The San Francisco call., 1896-06-17

American farmers and manufacturers than
reciprocity. With its destruction fell advan.
tageous commercial agreements, under which
their products were surely finding larger and
profitable foreign markets and without the
surrender OF their own.
The substitution of ad valorem for specific
duties has opened the way for systematic
wholesale frauds upon the treasury and pro-
ducers and employees OF the country. By
means of undervaluations foreign goods pass
through the custom-houses without paying
their just tribute to the treasury OF the United
States. Thus we have lost millions OF dollars
in revenue and the foreign producer has
been enabled to unfairly possess our home
markets.
Neither time nor place win permit further
reference to the unfortunate revenue leg1sla-
tion of the Democratic party nor to the hurt
fUl, demoralizing effects OF it. Suffice it TO say
that it has been the great and original factor
in breaking down confidence, checking prog
ress, emptying the treasury, causing continued
deficits and enforced idleness among millions
OF willing workers.
To meet the monthly debts and protect our
credit and save the Government from protest,
the President has been forced to sell bonds.
In other words he has been obliged to mort
gage the future in time OF peace TO meet the
current obligations OF the Government. This
/
/ ord. Our tariff laws not only raised rev.
enue, but they protected our domestic
/ industries; they impartially protected the
| farmer and manufacturer, both North
and South; not only it, but they
they also raised sufficient revenue to gradually
| reduce the public debt and without imposing
grievous burden upon the people. During
the administration of Harrison 1896, 600
I OF obligations were paid, while Cleveland dur
ipo tba lact III od add "a in.
| terest-bearing debt 1862, 900, 900. Against
such Democratic inanciering the Repu blican
! party enters it emphatic protest.
/ Having attempted TO reverse the tariff policy
of the United States with such lamentable re-
suits the Democratic party now proposes to
reverse the currency policy 1t turns to the
currency as the parent of our ills. Its effort
/ to shift the responsibility will deceive no one.
Its attack upon the tariff; its record of inefi-
/ cheney and insincerity, is part of the unfor-
/ tunate history OF the Republic.
The present currency system is the fruit oi
Republican wisdom. II has been adequate to
1 all our past necessities, and if uncorrupted
Will meet our future requirements. Our great
! est prosperity was attained when Republican
! currency laws were in full operation. When
the Republican party was in power our cur
rency was good; it was made as good as the
best on the globe. We made sound money
to go with it, Sound money and an honest
protective tariff go hand in hand together
/ not one before the other.
The very foundation of q sound currency
system is solvent treasury. Ii the people
doubt the integrity of the treasury they will
! question the soundness of the currency
Recognizing this fundamental fact, the Re
publican party always provided ample revenue
| for the treasury.
When, in the last half century of our history
did the Democratic party advocate a financial
policy that was in the best interests OF the
American people? Look at its ante-bellum
currency record. Consider its hostility to the
| currency rendered necessary by the exigeney
of war and later its effort to initiate the cur
rency in time OF peace by the issue OF green
| backs.
Witness its opposition to the efforts of the
Republican party to resume specie payments.
But four short years ago it declared for re-
turn to tie old discredited State bank cur
rency. The Republican party has not been
unfriendly tothe proper use of silver. 1t has