which
cheap things will come from Europe,
enough votes to put them in power. They
are also making bid to the importers, as
i'm New York and other seaboard cities.
They are willing to let our manufacturing
and all connected with them,
employers and employed and merchants
of the interior who cater to them, take the
ragged edge of disastrous chance. But
November will show that these latter
classes can fight for their interests, and
that the farmer is not so easily tickled
into forgetfulness that his interests are in
terwoven most vitally with those of the
rest of the people.
Mr. Cleveland, it is not to be doubted, is
quite honest, as are many of the free
traders in the support of their pet economic
policy. But the plain, practical common
sense of every day people who see what
protection has done in building up the
great industries of the United States, and
who know the squalid and hopeless condi-
ton in which free trade keeps the masses