Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1893-10-19
4 SCHEME OF PRorEcTion,sTs.
An Outrageous Plot to Plumber the Peo-

An Outrageous Plot to Plumber the Peo-
The speech of Senator Don Cameron,
together with the action of a number
OF protected manufacturers OF his state,
serves to show that the Sherman law
and the free coinage of silver at the ex-
listing dishonest ratio were only differ
ent forms OF high protection, and tina:
the silver miners and the tariff barons
were banded together out of communi-
ty of interests to extend and perpetu-
ate the protective system IN this coun-
try. There is no attempt on the part
OF Senator Cameron and his constitu-
ents to disguise their objects. They
call in PLAIN terms upon the manufac-
turers of the country to combine in
favor ot the silver producers under
pain, if they refuse to do so, that the
silver producers will turn upon them
and assist in wiping out the high pro-
tective tariff under which their monop-
olies are fostered and the people OPP
pressed.
No one will attempt to deny that in
the campaign of 1892, in which de-
mocracy won a signal victory, tariff re-
form was the paramount issue. So
great was its Importance in the minds
of the people and of the voters that
all other issues were held in abey-
ance and received little or no attention
or discussion. The American people
were determined to throw off the bur-
dens of oppressive taxation, which they
regarded as the chief source of their
financial ills, and to that end they
elected Grover Cleveland to the presi-
dency by an overwhelming majority.
Even the republicans made no attempt
to belitt1e the result nor to deny its
meaning. It meant above all things.
and beyond all things, that the Amer
lean people had declared positively for
a reduction of the tariff and of the cost
of living.
The two sections of the country most
interested in tariff reform are those
embracing the agricultural states of
the south and west The south has al
ways been a stronghold against the en-
interests have been radically opposed to
protective duties which have discrim-
mated against the interests of the
American people in favor of the manu-
facturers of the north and east. The
west through sad experience has at
last come to a realizing sense of the
burdens which it has tor years been
blindly voting upon itself without the
slightest return of benefit, and in the
last election it repudiated its former
illogical political affiliations and joined
hands with the agricultural and COM
mercia1 districts of the whole coun-
try, against a system Numerically OPP
posed to all its interests.
It has been pointed out and conclu-
sively proved that any form of the pur-
chase or coinage of silver at ratio less
than its market value is nothing short
of the ranKest protection to the silver
producers and bounty pure and SIM
pie to the mining interests This fact
is apparent upon the slightest refec-
ton and is boldly admitted and pro-
claimed by Senator Cameron and his
fellow protectiOnists. Curiously enough,
however, many representatives in con-
gress from the two sections which have
thoroughly repudiated the protective
system are now found unwittingly upon
the side of this special protection to
silver The same arguments that have
always been used to deceive the agri-
into a belief that protection is of spe-
cia1 benefit to them are now being en-
ployed to persuade them that their in
terests are identical with those of the
silver producers of the mining states.
We do not believe that the people of
the south and west can be hoodwinked
by these stale and threadbare argu-
ments of the protected classes. The
note of warning has been sounded,
and it is safe policy for the south
and west to array themselves against
any action which their old enemies,
the tariff barons, espouse.
The chief, and perhaps the only dam
ger, lies in the fact that this coalition
between the silver and manufacturing
protected interests may lead to such a
temporary combination. both in and
out of the senate, as to delay the speedy
accomplishment OF tariff reform. No
one doubts but that the purchasing
clause of the Sherman act will be I'M
conditionally repealed No one doubts
but that under the present administra-
ton the iniquitous tariff will be ulti-
mately reformed, but that both be done
quickly is the urgent need and demand
of the people. So long as the present
debate upon the repeal bill is pro-
longed, all action in the direction of
tariff reform must be deferred. Combi-
nations are being formed and presidents
are being established which will serve
to impede still further the work of
reformation when once it is begun. If
the democrats recognize the right of a
minority in the senate to postpone in
definitely all legislative action upon
the repeal bill they cannot blame the
protected interests if they avail them
selves of the same methods to hinder
and delay prospective tariff legislation.
1t is to be hoped that democracy will
not fall into the trap SO cunningly de-
vised by the monopolists and protec-
tionists of the country to thwart the
will of the people SO clearly expressed
at the polls.-Kansas City Times.
What the President Wants.
In the letter to Gov. Northen Presi-
dert Cleveland expresses his wants as
follows:
want a currency that is stable and
safe in the hands of the people.
1 want our currency to be of such a
character that all kinds of dollars will
be equal purchasing power at home.
I want it to be of such a character as
will demonstrate abroad our wisdom
and good faith, thus placing on firm
foundation our credit among the ma
tons of the-earth.
want our financial system and the
laws relating to our currency SO safe
and reassuring that those who have