The diamond drill., 1895-09-14
THE TARIFF IN FRONT.
Advice of Col. Robert r. Porter to the
Protection Press There should
De No Compromise ON
That Issue.

Before the New York State Repub-
lican league at Binghamton on Thurs
day, September 8. Col. Robert p. Por-
ter. Of the Cleveland World, addressed
the convention In part as follows:
81 believe that the first and most important
duty OF the republican press a. this time fs TO
keep the tarin issues In front: 20 keep before
the people Of the country the fundamental diff
ference between q republican and q demo-
cratic tarir law This is an issue that the
democratic party is trying It's best 70 smooth
over and put In the background For this rea-
son alone the republican press OF this country
should push Il 70 the front and hold Il there
There can DO no compromise with our enc
niles on the tarir question. The real demo-
cratic leaders stand to-day on the tarif Ques-
tion as they have done In the past Let re-
publlcans. therefore, stand firmly by the Leg
islation which brought about the MONDAY sun
OF prosperity in 1892 II Is our duty TO defend
that act. 70 hold that position against all as
sauits OF the enemies OF American enterprise,
American labor and American homes
THAT act as IL stood on the statute books
represented the broadcast statesmanship. IL
extended the free list. reducing the average
nd valorem rate on all imported merchandise
trlte over 20 per cent. less than half the nv-
erage rate OF duty during the war IL gave the
masses OF the people the great boon OF free SUI
gar It gave the manufactures free raw material
ing On American industry or impoverishing
American labor IL reduced duties wherever
81 was possible without injury 20 American
manufacturers. IL fearlossly increased duties
wherever by so doing IL was possible 10 estab-
ilsh on this side OF the Atlantic an industry
employing American labor and American cap
ital IL strengthened the administration Of
the customs laws by substituting specific for
nd valorem duties, thereby decreasing the pos
sibilities OF fraud. IL adjusted rates OF duties
10 the needs OF business with the one patriotic
aim OF employing the largest amount OF Amer
lean capital and the greatest number or Amer
lean artisans for the benefit OF the home
market
what were the results! No sooner was the
law enacted than the current began 10 run In
our direction, the direction Of the United
States Mills factories and workshops began
TO spring up all over the country. Many largo
industries removed their entire plants to this
country. The manufacture OF tin plate, OF va
rious other metals. OF pearl buttons. OF lace,
OF plush. and hundred other commodities.
was established Wages stiffened. Additional
hands were employed. New factories we're
built. The country was prosperous Tho
working people we're employed The cost OF
living was not increased, because we have tho
testimony OF the most radical free traders Ia
1903 TO the effect that mover In the history OF
the country was the American workman able
10 purchase so much for given sum OF money
as during that period
''Hnd this policy been allowed to stand this
prosperity would have continued The de-
preston and ruin OF 1894 would have been
averted Business interests as rule. dis
count legislation The very hearts core OF
the country-our industries-was threatened
the moment Grover Cleveland took the oath
OF Office The change was swift from pros
perity TO depression IL came with rush
IL literally paralyzed tho nation. Before this
cyclone OF financial disaster and distress dem
ocrntlc statesmen stood aghast The self-in-
fatuated and self consented pomposity OF
Buzzard's bay alone locked down with calm
indifference on the carnage the threat OF his
policy had wrought, and denounced anything
short OF the free knife 10 the hllt an act OF
perfdy and dishonor.'
THE act thus christoned is we'll named 10
Is neither an honest free trade measure. a.
straightforward revenue net, nor respecta-
BILE protective tari1. II is traitorous 10 Amer
lean interests. perhdious In its sectional dis
ordinations and dishonorable In its adminis-
trative features, which encourage undervalua-
tion and put premium upon fraud Unless
repealed, or materially strengthened. from
protective point Of view, this vicious leglsia-
ton viii undermine the whole fabric OF Amer
lean industry, and in so doing confer no benent
upon any American interest
I'm its most dangerous provisions IL has
started up British mills night ana day to tho
detriment OF American labor and the destruo-
tion OF American industry, and In its least
dangerous provisions II barely acts as a bar
rier 10 the flood OF foreign competition which
threatens, should prices increase and pros
perity return. II was destructive legislation.
not constructive. IL win turn no industry in
70 our channel, but send many elsewhere. IL
gave the people no boon. such az free sugar.
but took that away at the behest OF the sugar
renners, In placing it on the dutiable list and
thus forfeited and maintained shameless
monopoly. IL did not help the American
farmer, but injured him. by putting WOOL after
century Of protection, on the free list