The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-09-06

INDUSTRY Matted, business received a stroke
or paralysis, and confidence, in almost
every avenue of trade and commerce,
stood still the moment the returns re-
vealed the fact that Harrison was no
longer president and that his successor was
reinforced by partisan majorities in both
branches OF the national legislature.
Another argument still more specious is
advanced that the cause Of the panic must
be traced to the general effect Of the Nc
kinley tariff law upon the commercial and
industrial conditions OF the country. The
history OF the times has proven that law
to be most wise and intelligent readjust-
nent OF rates and schedules made neces-
sary by the increasing developments and
demands or the country. 1t injured no
individual industry. 1t closed no indus
trial establishment. 1t reduced no mans
wages. Neither the Mckinley law nor the
Republican party left to President Cleve-
land or his party legacy of hard times,
idle industries unproductive enterprises,
or unemployed labor. President Cleve-
land came into powerwith country blessed
with unprecedented activity in every
branch OF human employment. He found
labor in active demand and found it better
paid than ever before in the worlds history.
He assumed charge Of government with
unparalleled credit and unimpeachabe
"the year 1892 has been the most prosper.
GUS ever known in business"
In the face of these conditions, its oppo-
nents declared Republican protection to
be fraud and robbery" that 1t was
"unconstitutional;" that 1t was ''the culm-
mating atrocity Of class legislation"
PROTECTION BRINGS HAPPINESS.
care not what epithets may be applied,
| knnyH nd / hnk nrl 4, ..A.,
years OF protection, up to the advent of
the present administration. this country
was never more happy and prosperous.
Under protection we took first rank in all
lines of industrial and material develop
ment. Measured by any standard Amer.
ica led the world under policy of Amer
lean protection, and notwithstanding the
dark cloud that now rests over it, and
which we hope will soon be happily dis
PEELED, is and will contlue to be tho great
est, most prosperous and grandsst OF all
the nations Of the earth.
The facts are plain and the record mar.
velous. After fifteen years of tariff for
revenue, President Lincoln found not
dollar In the treasury, and the national
credit gone. After selling the bonds Of the
government at IL per cent. below par, Bu-
chanan's secretary of the treasury, when
he found the bidders exhausted, but the
bonds not sold, advised congress to ask for
an lndorser, and suggested that If the
states would go security for the nation, the
auction might continue and more bonds be
sold. This was the condition when Lin
coin, the Republican party, the Civil war
and new protective tqriff law began to
make history. Lincoln lived only to see
the successful issue of arms. Those who
came after him struggled with war debt
OF appalling proportions, and sought to re-
construct land depleted of men and
money, laid desolate by carnage. A third
of century later the marks of strife upon
tho battlefields were no more nearly eff
faced than tho war debt and, today the
story Of both Is told In enduring monu-
ments and the nations pension roll. Where
does history record parallel for such O
struggle and such glorius issueY
| All through these years populations in
creased, intellectual and moral develop
ment was everywhere stimulated, cities
and towns. workshops and factories, mills
and furnaces, linked together by railroads
and rivers, were filled with happy, pros.
porous and contented people. The broken
bank, the assignee and the receiver were
as much curiosity as the idle workshop
Labor was never 10 we'll paid in any ooun-
try or in any time, and 1t was never in
| greater demand aud never paid in better
money. Whatever the future may have in
store for onr country and her industries
and her commerce. the record Of the past
| thirty years will stand forth as monu-
| ment to the wisdom and sagacity of the
Craftsmanship that continued from Lincoln
| to Harrison.
NO ROOM FOR DEMAGoGUES.
This campaign should not be lost or won
nnOn miqfakan iaauaa Thara ahp,,1d ha
no room for passion or prejudice, nor for
the demagogue or professional calamity
shouter. The real issues are largely ques-
tions OF business and government. NY
personal respect and regard for the distin-
guished leader Of the Democracy and his
associates on the ticket are en- additional
reason with me that there should be no
cloud upon the real issue. He has been for
many years the leader of free trade thought
in the state. His great newspaper for
many years has been the fearless and per-
sistent advocate Of free trade in this state.
know OF no single time in the last decade
when his newspaper has swerved from the
line marked out by its owner to instill into
every household where his paper went
those principles of free trade 80 clearly
set forth in the Chicago platform and so
persistently inculcated by President Cleve-
land and his party.
Heretofore we have never contended
that the differences between the parties
were nearly 30 great as are now demon
strated by the events OF the last year and
a half. The people Of this country are de-
| termined to better their condition, IL in
telligent voting will do the work This
| determination comes from the grave neces-
stiles OF the hour--necessities sadly shown
to be far more important and powerful
than prejudice or fealty to political par
ties.
The American people are progressive,
aggressive, restless and ambitious; they
are always seeking to better theiy condi-
ton. Their ingenuity and activity in poll.
tics have been little short of the same
qualities exhibited in their inventions and
enterprise as applied to our industrial and
material conditions. In the latter regard
they have eclipsed every other land and
every other people. These qualities, pre-.
valing to lesser degree in England, di-
reeted the tendency in the United King
dom because OF its limited territory and
overflowing population. toward ultimate
free trade. The English influence, so per
sistently inculcated in the American mind,
to large degree led many of our people
to belief that free trade would be step
in advance and benefit to our own coun-
try. We had lived through generation
OF protection and our prosperity and de.
velopment were regarded as constant
factor attached to all lines of industry and
trade, which 1t was thought no legislation
could effect. SO persistently had the free
trade doctrine been disseminated, that
many well-intentioned people all over the
country began to look upon protection as
a positive injury and the creature Of wealth
to increase wealth at the expense OF those
who were less fortunate. At all events,
the party who declared Republican pro-
lection to be fraud and robbery" elected
their typical representative president of
the United States, and placed a majority
Of his own party in both branches of CON.
gress to assist him in carrying out his we'll
declared intentions.
RESULT OF DEMOCRATIC RULE
His induction into office was coincident
with the beginning OF a steady drain Of
gold TO other countries, a return OF Ameri-
can securities to our own shores, where
they found n disordersd market, which
went from bad to worse until the cur
rancv of the rOuntrv wna lnrnalu with