Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-09-29

lowers In South Carolina were of more
comprehensive character than those con-
templated in the Democratic resolution of
The Democrats are in the habit of nam
ing jefferson as the founder of their party.
and yet on the subject of tariff, they are
In radical opposition TO the principles laid
down by Jefferson. Towards the close of
his administration the revenue from the
surplus, and the question was what should
| be done. Should the tariff be reduced or
should this surplus be maintained? JEFF
ferson p0intedly asked: "Shall we sup
press the imports and give that advantage
10 foreign over domestic manufactures ?"
For himself he recommended that
''the imports be maintained" and that the
surplus created ''should be appropriated
TO the improvement of roads, canals, riv-
ers and education"
IL the constitution did not give sufficient
| power TO warrant these appropriations
Jefferson went so far as to recommend
that IL be amended. This presents the
strongest condition of affairs upon which
Il protective tariff can be justified, and JEFF
ferson did not hesitate TO recommend It,
The Democrats OF the present day. it Is
needless TO say, are in direct opposition to
| the policy which Jefferson thus outlined
| and adhered 10.
EXPLAINS THE RECIPROCITY SCHEME.
When the principle OF reciprocal trade
was first proposed to be introduced into
the tariff system, the Democrats showed a
| most generous appreciation of the queS-
| ton, and gave it their support as long as
| Republicans refused to accept it, but when
Republicans came to approve of 1t the
Democratic support vanished, and instead
of favoring we find the Democratic ma
tl0nal convention passing resolution hos
tile to the system. But in spite of Demo
cratic opposition we have attained through
reciprocity, new and valuable trade, ana
the system has demonstrated its many adj
vantages. We were about 70 declare
sugar, molasses, coffee and hides free from
all duties in the Mckinley bill, but instead
| OF that we passed a law by which we
asked the several nations interested what
they would give to have those articles
made free. We found that the privileges
which we were about TO give, without cost
and without charge, would secure large
trade IN Brazil, in Cuba, and Porto Rico,
IN the WIndward and the Leeward Is
| lands, In British Guayana and Jamaica, san
Domingo, and the five Central American
states, and TO minor degree in Austria,
France, and Germany-all in exchange for
the articles which we had intended to
gratutiouSly admit.
The free list of the Mckinley tariff is
larger in the number of articles, and in the
aggregate amount OF their import value.
than the dutiable list What would nave
every article, before it was put on the tree
list, had been made the subject of inquiry
to see what we could get IN exchange for
it? We omitted to do SO for many years
and that neglect has cost the government
advantages IN trade which would have
amounted to tens of millions of dollars
This is the whole of the reciprocity
scheme. 1t is very plain and very simple.
1t secures valuable trade in exchange for
articles otherwise destined to be put on
the free list The Democratic party think
they can discredit it, and they make the
effort apparently for the unpatriotic rea-
son that they did not originate it.
WHAT STATE BANKS MEAN.
With all its calamities the war brought
us one great blesslng-national currency.
There are many who will say that it was
worth the cost OF the war to bring about
so suspicious res ult TO capital and labor.
Prior to the war we had the worst cur
rency system OF any enlightened nation
In the world. The state banks, with some
exceptions, were thoroughly irresponsible.
| They existed by thousands throughout the
| United States. Whenever one of them
failed the result was large loss and great
distress among the people. No one was
responsible for their bills, AMI they were
generally found scattered in the pockets of
| the laboTing man, to whom they were q
total loss without any redemption what
ever Or the state banks 1t was often and
|
ure OF their profits. They have caused an
| aggregate loss OF hundreds of millions of
| dollars among the poor. Since the close
of the war all this is different Every pa
per dollar that circulaieS among the people
| has the United States behind 1t as guaran-
tee. All the banks that exist are under
the control of the national government t,
and if they fail as financial institutions
| the government has taken care that their
bills shall be paid by securities deposited
in government vaults.
Under these circumstances 1t is matter
| for extraordinary surprise that the Demo
cratic conventions should deliberately pass
resolutions for the revival of state banks.
/ The palpable effect of this policy, il car
| ried out, would be TO cheat the poor man
out of his daily bread. IL state banks be
adopted and their circulation attain a
| large issue, no device could be more deadly
for the deception and despollmento of all the
commercial and labOring classes. How
| the Democratic convention came to make
such declaration, who was its author,
what intelligent purpose was in IL, Will re-
main mystery. l have heard the argu-
ment adduced that we would keep our
money at home il Gtate banks were insti-
tuted, but we should keep it at home be-
cause IL would be so worthless that nobody
| would take il abroad. Were the system of
state banks revived, we would again have
| discounts at the state lines, large charges
for drafts on financial centers, and general
suspicion of every bill offered in payment,
with liquidation every few years that
would be destructive loss to the innocent
holders of bills, and corresponding pront
to the parties owning the banks.
The three issues which have given are
the issues on which L would arralgn the
| Democratic party. would not multiply
issues nor be diverted by our opponents
from O steadtast adherence to and con-
slant presentation of these questions be-
fore the people, until every voter is made
to know and understand their true and
weighty significance.
| Very sincerely yours.
JAMES q. BLAINE.