The Yellowstone journal. [volume] (Miles City, Mont.) 1893-1901, 1893-11-20
Monday. November 20. 1888.
HI GORING OF THE OTHER On.

THE 0sebt6INNs III M 49, |
1t is now thirteen years and more
since Genaral Hancock. then Democratic
candidate for the presidency, courtea
and secured defeat by giving as his opih-
ion that the tariff was "A local issue,
meaning local in the sense that II was
not national. Those who remember any
Of the features Of that campaign VIII re-
member the big smile that rippled over
the face of the country at this
ment. for it must be explained that IN
those DAYS the tariff discussion was new
and the best posted political orators
knew but little more of the theories OF
free trade and protection than mint out
Of ten citizens know today, while the
masses were absolutely ignorant OF
theory or doctrine. believing that the
issue. so far as it was an ISSUE. was poilt-
ical buster on both sides, but none the
less was it treated by both sides with
mysterious ceremony as a vague u IN
portant question of national import. and
when the bluff and soldierly Democratic
candidate refused to discuss the tariff as
national issue and relegated it to the
limbo of purely local affairs, the major
ity of the people adjudged General Han
cock a chump. Very probablythe Dem
ocvatic candidate would have been beat
en- anyhow. as Garfield was a popular
candidate and went through with a
rush, but in that day no n doubted
that Hancock had deliberately thrown
away all chance of success by his impo-
litic and idiotic utterance. lmpolitic it
certainly was. but was it idiotic! In the
light Of the developments now being
made before the ways and means com
uittee of Congress, it must be admitted
that partisan politics has as little to do
With the tariff as it has with religion.
In the same sense that we lind Demo-
Gratis and Republicans sitting side by
aide in the sanctuaries of the different
faiths and praising God in unison and
harmony. so will we find Democratic
protectionists urging the retention OF
such features of that eliminating
atrOcity,' the Mckinley law, as affects
their own local interests. while more un-
der cover, but nevertheless fully as pro-
nounced, are Republicans who believe
free trade or a reduced tariff would be
better for the country, because better for
them or their locality. Slowly but surely
in the evolution of the tariff idea by the
education of the people and the direct
application OF the theory to the indus,
tries of the country. has the horse sense
that reposed. accidentally or intention
t~iopaIly. in the Hancock idea. been ey
posed. Will any person now combatt the
idea that the tariff is not a local issue,
after witnessing the mad rush of Dem
ocrats from the solid south Ia Wash
ington To protest against the placing OF
their raw commodities IN the free list OF
in any way lessening the duty that the
eliminating atrocity' Of the last cam,
paign had put upon the competitive
products of foreigners. Is there IA in
dustry in the whole country whose prod
uct is protected that wants the tariff in.
terfered with: Not one. except perhaps
the steel rail industry, whose develop
ment and ability to protect itself Is q
bright example of beneiieent effects oi
protection. Is there a laborer or artisan
who has worked fer projected industr.
0who wants protection removed: There
was quitea number Of them who thought
they did last fall. but "A very prompt ap
piication Of the practical part OF thu
question has convinced them that they
were mistaken as to the great benefits oi
~"selling their wares in the dearest mar
ket and buying in the cheapest Fo'
them the theory became suddenly re
Sersed they only thing they had TO sell
their labor; suddenly became absolutel,
yalueless, while everything they needed
to buy. If not dearer, was many times
harder to get by reason OF the scarcit,
ef money. And finally are not thu
American industries and the American
labor that they employ the foundation
stones of national prosperity! 1t hal
hsen and still is a Republican theor!
tAat they are, and it looks as il the Dem
eersts were beginning to think so-som