The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1896-07-09


foreign countries. Maine instead Of Canada
lumber would be now furnishing our lumber
markets. Everything that the farmers raise
almost, would be bringing the prices OF 1872
We should be making all our iron, and our idle
workmen would be earning money and paying
it out for much better living than they are now
able to get.
This would keep our money at home. 1t is
strange that our free silver men who are not
silver producers, and wish only to increase our
currency, should never consider the fact that a
protective tariff, by causing the employment OF
our own people to do our work and develop our
resources and the consequent payment Of our
money out here instead Of abroad, would do
more to keep up the volume Of our circulating
medium than any new issue Of money. We
may we'll try to hi our pockets while there Is
a big hole IN the bottom, endeaYor to keep a
large volume Of currency at home when we
buy abroad instead OF producing here what we
consume, and il is equally true that no scheme
Of finance can be devised which will make the
nation rich or I'LL the vaults OF the treasury ex'
cept 10y borrowing so qng as we purchase
abroad more than produce 70 sell. When
We buy abroad we add no wealth n the country.
When We nay our own people TO produce for us
We have both the product and the money at
home. and so increase our material wealth.
What we most want IS a stable CURRENCY.
Business men want to know what kind of a
medium Of exchange they are 10 use-What It's
value is TO be--and working men and farmers
want to know the character Of the money in
which they are to be paid.
One great danger OF establishing a silver
basis is that our credit abroad would be de
stroyed, our securities would be returned for
payment our gold would @ out Of the country
and our currency would be seriously contract
ed. We are a debtor nation, and the debtor
must have good credit or stop business. The
creditor has no use for credit.
IT Will be well for those who THINK they see
panacea in free silver for the disaster which
Democratic rule has brought upon the
country, to look abroad and see what II has
done otherwheres. Japan is free silver
country and her people work for ten cents per
day. Mexico is free silver country and her
working men get bat little more. While in
free silver China the laborer gets even less.
He works for merely an existence and yet he
is a good and willing worker.
But who il 1t that works the Tree SILVER
argument? Why no one but the mine owners
and the Democratic party. OF course the
former wish to raise the price OF their pro-
duct The latter wish, and do not blame them
for 1t, to call the attention of the people away
from the disasters which they have brought up
on the nation by their nnOus policy OF low
duties. The Wilson bill has cursed the nation as
no other nation was ever cursed in time OF
peace. Democrats ami especially southern
Democrats don't want to discuss that. The real
sore on the body polite. that which they have
created, that which must be cured before the
nation can get we'll, they wish 10 attention To be
paid To. They wish it to remain open and bleed
ing while they point the people 10 an other
issue which they raise in order 10 save them
selves.
They have been accustomed to do this. After
cir iniquities during the war and days Of re-
construction, they became the "liberal party
and voted for Greedy. But that did not cover
their sins. Then they become reform party
and voted for Tilden. Then they cried for
ECONOMY and reform. and for the first time
in % years elected a President and Congress and
got full control of the government. Since they
came into power they have given Us an economic
policy that has melted the wealth, crippled the
industries of the land and denied to the work
ing man the right to to for comfortable
livelihood. They have given rs a financial
policy that has made the treasury "A borrower
and almost beggar. They have given rs a
hating, hestating, uncertain and at times
ridiculous foreign policy that has been the
shame of the nation.
Their treatment of the old soldiers of the re-
public has been uniustifable and unpatriotic,
and now they want you To forget all this and
trust them again. That you will not do. You
will not fail to recolect that under whatever
banner they fight, they constitute the same old
party which gave us rebellion. opposed recon
struction, took the government from us 1872
with the country overlooking with prosperity
and crowned with honor, and is now soon to
leave it tn us, depressed In all its industries, and
shorn of its proud prestige before the nations Of
the earth.
The Republican party is about to resume con
troll of the government. not only to give the
people again their old prosperity, but to take
new steps IN advance as circumstances shall re
the party of progress. 1t is made up of the
earnest pushing, enterprising elements of the
nation. Its face is turned to the east and II sees
the rising sun. 1t gets up with the dawn and is
ready every day for the work before it, Looking
backward with pride upon its well merited
laurels it rests not for moment with them.
1t has never seen a dag when it was not
abreast with public sentiment, and ready to
meet the demands of the public interest.
Always patriotic in its feeling, progressive in
spirit, intelligent in its comprehension of the
requirements of the times and the necessities of
the nation, believing IN American genius and
glorSing in the greatness which our country has
already reached, the Republican party looks
forward wits hope and faith to "A great and
happy destiny Tor our beloved land. AS in 1886 it
stood for free territories which have since he
come imperial States. in 1861 it stood for a
united nation, so during ali the days of its eXiS
tence it has stood as it stands to-day, for a firm
and honorable foreign policy, fair and equitable
reciprocity, a sound currency which shall be as
good for the working man as for the banker, and
the prosperity and elevation Of American labor
by fun and ample protection. II was born in
this country and has never novel out of it
either IN body or soul. II has an American
heart inspired by devotion To American vel
fare, progress and ACKNOWLEDGEMENT