The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-09-13
AN OLD FRAUD.

AN OLD FRAUD.
One Richard P. Bland of Missouri,
is becoming somewhat of a chestnut.
He has paraded before the people as a
silver advocate. His advocacy of sill
yer has been side issue. His most
absorbing ISSUE has been Tor had BEEN
''the question Of tariff reform" Four
years ago he said: "a protective tariff
was but a part of the class legislation
sought to be sheltered and protected
by force bilP ballots. The question
Of tariff reform has been taken by the
Republican party from the domain OF
revenue. Protection is the great object
sought. Thus the tariff as now pre-
scented is war for markets. A GER
tain class Of our people clamor at the
doors of congress for a home market
This class gained complete victory in
the enactment of the Mckinley tariff.
The law gives the tariff baron
monopoly of the home market in which
to sell his wares, also shuts in the farm
er and other producers, compelling
them to buy and sell in the home mar
ket. The farmer has now been forced
into the arena of battle for markets.
He is organized and freshly pointed
for the battle. He finds himself from
year to year with an enormous sur
plus Of products ON hand that the home
market is wholly unable to consume.
The market for him is but q limited
market. The farmer knows his rights.
He is now alert to his interest as never
before. Woe to the political party that
opposes him in his material interests"
Then he went on to say that reciproc-
ity will not do. AS now outlined freci-
procity means freer trade with agri-
cultural countries that compete with
him. He demands and will have freer
trade with the peoples who will buy
most from him and sell most to him.
Any other reciprocity is transparent
cheat SO it appears that four years
ago this old Missouri chestnut told the
American farmer that what he needed
was freer trade with such countries as
England, as they "buy most from him
and sell most to him." The most abb
sorbing issue was "the question OF
tariff REFORM "a battle for markets"
"freer trade with European or gold
standard peoples" and not reciprocity
with agricultural countries" silver
countries) because they compete with
him"
Bland must have known that in this
battle for foreign markets the United
States could only be successful by
surrendering any advantage she may
have by a higher level Of wages. The
battle must be on even terms, an
American against en- Englishman,
American wages on a footing with
English wages. Bland must have no.
ticed, If he is not entirely dull, that
American farmers are more prosper
Gus, farm products higher in price,
when American mills are running. Mr..
Bland must have observed, provided
his Bourbonism has not made him en-
tirely blind, that beginning with the
"tidal wave" toward Democracy by the
elections Of 1890, that threatened a rev.
olution OF our protective policy, there
set in an Industrial depression. q fall
ing of in the output and operation Of
mills, and a corresponding agricultural
depression
II would be q waste Of time and an
insult to ordinary intelligence to point
out that BANDS free trade panacea
has made matters worse instead Of
better. But Mr.. Bland has had some
thing to say OF late. North American
Review. September). And 1t would
seem from this TRADE thai he has had
a bad attack Of ind gestion- or course
his fate at the Chicago convention,
where the Baby Declaimer carried
eway the empty honor OF presidential
nomination, may have had something
to do with his feelings lie has
roast for everything IN sight He re-
fers TO the gold Democrats or New
York as the representatives OF many
trusts and combinations against which
congress has Illuminated It's laws end
" hich laws have heretofore been
dead letter upon the statute BOOKS
and this in the face OF the facS that
the executive or law-enforcinS power
OF this government hiss been more than
half the time in the hands OF the Demo
Gratis. DUNG the life OF anu-trus- laws
Bland says 1.-THE election OF Mr.. Ae-
kinney would be merely the contnua-
ton Of existing conditions which have
prevailed for many years past und--
Republican rule, as well as under TIE
policies OF the present administration
Then Ae adds. our present iarid CHE
" iiNn-Gornan tariff Is wiieta the
lines VI rrotection. II II Is RAISED.