The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-05-31
THREE ISSUES.

~ the G4JSe OF lLB I lily -lISt 1B.ELeSS
Democrats considered that they had three
distinct issues uDOn any one Of which they
might win in 1892. These issues were in the
order of importance: Free trade, free coinage
aud retrenciment Two of these issues
have already faded away. Free coinage
would split the Democratic party nearly
into equal parts. There may be a small
numerical majority in favor of free coinage,
but their most influential leaders are on the
other side. In fact While nine-tenths OF
both parties are In favor of bimetallism,
the advocates OF free coinage in the United
States uGder present conditions are ciassed
as financial crankS 1t is clear, therefore,
that with about ODe-half the Democrats &C.
cUpying on this question about the same
ground as the Republicans, tree coinage can
not be made a party issue. But the Issue
upon which they bad apparently the frmest
hold was TetTenchmeut The Fiity-irSt
Congress made appropriations amounting in
the aggregate to one billion dollars. The
Democrats stood aghast. Could it be that
one Congress had voted away one thousand
million dollars Of the peoples money?
Could there be any doubt but that the party
making such enormous appropriations would
be showed uuder?' Even the New York
sun, a journal usually wise and faT-seeing,
headed q series of editorials with the start
ling words: The Bilion-Dollar Congress"
But this issue likewise has failed from view
Il IS no longer in sight The present pros
poets are that the appropriations of the
Fifty-seeOnd Congress viii exceed those of
the Ffty-frst. Holman IS at the head Of the
Committee on Appropriations. but he can
only shut ont now and then an inc1nsideT-
able item. The truth is that Tom Reed hit
the nail on the head when he said that this
was a biliOn-dolar country. a Congress
which reduced two years expenditures
much below that figure would leave i'm
pOrtant needs unpToyided for. The remain
ing issue, that Of free trade. has become
merely a contest between the producers Of
raw material and Of manufactured goods.
The Portland Oreg0aian we'll expresses the
tariff issue in the following:
The legislation Of tile Democratic House Of
Representatives ID this Congress makes it plain
to the dullest mind that it means free trade IN
raw material and high tariff for goods; low
prices for the Western producer and high prices
for the Eastern manufacturer; protection for
the East and neglect for Tie vast interior. The
Republican party can afford 10 60 into the PIesl-
Dental campaign on this issue alone.
ItdOes not appear, however. that the man
ufacturers are united in favor Of free raw
material In Massachusetts the protest
against free wool has been signed by 935 of
1000 to whom it was submitted. The Boston
Journal Of Commerce saws:
AT present writing nearly $500 sets Of wooden
machinery and 759 w0rsted combs are repre-
scented on The petition against THIS bill-tbe
Springer free wool blll. Nothing could be
stronger or more emphatic. il means that at
Least 80 per cent Of tie productive capacity of
the Industry has attached irs mark Of coudemna-
ton 10 malignant piece OF proposed legislation.
The Democrats appear to have attacked
the protective citadel at its strongest point.
The Mckinley bin gives the producers Of
raw material the same measure of pr0tec-
ton il gives the manufacturers. The
farmer and the miner can no longer say
that they have no interest ia the tariff Ques-
tion Tho Mckinley tariff gives them as
complete protection as the manufacturers
enjoy. What fatality induced the Demo
Gratis to make their first anti-prOtectiOn
move against the farmers and the miners
They could not have done a more foolish
thing. They exposed themselves to charge
Of favoritism-of seeking support among
the rich manufacturers of the East at the
expense Of the less o9ulent farmers and
miners Of the West Still, the Democrats
have no choice but to 90 into the contest on
this mutilated issue. Their leaders in the
present House tried to get one foot on the
Republican platform, and have been showed
off. II Mills had been elected Speaker the
issue would have been clearly defined. Both
Mills and Cleveland have the courage to say
pretty nearly what they mean. But the
shifty Hill has really brought the party to
the verge Of a Presidential contest without
an issue upon which it can make a firm
stand