Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1892-09-08
BLAINE ADVISES HIS PARTY.

He Tells How He Thinks the Campaign
Should BE Conducted.
AUGUSTA, Me-, Sept THE following
letter from Hon. James G. Blaine to Chair
man Manley, of the Republican state COM
mittee, is made public
BAR HARBoR, Me-, Sept 3, 1892.
Hon. Joseph II. Manley, Chairman, Augusta,
My DEAR SIR-Not being able, for reasons
which have explained to you, to deliver pub
lie speeches in this present campaign, take
the liberty of submitting my views on the is.
sues which regard as being strongest for the
Republicans to urge before the people.
The Tariff.
First-The issue of the greatest consequence
Is the tariff on imports and it will continue to
be until q settlement is effected by majority
80 large that 1t will be tantamount to acquies
cence. The Republicans are aggressive on this
subject. Two years ago they passed general
enactment known as the Mckinley tariff, which
for time failed to meet with popular approval
and was regarded with a certain degree of dis.
trust by those who had always upheld the pro
tective system. But q powerful reaction has
come in consequence of the vindication of the
Mckinley tariff by experience. 1t is found to
have worked admirably, and within the last
year has produced greater volume of business,
internal and external, export and import than
the United States ever transacted before. Not
withstanding the character and extent of the
opposition to 1t, agriculture is remunerative
manufactures are prosperous and commerce is
more hourishing than at any previous time
thus vindicating the Mckinley tariff by an i'm.
pressive and undeniable series of facts
Reciprocity.
Second-When the principle of reciprocal
trade was first proposed to be introduced into
the tariff system the Democrats showed
much generous appreciation of the question
and gave 1t their support so long as Republic
ans refused to accept 1t; but when the Repub.
hcans came to approve it the Democratic sup.
port vanished, and instead of favoring we find
the Democratic national convention passing A
resolution hostile to the system But in spite
of Democratic opposition we have attained
through reciprocity new and valuable trade
and the system has demonstrated its many nd.
vantages. We were about to declare sugar
molasses coffee and hides free of all duties in
the Mckinley bill, but instead OF that we
passed law by which we asked the several
nations interested what they would give to
have their articles made free
What would have been the result to the United
States If every article before it was put on the
free list, had been made the subject of inquiry
to see what we could get in exchange for iti
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 a valuable trade in exchange
for articles otherwise destined to be put on the
free list. The Democratic party think they can
discredit it, and make the effort apparently
for the unpatriotic reason that they did not
originate it,
National Currency.
Third-With all its calamities the war
brought US one great blessing-national cur
rency. There are many who will say that it
was worth the cost of the war to bring about sc
auspicious n result to capital and labor. Prior
to the war we had the worst currency system
of any enlightened nation in the world The
state banks, with some exceptions were thor
oughly irresponsible, They existed by thou.
sands 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 and they were gen.
orally found scattered In the pockets of labor.
ing men, to whom they they were total loss,
without any redemption whatever
Since the close of the war all this is different.
Every paper dollar that circulated among the
people has the United States behind it as guar
antee. All the banks that exist are under the
control of the national government and IL 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 it is matter for
extraordinary surprise that the Democratic
convention should deliberately PASS resolutions
for the revival of state banks. The palpable
effect of this policy If carried out, would be to
cheat the poor out Of his daily bread. II
state banks be adopted and their circulation
attain large issue no device could be more
deadly for the deception and despoilment of all
the commercial grd laboring classes.
The three issues which have given are the
issues upon which would arraign the Demo-
cratic party. l would not multiply issues nor
be diverted by our opponents from steadfast
adherence to and constant presentation of
these questions before the people, until every
voter is made to know and understand their
true and weighty significance. Very sincerely
yours JAMES q. BLAINE.
Hut Eactorv DestroyeI