The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-08-27
OIE COMMON COUNTRY.
Continued from First Page.


1t is not a new campaign device or
party appeal. 1t is as old as government
among men, but was sever more untimely
ana unfortunate than now.
THE ISSUE OF PROTECTION.
Another issue of supreme Importance
thag Of protection. The peril of free
siIver is menace to be feared. We are
already experiencing the effect of partial
free trade. The one must be ayerted,
the other corrected. The Repu blioan
party is welded to the doctrine of pro-
3sction aud Was never more earnest in its
support and advocacy than now. If
argument were needed to strengthen its
devotion to the American system, or in
crease the hold of that system on the
party and people, 1T is found in the les
son and experience of the last past three
years. D tfs
the public exigencies demand prompt
legislation, which win avoid tho accumula-
ton Of further debt by providing adeq uate
revenues Tor the expenses Of the govern
ment. Ii elected President of the United
STATES, it will be my aim to vigorously
promote this object and give that ample
encouragement to the occupation OF the
American peonle which, above all else,
is SO imperatively demanded at this juno
ture OF our national affairs.
Mr.. Mckinley referred to the prosper
GUS condition of the country in 1882, and
quoted from President Harrison's mes
sage to Congress in that year, concerning
the nations happy condition.
what has it been since, and what is
it now," Mr.. Mckinley asks. The
message of President Cleveland" he
says, from the beginning of his second
administration to the present time
abound with descriptions of ihesdaplor-
able industrial and financial situation OF
the country
DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND TAR
Z 4"Al branches of the government,
continued Mr.. Mckinley, chad been en-
trusted to the Democratic party, which
was committed against the protective
policy (that had prevailed uninterrupted
y or more than 80 years and had brought
uuexampled prosperity to the country,
and which was firmly pledged to the
complete overthrow of this policy and the
substitution of tariff for revenue only.
The effects of this crime were at once
anticipated and felt. In December, 1892,
we had tie same currency and pract ical-
IL the same volume of currency, that we
have now. The per capita of m oney, too,
has been practically the same during
this whole period. The quality Of money
has been identical-al kept equal to
gold There is nothingzconneoted with
our money therefore to account for this
sudden aggravated industrial change.
Whatever is to be deprecated in our
financial system, IL must everywhere be
admitted that our money has been alb
solutely good and has brought neither
loss nor inconvenience to it's holders.
A deprecated currency has not existed
IN fIrf I1nT t14sf pnl1 Nod yoiT al ~
uation.
1t is mere pretence to attribute the
hard times to the fact that all our cur
rency is on gold basis. We never had
greater prosperity in this country, in
every field of employment and industry
during all of which time this country
was on gold basis, and employed
more gold money in it's fiscal and busi-
ness operations than ever before.
COUNTRY PROSPEROUS. UNDER
PROTECTION.
We had, too, protective tariff under
which ample revenues were collected for
the government and an accommodating
surplus, which was constantly applied
TO tine payment of public debt. 1t is not
more money we want; what we want
is to put the money we already have at
work. When money is employed, men
arc employed. Both have always been
steadily and renuneratively engaged
during all the years of protective Iegisl a.
tion.
We cannot inspire confidence by advo-
eating reputation or practioing dishon-
esty. We cannot restore confidence eth
er to the treasury OF to the people with
out change in our present tariff legis-
lation.
Discussing the Wilson bill, he says it
, lacks the essential virtua of it's creation,
the raising of revenue sufficient to sup
ply the needs of the government It has
at no time provided enough revenue for
such needs, but 1t has caused a constant
deficiency in the treasury and steady
depletion in the earnings of labor and
land.
1t has contributed to swell our nation
al debt more than 1852. 00O, 900. The total
receipts under the tariff act of 1894 for
the first % months Of its enforcement
from Septem her, 1894 to June, 1896,
show q deficiency of $S2 500, OBS. The de-
crease in our exports during the first Is
months of the present tariff al contrast
ed with the exports of the first 5 months
of the. tariff of 1890, was 1920, 1888, 800.
The net loss in the trade balance of
the United States has been $196, 9S3, GOT,
during Vne uI6G 10 jnOntn6' operation OF
the tariff of 1894 as compared with the
firstt15 months of the tariff of 1890. We
have either been sending too much mon
ey out of the country or getting too lit
tie in, or both. We have lost steadily in
both directions. Our foreign trade has
been diminishing and our domestic trade
has suffered inoalculable loss.
Our shops are closed or running on
half time at reduced wages and small
profit, if not actual loss Our men at
home are idle and while they are idle,
man abroad are occupied in supplying us
with bonds. Our unrivalled home market
for the farmer has also greatly suffered
because those who constitute the great
army OF American wage earners are
without the work and wages they form
erlY had. The loss of earning power
alone IN this country in the past three
years Is OF a sufficient to have produced
our unfortunate business situation. ls
The employment of our minis for the
coinage of silver Of the world would not
bring the necessaries and comforts of life
back to our people. This will only
come with the employment of the mass
es and such employment is certain to fol-