Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-08-02

the purchasing power OF the gold
dollar and the silver dollar exactly
equal. Real bimetalism, however,
demands that the intrinsic value of
the bullion of which they ave COM
posed shall fix and regulate their
purcha sing power. If Legislative
provisions" can regulate or affect the
value of the commodity without max
ing new burdens for the people, the
true bimetalist will not object; but
he does, and will always object to
any legislative tinkcring with i'm
ports and unreal and artificial value
to either coin outside of its actual
intrinsic worth. This is the very es-
sence Of bimetalism.
Equally shallow, shadowy and
vague are the two paragraphs which
assume to voice the sentiments of
illinois republicans on the matter Of
tariff legislation. lin raising the
necessary revenue to maintain the
government" they say, such duties
should be levied, las will best tend
to the development of the resources
of our people"--and considerable
more to the same purport. There is
much suggestion in this of the DEM
ocratic demand of a "tariffn for rev.
enue sufficient to meet the needs of
the government economically admin
istered." but the phrase is adroitly
worded so as to seem to say great
deal and really say very little. OF
the same sort is the succeeding dec
laration THAT articles that cannot be
successfully produced in this coun-
try, except luxuries. should be placed
on the free list" The fair seeming
OF these promises is soon hopelessly
lost in the perfect muddle of the con-
tradictions which follow.
Regardless of the preface about
making protection an incident lin
raising the necessary revenue to
maintain the government" and that
no article which ...cannot be success
fully produced in this country
should be taxed unless it is luxury,
Illinois republicanism proceeds to in
sist that free importations of raw
material should only be permitted
when the raw material is unobtaina-
bic in this country" The question
OF the successful production of the
raw material is dropped entirely;
the matter of raising revenue is put
out OF sight; and naked. undisguised
protection is here and nothing else
The same definite purpose to stand
by the protected trusts. and the en-
tire army OF tariff barons is betrayed
in the charge that the Wilson hill is
''unwise and unamerican" because of
weak and inconsistent attempts 10
protect special interests" This must
be interpreted TO mean that the bill
would be wise and American if il
were characterized by strong and
consistent attempts to protect spe-
cial interests. The Mckinley bill is
| strong and consistent in this effort.
and the Wilson bill undou btedl Y weak
and inconsistent in the same endea-
vor. That is the only reason WHY
the true friends of a genuine reform
OF our tariff system can view with
any equanimitv the prospect of this
bill becoming law. They have to
rejoice. however. seeing the provis-
ions of the Mckinley bill. so strong
in the protection OF special interests,
shattered and weakened to such an
extent that the gigantic sugar trust
will be compelled to surrender quite
one-half the tribute the republican
robber tariff has permitted it to levy.
The people OF the United States would
recover all this if they could, but,
failing in that. they are ready to
take the half which the weak and
inconsistent" provisions of the emas-
culated Wilson bill gives them.
But enough of this exposure. In
tricate and confused maze as it j..
the platform OF the Illinois republi-
cans tells plain story after all. 1t
is the old-time tale of pretense, dis
stimulation and deception. 1t means
that the republican party of Illinois
is still for robber currency and a
robber tariff. The voters of Illinois
will understand the attitude and vote
accordingly.