The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1892-08-19
WHAT Is THE DIFPERENCE,

VIVA u Is THE DAFRERENCE
In every Presidential campaign, and
more especially in every campaign
which, like those of 1883 and 1892, is
fought out by argument rather than
carried through on great waves of popu-
lar enthusiasm, there is a large number
of voters of loose partisan affiliations
who assert that practically there is no
real difference between the two great
parties. The war is oyer, they say;
specie payments have been resumed
the "bloody chasm'' has been filed up,
and really the only question at issue is
other words, to them the only issue that
presents itself is, Who shall have the
offices for the next four years?
For the benefit of such persons and of
those to whom their remarks to this
effect may be addressed we beg leave to
submit few suggestions.
A perusal of the platforms of the two
parties shows some points of difference
between them at first glance The Re-
publican platform declares that the pro-
tective system has been blessing to the
country aud should be maintained; the
Democratic platform declares that all
protective tariff duties are uncOnsti-
tutional, and pledges the party to the
immediate and unconditional repeal of
such duties. Here indeed is radical
difference between the two great parties,
and one that affects every workshop and
every home in the country. Every man
who believes that the tariff is a curse,
that it enhances the price of living with
out raising wages, and that the country
would be more prosperous under tariff
for revenue only, should vote the Demo-
cratic ticket. On the other hand, every
man who believes that protection is
good thing for American industries and
American workingmen, that it fosters
home production, keeps up wages and
enables Americans to live better and to
develop their own industries instead of
depending upon foreign supplies should
vote the Republican ticket.
Every woTkingman who sees that an
abolition of protective duties would
compel his employers to lower wages to
the British standard-abOut one-half of
what they now are-or else close up bis
works entirely; every farmer who finds
in the factories and workshops his best
home market, and whom the tariff on
wool, or barley, or eggs. or potatoes,
protects from the ruinous competition
of his Canadian rival; every salaried
man who does not wish his standard of
wages and of living TO be brought down
to that of the British salaried man in
similar position should vote the Repub-
lican ticket.
Again the Democratic platform calls
for the abolition of the 10 per cent. tax
on State banks, which alone makes our
national banking system rest on stable
foundation, while the Republican party
upholds our system of national banks.
Everyone therefore who favors a return
to the system of banking that prevailed
in this country half a century ago, when
money that was good in one State was
bad in another, when different rate of
discount had to be maintained for the
bills of every bank and no man could
tell whether the money he was offered
was worth its face value or not-every
man, we say, who favors a return to
this state of affairs should vote the Dem
ocratic ticket. On the contrary, every
man who believes that the old system of
State banks was wrong, and destructive
of confidence in business, should vote
the Republican ticket.
Still further, the Republican party
by its action in the past and it's declar-
atiOns in the present, insists that
the provisions of the Constitution
of the United States, including
the fourteenth and fifteenth amend
ments, shall be enforced, and that
every citizen shall have the privilege at
every election of casting one ballot and
of having that ballot counted as cast.
hand, asserts that this Republican de-
mand is monstrous wrong, which
would lead, in certain parts of the couu-
try, to the domination of the ignorant
and depraved classes of the community,
and declares that, so far as the South is
the fourteenth and fifteenth |
amendments to the Constitution are and
shall remain imperative. The two po-
sitions are as far apart as the poles. |
They are irreconcilable. Voters must |
choose whether they will occupy the one |
or the other, according to their views of |
right and justice.
No man who believes that ballot boxes |
should not be stuffed, that votes should |
not be counted falsely, that citizens
should not be kept away from the polls |
by violence and intimidation, in any
part of the Republic, can consistently |
and honestly vote the Democratic ticket.
Here are three questions, then, not to
any others, upon which the two |
great parties stand in diametrical oppo- |
sition-questions of moral and legal |
right, of expediency and policy. How
any one can say who examines the mat
ter with any thought or any care that
there is no real difference in principle |
and policy between the two parties, we
are unable to see.
Still further, aside from these ques-
tons, it is to be decided which party,
upon the whole, is the better admins |
traitor of the country's affairs. Which |
Congress, the Fifty-frst or the Fifty |
second-the Republican or the Demo-
cratic-has proved itself more efficient, |
more patriotic, wiser, more worthy of |
popular endorsement? Which admins
tration, Mr.. Cleveland's or Mr.. Harri- |
sons, has conducted the affairs of the |
country better and more wisely, has up
held more firmly the dignity and honor
of the nation abroad, has administered |
its internal affairs more discreetly and |
progressively?
All these matters, we submit, are |
worthy of consideration, and upon them
we, as Republicans, are willing to sub |
NIT to the judgment of the intelligent |
and patriotic voters of the American |