The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1892-12-15
Don't don't, don't be afraid,
Trrlf reform don't mean free trade"

A Democratic convention in 1888
mutfed the subject in jumble OF words
which the author has dsowned, and
saved his reputation by denying his off
spring. feel like forglVing him for his
cOwaTdice IN 1888, bin who became in
1892 the mouthpiece on the committee
of Tom l.. Johnson and Henry Wat
terson in denouncing protection as
fraud.
Let Chicago hereafter be celebrated
as containing the sepulcher of the poltt-
ical shbboleth of the cheap demagogue
tariff reform.
Let the political noodles that
have shivered when the Gn-
ger OF. scorn has pointed them out as
"free traders" lie down, lamenting on
the grave that contains its miserable
remains, and console themselves with
the reflection that tariff reform don't
mean free trade"
The disgrace of tariff reform has
been wiped off from the banner of De-
mocracy, and in its place we see
the characters of living light, a senti-
menC recognized by science and the
schools is fraud.
Those who have borne the banner
with the miserable device OF tariff re-
form, when it went down in
defeat, but who hoped for re-
form of the Democratic party, as
the way to sound economic laws, have
at length seen the proud standard
garnished with truth of science, and
and denying the constitutional power
10 perpetuate fraud by law, carried by
the people TO triumphant victory.
There are those who believe, or effect
to believe, in tariff as means of pro-
lection; there are others who take issue
and deIounce the tariff as a scheme
for plunder under the forms of law.
Between them is the tariff reformer,
despised by both, like bribed and de,
bauched policeman, dreaded alike by
people and robbers, because in his keep.
ing neither 10 secure.
The reform of the tariff along the
lines of the Democratic platform of
1892, emphatically endorsed by the peo-
pie, will never be wrought by the
tariff reformer. They will be per-
petually Wabbling toward some sense
less compromise. But If they could
effect any change, no one of them, and
no one outside of them, can tell whether
1t would be for better or for
worse. 1t would be founded on
no principle, for they have none;
on no theory, for they despise theory.
The poor fellows have suffered the tor
lures of thousand deaths when some
cheap scribbler has styled the truths of
science a "theory."
Their reform might be for protection,
for free trade, for revenue only, for rev.
enue with incidental protection, for
protection with incidental revenue, or
anywhere within or without these
means or extremes, or 1t might eschew
and avoid them all.
The poor tariff reformer can have no
thought that will outlive the debate
and SANDER of political campaign.
His life must become a ajargon of incon-
sistent babbling, and he can only have
glory in history by being there omitted
and forgotten. Like a nOdding goose,
he seems to yield assent to every creed,
and his brightest genius finds express
sion in the squawk and chorus OF the
flock.
PITY the people and commerce which
must be committed to the keeping Of
the tariff retormer.
The principle OF directing the indus
trial efforts OF the people by law, and
determining the markets In which they
shall buy and sell by taxation, Is
economically wise or 1t Is not.
Those who believe it Is wise, belong
with the Republicans and should follow
Mckinley into bis forced retirement
where they can ruminate upon their
They do not belong in the ranks Of