The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1896-05-14
Have Learned A Lesson.


The change in public sentiment in
this country, in a political sense, which
has occurred in the last four years is
remarkable and indisputable, and
should be a reminder to future genera
lions of voters in this republic that
they cannot afford to abandon reason
and practical sense to be tickled by
demagogues who appeal TO prejudice,
and eschew all appeals to good sense
and the best welfare of the people. 1t
is always much easier for the average
citizen to yield to appeals to his preju-
dices than it is to study facts and in
woke them as his guide in expressing
his will at the ballot box. This quality
of the human race is we'll known by the
demagogue, and when conditions are
so as to warrant it he always appeals
to prejudice to carry his point. AS be-
fore suggested this was well Illustrated
in the campaigns of 1890 and 1892,
when the country was carried for the
democratic party. The laboring man
in manufactures who was then fully
employed at good wages, was told that
the tariff was tax upon the wage
Garner for the benefit of his employer
who was characterized as a tariff
baron. The farmer was told that the
tariff benefited no one but the manu-
facturer, and closed the markets Of the
world to the American farmers pro-
ducts. The carpenter and the brick
layer, the blacksmith and the cellar
digger were told there was no protec-
ton for his trade; that there was no
tariff on a cellar, horse shoe, brick
or a house, and to all were told that the
tariff was tax paid by the consumer
to fill the pockets of the manufacturer
at the expense Of everybody else. The
demagogue even went further than this
and declared the Mckinley duty on tin
plate would raise the price of plate to
the consumer, while not pound would
ever be manufactured on American soil.
He also said that under a free trade
tariff wages would be better and the
necessaries of life cheaper. and the
country more prosperous. There was
not word of truth in all this. Reason
would tell considerable man so, but
prejudice was more enticing and
easier mentor, and it was followed by
thousands OF good people; the demo-
cratic party came into power, and the
busy hum of industry ceased. Then
the farmer and the carpenter and the
cellar digger discovered that the tariff
which diversified industries and created
demand for work did effect his en-
ployment and the market for his pro-
duct. It was then that it was discov-
cred that prejudice was bad guide to
follow. It was then that instead OF
hooking McKinleyism those who COM
mitted the fatal errors at the polls in
1890 and 1892 began to look to McKin-
leyism for relief. The repentance was
genuine, and the country turned to the
man for deliverance whom the demo
cratic press had assailed as the consort
of the robber barons; and a portion OF
the republican press and many repub-
licans consented to it. But how is it
today? The whole country is wild for
Mckinley. He represents the principle
which few years ago was condemned.
Those who assaulted it want to return to
it. Truly the stone which the builders
rejected has become the chief corner
stone. A lesson has been learned by
experience which will not soon be for
gotten.