The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1894-09-19

herence to principle.
GA MAN must be fool who would say that
a lowering of the duty, which the foreign
manufacturer pays would not result in re-
duction of the prices of lhe goods on which
those duties were levied. The Republican
advocates of protection to American labor
and American capital have always contend
ed that reduction of the duties would open
the markets of America to foreign made
goods, and that fall in prices would result.
It has also been contended that such an
opening of the American markets would re-
duce the production of American goods, de-
prive American laborers of work, and reduce
the wages of those who were still able to hnd
employment. Cleveland Leader.
The Leader, in common with its Republi-
can cotemporaries, is worried over the state
ments of John Wannamaker, late Postmas-
ter General under President Harrison, to the
effect that tariff reductions mean reduction
in the article to the ultimate purchaser or
consumer, and we do not wonder at their
uneasiness. But we are surprised that a
paper of the Leaders acknowledged ability
should SO unwittingly expose the great
champion of protection to the belittling esti-
mate contained in the first sentence OF its
editorial observations. Does the Leader for
get that for years Mckinley GRATED and ex-
pounded to the people exactly the reverse OF
the proposition it now makes? The Demo
cratic press has for years been telling the
people that the tariff is a tax, paid by the
consumer, and that the higher the duty the
higher the price paid by the ultimate buyer.
Major Mckinley denied this whenever and
wherever he opened his mouth on the subject
and almost the entire Republican press. the
Leader included, backed him up in his un-
tenable position. OF course it was only q
question of little time ere both Mckinley
and the ultra protection papers would be
forced to abandon such claim, for even the
transcendentalism of Republicanism cannot
overcome the eternal truths of arithmetic
The Leader is sharp enough to see the inev
table result of attempting to reason against
logic, but it is strangely forgetful of the in
terests of its fayorite, whom it is faithfully
espousing for the Presidency. 1t also over
looks, we are afraid some Of its own previonf
declarations on this subject. OF course 6
paper of its astuteness will need no further
reminder on the subject. How about steel
rails and wagons. that the Leader claimed
were cheaper under high tariff than 8
lower one? GA word to the wise is sufficient
In the spirit of fraternal solicitude We
might also remind the Leader of the claim
SO long and persistently made by itself and
party, and SO long and persistently refuteo
by the democrats, that domestic competition
would reduce the price of the home made
goods nearly or quite to the figures of the
foreign articles, duty free. We might also
for the benefit of any possible persons who
have not heard or known OF such things
mention the numerous trusts and monopo
listic combines and the wholesale and con-
slant reduction in wages. in many instances
below that of the European standard, made
under this same protection, as vindicationl
of the Democratic claims.
We quote the last part OF the Leaders
contention" merely to be fair. Itisa prop
osition, however, that needs no reply in the
light of the industrial history of protection
with its trusts, monopolies, shut downs, locE
outs, wage cutting and hard times generally