Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1894-05-26
M,xlNLEy,sM AND ooXEYIsM.
! The Protection Policy Carried 10 "'
Logical Conclusion

h Protection Policy Carried to is
Logical Conclusion
The secretary OF the American pro
~tective tariff league writes to the Noriu
protesting against the leagues being
held responsible In any wise for the
Coxeyite armies" 1t Is probable mat
we were mistaken In naming the league
as the specific source from which the
C~oxeyites we're receiving aid. Never
theless, a week age there were unmis'
taxable signs that the protectionists
were lending the movement aid and en-
coursgement Of a substantial characters
lust as there are signs now that they
dropped It when public attention was
called to the earmarks of partisan ma
nipulation.
And In spite Of protests and disclaim-
ers nothing Is more obvious than tina
McKinleyism and Coxeyism stand In
the relationship OF cause and effect.
For twenty years the protection'sts
have taught by speeches In congress
and on the stump and through their
party press that when anything goes
wrong with business, or even with any
particular industry, congress should be
called upon to set things right Their
doctrine, put forward on all occasions,
has been and IS that laws make pros
perity or bring disaster, and that the
remedy for industrial disasters is more
laws or changed laws.
In what does this differ from Coxey-
ismp The Coxeyites are In distress.
They claim to be willing to work but
unable to obtain work, and to repre-
sent millions who are suffering priva-
ton by reason Of this condition OF
things They follow the teachings they
have heard for years and turn to Wash
ington for help. They ask congress to
pass laws which they claim will bring
relief.
Even their plan OF presenting "a Pc
tition in boots" is borrowed from the
McKinleyites. How many times dur.
ing the last dozen or twenty years have
the capitol and Washington swarmed
with people who had gone there to ask
congress to pass laws or to levy taxes
for their special benefit? How long is
1t since the protectionist spellbinders
and newspapers were shrieking II
chorus because the democrats Of house
and senate refused to give hearings
to bands Of people from all parts Of the
country who insisted upon telling con
gress what kind of laws and taxes they
wanted for their own benefit?
Does the fact hal the McKinleyite'
had the money Tor had it put up fol
them to 60 TO Washington in passen
ger coaches give them any rights no
possessed by the Coxeyites, who fo'
lack OF money must walk or steal ride
on freight trains?
The plain truth is that Coxeyism i
simply McKinleyism reduced to an ao
surdity by being carried to It's logica
conclusion. And though a burlesqu'
in its present phase it will have one
good effect We shall hear less here
after of congress and congressman
laws as the remedy for industrial
troubles and trade depression. Weshal,
see an end made of those petitions In
boots" which the palace car Coxeyite:
have been thrusting upon congress yea
In and year out We shall see the homes
American doctrine Of self help put il
practice more and more.
Blindiy and unconsciously, with bui
n nebulous Idea OF what he Is doing
the grotesque Coxey Is a great reformer
His absurd army" will be turned into
IL circus sideshow at twenty-five cent
admission and then melt away into the
police station, a~lmshouses and casua
freight trains But be has taught
lesson that will not be forgotten. II,
has opened our eyes to the extent tt
which our social structure has beer
undermined. He has set men to think
ing. and as the first and surest result
OF that thinking a halt will be calleC
upon that form Of state socialism
known rs McKinleYism.- N. Y. World