Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1894-04-12
CAUSED BY THE M,kiNLEY LAW.
| Senator Voorhees, ArraignmeRt of High
/ Tariff in the Senate.

CAUSED BY THE M'kiNlEY LAW.
Senator VOORHEES, Arraignment of High
Tariff In the Senate
1.-THE appalling legislation of 1890.
known as the Mckinley law, created
necessity for relief more immediate and
absolute than was ever before ksown
in American history, and the peo-
pie issued their instructions at the
ballot box accordingly. At the same
time the riotous extravaganza of
the party then in power, taking an
OVERLOOKING treasury from an outgoing
democratic administration in March.
1889. and leaving it practically bank
rupt four years later, imposed upon
those who are now responsible for the
support of the government the imperi-
Gus duty of providing against ugly de-
hcieucies and impending national dis
honor. In reaching results of such
magnitude and Importance as these,
and in carrying out the interests and
declared wishes of toiling millions al
contradistinguished from powerful and
favored classes, obstacles have Of
course been encountered, gigantic il
size. arrogant, insolent. dictatorial. and
in some instances sinister, perfdious
| and dishonest in character. This fact
could not be otherwise under the pro-
tective system which has for so many
years prevailed in this country.
Manufacturing interests, which a
| hundred years ago were indeed and in
fact in their infancy and were nursed
and fostered while yet in the cradle of
their birth, are now the colossal task
masters of the whole people, command
ing tribute from every days labor be-
he c<- he
| corridors of this capitol and issuing
| their edicts in the tones of dictators
| for or against the enactment of pend
ing measures in the halls of congress.
Those who own and represent these
swollen and arrogant interests do not
| hesitate to declare on what terms bill
vitality affecting seventy million of peo-
| pie will be permitted to become law,
| and in default of what provisions for
| financial profits to themselves they
will insure its defeat The only policy.
the only request of practical protec-
zionist is to be let alone in the enjoy
ment of the highest duty and the fat
| test bounty the government can give.
He makes himself an obstacle to
change, from no other or higher con-
sideration than sordid, brutal selfish
ness.
ITO the thoroughly protected and
| self-complacent American manufac-
| turer, sole master of his own market
and incarnation of human selfshness,
| his enforced customers, those to whom
he sells at his own protected price,
have a value. as slaves once had to
| their owners. Not more than four
| days in the week belong to the laborer
himself under tariff laws as they now
| stand; every hour of the other two days
| is absorbed in paying the manufac-
| turer's increased prices on the neces
saries of life which a protective tariff
| guarantees
Can there be any wonder that pro-
tected classes, and protected individ-
uals, who have been, as it were, taken
into partnership by the government,
every one of them, should break out
into vehement protest and angry out
cry when Touched and disturbed by the
spirit of reform and equitable legis-
iation?
THE enactment of the Mckinley
law in 1890 was gigantic crime not
| only against every workingman and
workingwoman in the United States
but also against every individual man
ufacturer and against all manufacture
ing interests. It was not SO designed
by its authors, but such was its real
and inevitable character. 1t declared
a policy so hagitious in principle, SO
rotten in morality and so ravenous in
its exactions on the absolute wants of
life that its possible duration was only
a question of time when the next cleo
ton by the people should occur, and
yet the vast manufacturing interests
of the country were tempted and Sc
duced into accepting its delusive brides
and into an eager adjustment of them
selves to its alluring though evanescent
and short-liyed provisions.
Our purpose is to replace the law OF
1890 with measure of reform, safe.
conservative and harmonious in itself,
and to which all the wholesome and
legitimate industries of the country
will speedily adapt themselves. and
tenaciously cling for secure develop
ment and undisturbed growth in the
future. If this can be done without
needless delay an era of prosperity will
dawn upon all the diversified interests
of the country such as has never been
surpassed in our history.
of the more than six million Of peo-
pie employed in the manufacturing es-
Establishments of the entire country
from ocean to ocean, not one has ever
appeared before congress, or any COM
mittee of congress, or made response in
any public meeting, stating that his
employer, upon the enactment of high
er rates of duty on imports, ever gave
or suggested to give him a efarthing' s
increase of pay for his work.
| COMMENTS OF THE PRESS.