The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-08-01
THE POLITICAL OUTLOOK.

1t will be eight weeks next Friday since
six weeks since Cleveland was made the
Democratic candidate. The first month
of the canvass has been dull the country
over. but at the East the Republicans
have shown more activity and confidence
than the Democrats
The nomination of General Weaver by
the Peoples party on platform of free
coinage, and the grossest sort of state
socialism has strengthened the Repubii-
cans at the West. The Democrats cannot
afford TO fuse with the Peoples party on
such q platform without hurting them
selves immensely in the close states at the
East. and at the North the Peoples party
will Gu: no appreciable figure. When
election day arrives the simplest way for
those members of the Peoples
party who desire the defeat Of
the Republican party will be
20 vote directly for Cleveland. Members
of the Peoples party of Republican ante
cedents who do not desire Cleveland's
election will not be fools enough to help
throw the election INTO the House, which
means the election of Cleveland. The re-
suit will be that when November arrives
there will not be much left OF the Peoples
party. Many Of its Republican members
will vote for Harrison; many OF its Demo-
cratic members will vote for Cleveland.
Those who vote for Weaver cannot at best
hope to do anything but cleo, Cleveland
by throwing the election into the House,
and the cheapest and shortest cut 10 this
result is TO vote directly for the Demo-
cratic electors.
The Homestead outbreak was seized
upon by the Democrats for political effect,
bat as soon as the facts were understood a
reaction set in which has redounded to the
advantage Of the Republicans. The high
wages paid at Homestead. compared
with the wages paid by England. proved
that an establishment whose creation was
due entirely 70 the protective tariff had
greatly helped American labor
The fact that internal competition had
forced the price OF steel billets far below
that az which the foreign article could be
imported was & complete answer 10 the
charge thai the protective tariff was tax.
and il confirmed what Mckinley always
claimed, that protection would, through
the force OF internal competition. lower
the price 20 the consumer, as it has done
In steel rails, cotton ties. salt and q mum.
Der of other articles
Major Mckinley predicted this would
take place in the matter o! cotton ties and
his prediction is already verified. Cotton
ties are now selling st cents a pound in
New York city. There are now 81. 600 tons
made here which we're formerly imported
aud the price is lower than Il ever has been
before. When cotton ties were entirely
unprotected the price was as high As
cents per pound. Under the SIS per cent.
duty i. was "a cents, and now, unde.
what was called an excessive duty. the
price is only cents per pound. and a bet
ter article is produced than ever before
so. instead OF running the Southern plaat
ers. this part Of the Mckinley Law has re
duced the cost 10 them of q necessity. es
tabiished an American industry and giver
employment 20 American workmen.
The Homestead affair called publ
attention 81 another striking illustration
that the protective tariff IS not tax an,
Tie Republican party has been helpe,
rather than hurt by che attempt Of II,
Democratic deIuae osues 10 misrepresen
the lesson of the LABOR riot. The Madison
Square demonstration in New York cit.