The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1895-11-08
HARRISON AND MkiNLEYlsM.
How tho Ix-rrcsiient stood When the
High Tariff Law Wa Passed.

clear comprehension Of public senti
ment, are striving To clear him of an,
responsibility frr the Mckinley law
Endorsement ~ that measure sent hy
l him rs president. to the Fifiy-lrst con
gross 1T the opening OF is second scs
sion in December. 1890.
The occasion was scarcely one 10,
eulogy OF Mcl>inleyisin. Proud OF their
achievement in reforming the tariff 10y
increasing its burdens. the republicans
in that house OF representatives had
gone checrfully before the people q
month before seeking approval and re-.
election. The legislative triumphs OF
their career had been the enactment OF
the Sherman silver law and tho Me-
Kinley tariff law. The vice OF the for
mer had not at that time been discov-
cred and il did not form an issue in the
campaign. The merit Of the Mckinley
method OF promoting prosperity by in
crcasing the burdens OF taxation and Of
facilitating commercial intercourse
with foreign nations by refusing to
purchase their goods was the question
ildently accepted the issue republicans
had raised
The outcome OF the general elections
Of November, 1890. is well remem-
bcrel--obviously very fresh in the
minds Of those politicians who are now
striving 10 free cx-prcsident Harrison
from responsibility Tor it. OF the one
hundred and seventy republican con-
grcssmcn who gathered to listen TO the
reading of the presidents message
eighiy-two had met defeat as a reward
for their activity in increasing taxation
at the behest and for the profit Of the
fairfield mil!ionaires. ont Of whom two
years earlier Senator Quay had fried
the fat for tho benefit Of the republican
party. The pcople paid for the fat in
increased taxation and vented their in
dignation upon republican candidates
at the polls a republican majority in
the house had been converted into
democratic majority of one hundred
and forty-eight. When Reed. the car.
mounted the speakers ros;run 10 call
the house TO order he gazed down upon
sea of faces destined ut the end OF
that short session to disappear from con-
grcssional life.
Into this cave OF gloom President
Harrison sent a trumpet blast OF praise
for the very measure which had caused
the republican downfall. Under il. he
declared. 1--WE shall secure larger and
more profitable participation in foreign
trade than we have ever enjoyed and
we shall recover propor.ionate par
ticipation of the ocean carrying trade
of the world" How far these opti-
mistic prophecies failed OF realization
is matter of recent history. Continu-
Ing his eulogy Of the law, which he
would now disavow, the president de-
clarcd il worthy 1.-THE support of those
who believed that American legislation
trade and the wages OF American work
men," and insisted that there was
neither wisdom nor justice in the sug-
gcsiion that the subject of tariff re-
vision shall be again opened before this
law has had fair trial"
Clearly If President Harrison was in
different TO the progress of the tariff
bill through congress. and only vague
~ acquainted with its nature when he
assumed responsibility equal to that
of both houses of congress by signing it,
he was ready cnoughin December, 1890,
to defend it with all the warmth OF
which his nature is capable.
Indeed, his zeal in its behalf went
beyond mere defense. lie looked out
upon q great nation which had just re-
pudiated the law and its makers lie
knew. as every American must know,
that in this democracy the people are
the source Of the law-malsing power
and their verdict is final and conclusive.
But in effect. President Harrison said
TO the republican congress: Never
mind the people. They do not know
what they are doing. They possess no
intelligence equal to your worshipful
body. Give no heed To their demand
for repeal or amendment Of the McKin-
ley law. Pass on, rather, to the enact
ment of federal election law. so that
with the aid Of United States judges
and the regular army the defeat of re-
publican candidates for congress may
hcnccforth he averted."
lndttA ttiC ptOlant othtiiltCiAt ItS al u
ing the public which a certain Wander
bilt once uttered the president then
reechoed. .Misinformation regarding
the terms Of the act" he insisted. had
been widely disseminated abroad and
at home" The simple, crcdulous poo
pie had been duped. They had not
properly understood the merits of the
reciprocity clause in the bill which, BY
taxing our people higher on the goods
from foreign nations which taxed their
people on goods imported from ours,
made the whole thing symmetrical and
wholly benefccnt. But he chccrfully
prophcsicd that all this dissatisfaction
Of the electorate would be corrected
by experience and that the evil augu-
ries as TO the results of the law COR
founded by the market reports, inter
national trade balances and the general
prosperity Of our people" Here. again,
President Harrison was lucklcss in his
prophecy After two years experience
the people who had already turned the
Mckinley congress out Of Office elected
with even more emphasis the man who
signed the Mckinley bill.-Chicago