The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1892-11-15

tlOn, attraClSu selt4eTb, htllluldteu III
migration and transferred the center Of
industrial power from the east to the
west. Even in war time the founda-
tions were laid for that marvellous ma
terial prosperity, Of which the first
fruits were to be the resumption of
specie payments and the cancellation.
during single generation, of two-thirds
of the national debt.
In like manner the tariff has minis
tered TO the highest interests of the ma
ton. At the opening of the war the
Democratic party, under the direction !
of southern slave owners, was COM !
mitted to the policy of II revenue tariff |
tending in the direction of absolute free
trade. The cotton, sugar, tobacco and
rice planters Of the south, having what
they considered the cheapest of all labor
in their slaves, were the natural allies
of free trade England. One of the eco
nomic curses Of slavery wherever il has
existed has been its inevitable effect in de-
,velopiug two or three great agricultural
interests and in preventing the divcIsi-
tication Of industries. Southern plant
ing interests and economic policy blocked
national development of industries. This
policy of a low tariff, which had always
been southern rather than northern, was
abandoned when the Republican party
was confronted with the necessity Of OBJ
tanning an income adequate for meeting
the cost of a great war.
| Now, while honest men may differ over
details of the tariff controversy which
has been conducted in this country over
100 wears, they must at least agree that
I Republican legislation provided "a most
efficient instrument for the collection of
the large revenues needed for war ex-
Ipenses and the rapid payment Of the ma
tional debt. They must also recognize,
without dissent, the extraordinary ex-
Ipansion of domestic manufacturing and
g, the development Of foreign and internal
trade which have accompanied protect
e I've legislation. They must also con-
AIcea4~ tl---s a.. ls.-rIi... sF i.i9la In
have been generally distributed in tho
course of time so as to be equalized
among all classes through the cheaper
ing of prices for consumers. They must,
moreover, be prepared to admit that the
protective system has promoted that
wonderful diversifcatton Of industries
which now affords resources of relnuner-
alive employment for the largest and
: most prosperous body of working people
= on the earth.
1t is characteristic of the malign gen
) ius Of the Democratic party that after
$ all tho miracles Of American industrial
: progress have been accomplished it
should turn back the hands Of lime and
take its stand today with the nullifea-
ton leaders Of 1882 in proclaiuing the
I 'uncunstitutiOnality of tho protective tar
if, Even Jacksons authority has not
sulIiced to convince it that Calhoun was
wrong, and the decisions of the United
"a States supreme court have been of nc
/, avail 10 reconcile it to the prosperity Of
! the American people under the protect
i've system.
The financial legislation of the Repub
lican party constitutes series of land
90 marks of American progress. The great
measures of the war period were thost
Is providing for the issue and ultimate re
Ideinptioli Of the legal tender greenbaclt'
and for the establishment of the uatioua
bank system. These were followed aftel
the war by tho reiunding and resump
adH tlun acts. The success Of the refuading
D. acts was largely dependent upon the re
sumption Of specie payments. Thatw
a supreme act of good faith which es
tablishcd public credit on so hish plan
that rcfunding operations We're conduct
rs ed with extraordinary facility.
re In consequence of thirty years expert
/ cnce with Republican financial legisla
=, ton the American people have the prou,
lis distinction of being the only grent ia
MI ton that pays its debts. They hive ais
currency which was brought by labor
~ Gus processes TO par with gold. The
4 !, have also national hank system whic
has steadily grewu in popular favor an
under which not dollar has ever bee
lost to a note holder, and only the smal
est fraction to depositors.
All these great policies have been ~
" cOmplisned without the aid Of the Demo
cratic party. The funding act OF 1871
by which the rates Of interest on tn
oFfebt were changed by the conversion {
I'LL classes of national securities, wa
To passed without single Democratic vol
ru In either house. The resumption act {
lE,1 FeHs opposed by every Democrat
III both houses. The national banking u,
II. was denounced as unconstitutional |
ma tho Democratic party during the wa
and its hostility to tie system has NJ
ceased to this day, when the repeal
the tax on state bank issues is delibo
ar ately proposed in its national platfou
Tint party thirty years ago defend,
these state issues, although they We
not secured, had no uniform val,
|lI-I throughout the country, We're easi
~ counterfeited and Displaced greeubacb
1t advocates return to the same SYST
Ind now, and apparently from deiibera
ne preference for an inferior currency.
The Republican party stands for t
principle Of equal political rigl
mat throughout the Union. Tie Democru
than PARTY not only repudiated the doetri
when its representatives in consr,
that voted against the constitutional ameI
ImenfS at the close of the war, but in
lll- political practice it has continually
,,.,. lowed the worst traditions of slavery
fNmenLing race prejudice and establi
ave ing minority rule.
The Republican party throughout
arlf history has been fighting the battle
free labor. In the beginning it wa
'ota popular agitation to prevent the ext
sion of slavery to the territories, g
subsequently it was terrible bat
with a slave owners rebellion, but
/. the end it has been 9 prolonged CO