The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1896-06-20
IDEA OR No IDEA.
A Workingman on tho Quarfca-
lions Of Mckinley and Reed.
The Mckinley Idea IL 20 Benefit Amerfcs
and Americans Hated by Democrats
and Engiishmen-w Who Shall Be
the American PresIdente

uemocratic party, rs well as the bosses
in small eastern area of the republic
an party, are both working hand In
hnnd toward one end--the defeat OF the
champion of protection. Their rem
sons, however, vary. The democratic
free traders desire William McKinley's
defeat In order that they may the long
or serve their British friends by MAIN
tanning the existing un-American tariff
law which has resulted in widespread
business depression and idleness TO our
labor. The bosses. on the other hand,
are protectionists in the strongest form.
They believe in absolute protection for
the bosses. They cannot recognize. az
Mckinley does, that the interests OF the
country are diversified. They know
only one interest-their own. That
Speaker Reed should ever have placed
himself in the hands Of the bosses was
a staggering blow to his best friends
and most earnest admirers. "What,
Reed run by Plat and Quay; the car
speaker become tool of the Bosses"
this has been heard many and many
time in open conversation. II may not
have reached the ears OF the speaker.
Such things seldom do get as far as the
party most interested, but Reed has
done himself far more harm than good
by his latest political associations and
alliances.
IT has been held AZ against Mckinley
that he is n man with but one idea.
the idea Of protection. What if he is?
Is IL not better, far better, TO be pos
- n 4 n
md to understand that one idea thor
oughly than to be a man of no idea?
What was the idea of Hon. Thomas II.
Reed at the opening of the present ses-
sion of congress? When elected speak
er of the house he made speech advo-
eating that congress should ''do moth
ing" during the session. Pass the
appropriations bills and go home" was
the speakers advice. Mr.. Reed knew
there was likely to be some diificulty
in passing any republican legislation
of Importance through congress. But
he did not know how great, or how
small, that opposition would be. He
was quite willing to give in to ii, to turn
tail and run, before he had even seen
the enemy. That was his "idca." IL
practically amounts to no idea" that
the people are in need OF just now.
And what il the Mckinley Idea" IL
IL an American Idea" throughout. Mr..
Mckinley has not one thought or one
sentiment even in his mind that is not
imbucd with Americanism. And we
have had too little Americanism OF
late, far too little. The one issue before
the people to-day Is the issue of pro-
lection To all American interests. Our
mines, our forests, our fisheries, our
manufactures and our agriculture all
need n strong touch of the Amer
lean "idea." The people are de-
manding restoration of the Amer
lean Idea" of 1892. and who so able TO
give IL them IA Mckinley With the
tariff issue TO be met, with reciprocity
to be reestablished, with the problem
OF oriental competition confronting ms,
20 what other leader can the people
naturally turn rather than to McKin-
ley? It is his "idea" they want, his
American "idea" of Americanism for
Americans.
We hear IL said by his dctrnctors that
the Mckinley tariff was too high. Pro-
lection cannot he too high. IL IL IL
not high enough IL Is not protection.
None but the democrats and free
traders thought IL was too high in 1892.
why this backsliding now? Simply to
belittle the candidacy OF Mckinley.
Yet these same men who say that the
Mckinley tariff was too high are quite
ready 10 jump in and claim the credit OF
it. But we have never known n single
one of them who has ever stepped for
ward during recent years 10 take the
blame for IL. There were no volunteers
10 share the abuse that has been heaped
upon Gov. Mckinley by our democrats
or by the British free traders. abuse OF
the most cowardly character that has
been hurled at his head In volumes as
quickly as the British press and our I'M
American papers could print IL. Nc
Kinley has had to stand oil the blame,
and lie has stood IL without a murmur,
conscious In knowledge of his pat
riotism, of his honest Americanism
and OF his idea" of duty to Amer
leans.
And why should he not now reap the
reward? There In no man in the United
States to-day who Is more bitterly hated
I'm England than Mckinley. That fact
nlone is proof that he Is the best man for
president of the United States. Why
are the democratic papers so opposed
TO his receiving the republican nominal
ton for president? Simply because
they know that he Is thorough Amer
lean. and the history OF the present
democratic administration in it's every
line shows un-Americnnism. The peo-
ple have had too much OF this, therefore
they have risen with one voice 70 de-
mnnd n restoration Of the American
"idca," and, with IL, they demand the
man who represents that "idea"--Wil'
liam NcKinley---for president.
A WoRKINGMAS.