Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-10-20
cLEXELANp,S LETTER.
Chairman Carter Makes Few Remark
About n.


Chairman Carter Makes a Few Remarks
About IT.
Chairman Carter and his colleagues
Of the Republican national committee
was asked recently for an expression of
views on Mr.. Cleveland's letter Of &C
ceptance. He said;
II Is rather difficult to figure out from
Mr.. Clevelands letter Of acceptance pre-
cisely what he believes about anything.
he starts out by saying that he is moro
than ever confirmed In the belief that
all tho things which he has heretofore
believed are true and excellent. 1 sup
pose that nobody will doubt Mr.. Cleve-
lands regard for his opinions. Still, in
the present situation, the Republican
party having declared plainly and ex-
plicitly In tariff 80 devised to protect
American industries while raising the
revenue necessary TO support the gov
eminent, and the Democratic party
having explicitly declared that such an
arrangement Of the tariff is unconstitu-
tional, II would have been interesting to
know whether Mr.. Cleveland agreed
with the Republican or Democratic
theory.
1t will BIO remembered that in 1884
Mr.. Cleveland ran for the presidency
and was elected on q platform which
stated that the Democratic party simply
desired TO reform the tariff, and that in
reforming it they did not intend to dis
turb existing industries. They said that
they were aware Of the fact that many
industries depended on the protective
tariff, and that all changes OF existing
law must take note Of the interests Of
the labor and capital invested. This
was one Of those characteristic Demo-
cratic lodging planks which was in
tended TO mean, and did mean, anything
TO anybody. Mr.. Randall stumped New
York saying that II meant protection;
Mr.. Hurd stumped Ohio saying that It
meant free trade; Mr.. Mills stumped
Texas saying that II meant an income
tax; Mr.. Watterson stumped Kentucky
saying that 1t was exactly in line with
the views Of the star eyed goddess Of
reform.
But tho Democratic convention Of
1902, when this identical plank was pre-
scented to 1t by its platform committee,
overwhelmingly threw it out, and by
vote OF $40 to $40 the convention de-
clared itself for free trade pure and sim
pie. To have regard for any other pur-
pose, II said, in dovising II tariff, than
the one purpose Of raising revenue, was
unconstitutional. In dealing with this
plank Mr.. Cleveland has twisted In evil
dent distress. He means what the plank
means. but does not dare TO say so. In.
stead he says ho believes what he always
believed, and that everybody knows
what he has always believed, and that
that ought TO DO enough. Finally he
says the people cannot DO frightened by
tho specter Of impossible free trade,
which means, II 1t means anything, that
tho people must have confidence in him
and his party, because they do not really
mean what they say and have not the
courage Of their convictions.
This Is certainly curious ground on
which TO appeal TO intelligent people for
their suffrages The Democratic con-
vention declared at Chicago In favor of
the repeal for tho 10 per cent. tax on
state bank issues. This has excited the
profound alarm Of every believer in q
stable currency the country over. Those
of our people who lived before the wal
will remember tho condition of con,
gress and affairs when everybody was
permitted TO start bank and print slips
Of paper called money TO the extent Of
his inclination. Millions on millions ot
moro or less worthless money fioated
around the country, nobody knowing
precisely what tho bills no had In his
pocket would be received for at the
bank, nor indeed whether they were
genuine or counterfeit.
Tho Republican party is fighting in
this campaign for protection TO Amer.
lean industries and American labor
Tho Democratic party IL fighting for free
trade. Mr.. Cleveland lodges the issue
The Republican party is fighting in this
campaign for honest money, dollars OF
: equal value and that value 100 cents on
tho dollar. Tho Democratic party 1,
fighting for wildcat money, an unlim
tied issue Of meaningless paper. On
this issue Mr.. Cleveland Is silent.