Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-10-13
M'KINLEYISM.
The Republicans Forced to the
Defensive.
THE ISSUE IN TIE CAKrAIGN.

amount Issue.
The republicans Of Illinois, with
election day yet month OFF, are
already on the defc nsive and
are seeking by subterfuge and
apology to still the popular ind:gna-
ton towards McKinleyism ard the
party which would again enthrone it
above the people. But franklin Mac
Veagh and the other gallant demo-
cratic campaigners are not allowing
trickery to obscure the issue, and in
every speech the democratic leaders
are arraigning the great economic evil
OF the century and placing the RESPONSE
bility Of the late panic where Il belongs
ON the Mckinley bill. Added to
their other misfortunes now comes the
unauthorized invitation Of Mckinley
to Illinois and the prompt accepts nee
OF the governor. The republican state
committee had decided that the only
hope of carrying Illinois lay in keeping
Mckinley away from the state and di-
verting the farmers and laborers from
the tariff robbery by the conf ring
up of other issues: but Chairman Tracy
and Secretary Lester, of the Republican
league, refused tc be dictated to by
Chairman John X. Tanner and, despite
the opposition Of the state committee.
invited Mckinley to the state, and the
high priest of protection promptly ac-
| cepted. His visit draws the pariy lines
again On the tariff question and no one
can doubt that on this paramount is
sue Illinois is safely a democratic
state.
MacVeach's Ottawa Speech.
In his Ottawa speech Mr. Lac
Veagh, referring to the tariff issue
said:
TIC theory o. the republican issue n regard
to the hard times is that they were r,7oanced
by panic. which in turn was produccI l. The
people OF this country who got scared at
what they had done themselves at the e.ea ton
OF 1852 This theory is that ct the election O;
lsss the people voted for tariH reform, and
then Immediately a:terward becs me SO
frightened Ct what they had done that
they fen into panic over IL, ana that
the panic Q: 1873 cane on in that way
Hard tines. OF course follow all psnics
! Now that Is the issue which the republicans
have brought into this can oaien 1t has
occurred to me that you miGht understand
that issue pretty clearly il related &c you this
evening the story OF cur recent legislation on
| the tariff, and you could then decide whether
u i. =
| frightened or not
Ny own proposition to you is that after the
election OF 1872 not only did not the Pc ,ple get
scared at what they had done in vo.ir-- =. IA
vor OF tariff reform. but that the facts ri such
| that they could not have become frizt1+ ned
II was impossible for them to be s..:-ed
When the WAT cane in ls6l 1t fotnd this
| country practically free trade country.
There had been ups and downs of project ion
and free trade and the country ha3 firmly con-
e!udec that While there had been rel .:.son
! for protection. perhaps. when our industries
| were in their infancy, that time had passed.
| and that my such artificial system ; pro-
/ tective system IVES and I-lust be tempo rary
! and that the time had come when II must
| cease The country had done all that had been
\ demanded Of it and therefore it had come to
| practical free trade
| Lower Duties Long Expected.
This country was not constructed for q pro-
| tectionist country Protection was never
voted upon When the WAT came on the row.
| ernnent wanted money and taxed the r-anu-
| facturers and every other internal = able
| thing In order to get money In levyi-y 4 in
ternal revenue tax II became apparent tbat il
| would be right and Just TO impose Protective
| duties FOR tie benefit OF the manufacturers SO
taxed. because otherwise they would - un-
| fairly laid open to the comperstiou OF
| the world Our Manufacturers being
/ burdened with Internal axatiou and the Ing
| Hsh manufacturers having no such burdens
the protective duties were imposed TIE war
tariff vas not levied to carry on the var. but
was imposed in justice to the manufacturers
burcened with internal taxation
| it was always understood that the un1-,ens
the internal revenue tax was reduced tie pro-
| tective duties would also be reduced the rea-
| son for them having ceased to exist; but By
the time the internal revenue taxes we're re-
duced the republican party had changed its
attitude and became g protectionist partr Il
| took advantage Of the situation to reduce in.
| ternal taxes. leaving the protective duties as
| they were and then We had for the first time
since about 1916 real protective tarin
AS have said it was never voted upon. but
got In by the back door: 1t IVES never he will
| OF the people. From that time forwar I'd here
| never was day when Americn approved OF
| protection as permanent policy. Not even
| the republicans believed in it There was
| always promise that the tariff should he re-
| formed and reduced and in that way we we're
| kept quiet The only claim ever mac b the
| republicans was that the tariff should be re-
moved by its friends and not by its enemies
| There never was year. never O day mp 10 tho
| time OF Mckinley when It was not the cornmoa
expectation that the tariff would be reduced
and that we should get to free trade as soon an
possible Loud cheers 1t WAS only after tho
elections Of 1885, when the republicans came
Into power, feeling that they had met the ISSUE
raised by President Cleveland and had de-
Ieated him on II, that they ever dream I'D Of in.
| SAcooiiib LILO CuSpOWS OItteS 1t was under the
| Inspiration OF that campaign Of 1888 ma, Nc.
| hfnley brought in his bill and comm tie the
| republican party to high and higher pra.ec-
| ton a. permanent policy. Loud che.rsl
The republicans espoused this extrr or mary
bill in 1890 and reversed the policy c, the
American people as well a. the polic- Of the
republican party. What occurred them What
did the American people do when they found
the Mckinley bill upon the statute oooksp
The bill went into operation in October. 1900.
and ct the election Of that year the American
people utterly repudiated 1t. loud cbe-rs.
The next time the people had CT .uce
to express themselves on this sub1ec, was in
1897 and what did they do them They simply
reafirmed the opinion Of 1900 with greater
force, greater strength, that IS all In IeQ,
the whole country was carried against the Nc
| kinley bill and in favor of the original promo.
sition OF both parties that protection was \
temporary policy intended to build up the in
FAINT industries. 1t was temporary, and must
be reformed down: that tariff reform was
the policy not simply Of the democratic par
ty but Of the people OF this nation, Loud
| cheers.
In view OF oil this can any Of you see INV
shadow OF foundation for the republica, CT, arge
| that because of the success of the derrcrratic
party In ice. on an issue stamped vita over
| vhelE1ing popular Endorsements sy can anv