The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1896-08-07
DODGING DEMOCRATS,
TRYING TO EvADs DISCUSSION OF
FREE TRADE THEORIES.


OnIy-Pressure For Prosperity and Pro-
Democracy and Disaster Must
BE Destroyed.
One of the most noticeable things in
connection with the present political
situation is the unmistakable desire
on the part Of the members Of the DEM
ocratic party to get away from the tariff
issue in the coming political contest
and to fight out the battle on the finan-
cial question That some Importance
must be attached to the financial and
money question generally no one will
doubt. But Republicans everywhere
will do we'll to note that the Importance
Of that question has been very largely
augmented by the action Of the men,
bers of the free trade party in their
frantic desire to get away from the con-
sequences which have naturally result
ed from their violent assault upon the
Industries of the United States.
1t will be remembered that the pres
emit free trade and prosperity running
administration was scarcely inaugurated
before its friends and apologizers began
to complain that the disaster and devas-
tation which promptly spread over the
country were not the result of the threat
of free trade, but were due to the unsta-
BILE condition Of the national finances
and the uncertainty respecting the mon
ey of the land. Every effort has been
made by the friends of the administra-
ton to foster that idea among the peo-
pie, and the penalty has been paid for
that folly by the unrest which has pre-
vailed among many of our people con-
corning the financial question. The dis
ease went beyond the control of the
uuack doctors of the administration,
and they are now being repudiated in
the house of their friends.
But those who have held strictly to
the fact that the principal trouble with
our country at the present time, and the
trouble that has upset industrial pros
perity in the country, is the throwing
down Of the tariff barriers which have
stood during Republican administra-
lions between the goods made by for.
eign labor and those made by the labor
of this country find no difficulty in ex.
planning the causes of the present con-
ditions. The hundreds Of millions Of
dollars worth of foreign manufactured
and unmanufactured goods which have
entered our markets during the past two
years have contributed much to reduce
the productive ability Of the American
workingmen and also, by reducing their
wages, lessened their power to consume
either domestic or foreign products
The tremendous pressure that is being
felt all over the country at this time in
favor of return to protection-ade-
quate protection that shall preserve our
own markets for our own people-af-
fords abundant evidence that vast ma
jority of these people of our own coun.
try understand what the real di fficulty
with American industrial conditions is,
and also that they are preparing to vote
to change those conditions. While it is
important that our currency shall be OF
a sound and stable character, it is of
the greatest Importance that those who
toll shall have opportunities to do 80
and earn good wages in our currency.
The only way to obtain these opportu-
mites andito restore the wage conditions
which the workingmen Of the country
enjoyed before the blight of free trade
settled upon the industries of the land
is to turn out the whole free trade crowd
and restore the policy of protection.