St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-06-22
HERE'S HOT SHOT.
The Republican Platform Is Torn
to Tattcrs.

The Republican Platform Is Torn
to Tatters.
To the Editor of the Globe.
After submitting what the silver
tongued Republican orators have said in
defense of their god, Ma mmon Pr0tec.
ton. to impartial criticism, and laying
aside its innate bigotry. its offensive
vainglOriOusneSs, its disgusting pharl-
saism and it's unauthorized dirt, the
residue we find to be conglOmeratl0n
of Illogical arguments which they do
not believe themselves. and which no
sensible. honest man will indorSe even
upon superficial investigation. They
admit that in the days of revenue tariff
labor was too high for the capitalist to
engage in manufacturing and stand
against the world. They say that pro-
lection has raised that price of labor
which was already too high; has
enabled the nome manufacturer to give
us cheaper goods than the outside
world can give as; that we are not taxed
for this privilege, but the foreigner is;
that our infant industries. although
thirty-two years old, are fiourishing, but
still infant and crying for higher
fence. That the people are happy and
c0ntented, with no cause for complaint.
That their policy is an inspiration and
truly American. We scientific Ameri-
cans laugh at the ancient fire worship
ers, wonder at the credulIty of the
NEUROLOGICAL Greeks and Romans; but
where. in the civilized world or barba-
rous world do we find faith more blind
than this, the American faith in prOtec-
tion-abSurd in principles, aflurIng i'll
appearance and ariStOcratic in action?
For thirty-twO years we have been
caught with chaff. For thirty-two years
we have witnessed the generation OF an
aristocracy that carries a higher carnival
than the one that precipitated France into
that blood-curdling revolution. Still
we blindly worship aud protect this
monster, which in time will reduce US
to serfdom OF revolution. Is it possible
that America is asleep? Is it possible
that we are going to continue to mis-
construe our glorious constitution for
the express purpose of making money
aye. sell our liberty for gold? If so, we
must expect to reap the wlIirlwind. My
opponents shout Calamity Shrieker;"
but wish to ask, what will we do
when our country and all that there is
in it is put in the hands of few? Turn
to the light of the past, and see the sad
havoc that privilege has made, and
do not close your eyes. to your
own condition, which is fast becoming
as despicable as the serfdom of the mid
die ages. What is the object of protee-
ton? Whom does it protect? Does it
protect the farmer? If so. why is his
element in our society coming together
in form of the alliances? Does IL pro-
tect our labor? Ii so, why is it mar
shaling its forces? Where, in the his
tory of the world, do we find these two
elements of society complain Of their
condition, unless there is long and COLI
tinued and uncomfortable oppression?
Are these elements perfectly happy and
contented today? Is there oppression?
What is it?
There is no use trying to dodge ques-
tons. There is certainly oppression.
Money, capital, the creature OF protee-
ton, is working out its destiny with us,
the same as it has done the world over.
My Republican friends shout: PRO
tect the capital. Make it a privilege;
then it will protect the farmer and the
laborer." l wish to ask them where
they can find proof for their argument
in history; anu where can they find au-
thority IN our constitution to make any
interest privilege? There is no reason
WHY we should make laws to protect
capital any more than the farmer or the
laborer This argument to directly
make capital privilege, and it will be
generous with the farmer and laborer,
is humbug. We all know how cap
italiSts are protecting us. why not
directly protect the farmer and laborer.
and say they will look out for the cap
italistS' interest? SelhShneSS SILL
reigns supreme, and we should we'll
bear in mind that no government mas
yet stood which permitted a man or a
combination of men, an interest OF COM
binatien of interests, to live at the ex-
pense of all others.
We should profit by the fall OF 9TH
ers. We know that privilege has pulled
every nation on earth down to utter
oblivion. Such being the case, why
allow it to undermine as?
Is protection privilege? 1t certainly
is. and it is not very hard to prove.
The manufacturer sends his advocates
among US, who say as follows: Am
erican people, revenue tariff makes
your labor too high-priced for our poor
capitalist to do business in the manu-
featuring line, because now you can
buy goods cheaper from the European
manufacturer than we can afford to
make; but we want to develop our
natural resources, but as it now stands
it is impossible, because your wages
are too high; but we have been
inspired, and have developed
means whereby we can raise your
wages and give you cheaper goods
than you are now getting under
revenue tariff. The scheme is just pass
a law raising the tariff on manufactured
goods, so that these foreigners can't put
their goods Oh your market. and compel
YOUR American consumer to buy or US,
and we will open up factories, tear
down your forests, and unearth your
coal to such an extent that the demand
for labor will enhance the price, and
competition will fill America so full of
manufac tured products that the price
will have to come down, and a foreign
I manufacturer, If he wishes to place MS
goods on our market, will have TO pay
big revenue to our government before
he can sell to you there by paying our
taxes to support the general govorn-
ment."
This is the song that the progenitor of
/ the Republican, the old Wing advocate,
sang to the American people, and we,
for the sake of little better wages and
cheaper goods, sold our right to buy
where we wished, or, in other words,
sold our rights for money; put a fence
around ourselves, Theoretically sealing
our ports from the outside world, giving
the manufacturer privilege OF COM
peling the American consumer to buy
of him; and still my Republican friends
say that this is perfectly right and we
are patriotic in doing so. Have our
wages been raised? Do we get cheaper
goods? Are we taxed2 Let us see.
Manufactures have been started up, as
If by magic, all over our broad land.
s--IA -