The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1896-09-04
A PROTECTIVE TARIFF.

Another Issue of Supreme Importance to
the People.
Another issue of supreme Importance is
that of protection The peril of free silver
is menace to be feared; we are already
experiencing the effect of partial free
trade. The one must be averted, the
other corrected. The Republican party is
welded to the doctrine of protection and
was never more earnest in it's support and
advocacy than now. If argument were
needed to strengthen it's devotion to 1.-The
American system or increase the hold OF
that system upon the party and people, 1T
is found in the lesson and experience OF
the past three years Men realize in their
own daily lives what before was to many
of them only report, history or tradition.
They have had trial of both systems and
know what each has done for them.
Demanded by the Public Exigencies.
Washington, in his farewell address
Sept. II, 1896. 100 years ago, said: LAS q
very importa ut source of strength and Sc
curity, cherish public credit. One meth
cd of preserving it is to use it as sparingly
as possible; avoid the accumulation of
debt, not only by stunning occasions OF
expense, but by vigorous exertions in time
of peace to discharge the debts which I'M
avoidable wars may have occasioned, not
ungenerously throwing upon posterity
the burden which we ourselves ought to
bear"
To facilitate the enforcement of. the
maxims which he announced he declared
ut is essential that you should practically
bear in mind that toward the payment OF
debts there must be revenue: that to have
revenue there must be taxes; that no tax
es can be devised which are more or less
inconvenient or unpleasant; that the ir
trinsic embarrassment inseparable from
the selection of proper objects (Which is
always choice of difficulties) ought to
be decisive motive for construction of
the conduct of the government making
it, and for a spirit of acquiescence in the
measures for obtaining revenue which the
exigencies may at any time dictate"
Animated by like sentiments the people
OF the country must now face the condi-
lions which beset them. ''The public
exigencies" demand prompt protective
legislation which will avoid the accumu-
lation of further debt by providing ade-
quate revenues for the expenses of the
government. This is manifestly the re-
quirement of duty. If elected president
of the United States it will be my aim to
vigorously promote this object and give
that ample encouragement to the occupa-
tions of the American people which,
above all else, is so imperatively de-
manded at this juncture of our national
affairs
Our Condition in December, 1892.
In December, 1892, President Harrison
sent his last message to congress. 1t was
an able and exhaustive review of the con.
dition and resources of the country. 1t
stated our situation so accurately that
am sure it will not be amiss to recite his
official and valuable testimony.
"There never has been time in our his
tory" said he, when work was so abund
ant, or when wages were so high, whether
measured by the currency in which they
are paid or by their power to supply
the necessaries and comforts of life. The
general average of prices has been such
as to give to agriculture fair participa-
ton in the general prosperity. The new
industrial plants established since Oct. 6,
1890, and up to Oct. %, 1892, number 345,
and the extensions of existing plants, 10S.
The new capital invested amounts to $780,
446, 060 and the number of additional en-
ployes 1926. During the first six months
of the present calendar year 1856 new fac
tories were built, of which 40 were cotton
mills, 4S knitting mills 26 wooden mills,
10 silk mills, plush mills and 2 linen
mills. Of the 10 cotton mills, 81 have been
built in the Southern states.
This fairly describes the happy condition
of the country in December, 1892. What
has it been since, and what is it now?
Our Condition Eight Months Later.
The messages of President Cleveland
from the beginning of his second admins
tration to the present time abound with
descriptions of the deplorable industrial
and financial situation of the country.
While no report to history or official state
mant is required to advise us of the pres
ent condition and that which has prevailed
during the past three years, l venture to
quote from President Cleveland's first
message, Aug. 8, 1898, addressed to the
Fifty-third congress. which he called to-
gether in extra ordinary session:
THE existence of an alarming and ex-
traordinary business situation" said he,
Involving the welfare and prosperity of
all our people, has constrained me to call
together in extra session the peoples rep
resentatives in congress to the end, through
the wise and patriotic exercise of legisla-
tive duties with which they solely are
charged, the present evils may be miti-
gated and dangers threatening the
future may be averted Our unfortunate
financial plight is not the result
of untoward events, nor of conditions re-
lated to orr natural resources Nor is If
traceable to any of the Affections which
frequently check national growth and
prosperity. With plenteous crops, with
abundant promise of remuneratiye pro-
Continued ON sixth mage