Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1893-10-28
A SCHEME oE P-RorEcIoNlsTs.

A SCHEME OF PRoTEcTloNlsTs,
An Outrageous Plot to FIunder the Feo-
ple.
The speech II senator Don Cameron.
together with the action OF q number
II Unprotected manufacturers ot his state,
serves - show that the sherman law
ami the free coinage of silver al the eN-
iSt5uE dishonest ratio were only differ
IN, forms Of high protection, and that
the silver miners and the tariff barons
were banded together ont OF eommuui-
" " interests - extend and perpetu-
ste The protective system IN this eoun-
Try. There Is no attempt on the part
II Senator Cameron and his eonStitu-
ents 70 disguise their objects. They
cal. III PLAIN terms upon the manufac-
tuners Of the country 4. o combine in
favor Of the silver producers under
pain, if they refuse t o do So that the
silver producers viii turn uron them
and assist in wiping out the high pro-
tective tariff under which their monop-
Giles are fostered and the people op-
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
II the people and of the voters that
all other issues were held in abey-
anee and received little or no attention
or discussion. The American people
were determined to throw off the bur
Gens Of oppressive taxation, which they
regarded as the chief source Of their
financial ills and TO that end they
elected Grover Cleveland 70 the presi-
dency by an overwhelming majority.
Even the republicans made no attempt
70 belittle the result nor TO deny its
meaning. Il meant above all things.
and beyond all things, that the Amer
lean people had declared positively for
8 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-
~croachments Of class legislation. Its
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
mereial districts of the whole coun-
try, against a system Giametrically op-
posed to all its interests.
1t has been pointed out and conclu-
sively proved that any form OF the pur-
chase or coinage of silver at a ratio less
than its market value is nothing short
OF the ranKest protection to the silver
producers and a 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 unwittinglv upon
the side Of this special protection to
silver. The same arguments that have
always been used to deceive the agri-
cultural interests Of the west and south
into a belief that protection is Of spe-
clal benefit to them are now being em-
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-
nents Of the protected classes. The
note Of warning has been sounded,
and it is a 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 dan
ger. lies in the fact that this coalition
between the silver and manufacturing
protected interests may lead 20 such a
temporary combination, both in and
out Of the senate. as to delay the speedy
accomplishment o. tariff reform. No
one doubts but that the purchasing
Of the Sherman act will be nm
conditionally repealed No one doubts
but that under the present administra-
ton the iniquitous tariff will be ulti-
Inately 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
reform must be deferred Combi-
n%ationsa are being formed and presidents
are being established which will serve
to impede still further the work of
reformation when once ii is begun. II
the democrats recognize the right of a
minority in the senate to postpone in
definitely all Legislative action upon
the repeal bill they canno blame the
protected interests If they avail them
selves Of the same methods to hinder
and delay prospective tariff legislation.
is to be hoped that democracy will
not fall into the trap 50 cunningly de-
By the monopo.ists and protec-
of the country to thwart the
will OF the people 50 clearly expressed
At the polls.-Kansas City Times.