The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1896-11-28
INCONSISTENT WATTERSON.

Henry Watterson, the great editorial
writer of the Courier-Journal, in his
recent Paris interview, spoke exult-
antly of the overthrow of the elements
of disorder" which he declares have
been assailing the nation, but be
shows his Inconsistency by, in the very
next breath, admitting that favoritism
in legislation and the selfishness OF
the favored classes have caused the
discomfort among the masses that he
declares is unreasonable" Here Is
the way he delivered himself regard
ing the policy OF protection:
1.-THE republican party has had in
its time great good fortune. 1t has
shown itself a clever opportunist. But
it cannot rest its cause upon the dec
trine of protection. Neither as policy
nor as a theory, nor as keynote can
protedtion hold its own Or stand alone.
1t is at war with the genius OF Ameri'
can institutions. 1t should be no
longer q necessity, If it was ever truly
a necessity to the American mauufac'
turer. 1t is the father of paternalisrn
and the godfather of populism. 1t
sets examples to those who imagine
that wealth can be created by legisla>
tion. 1t imposes grevious burdens up
on the agricultural class. During
periods of depression it serves both as
an instigation and as pretext to The
uiscontented elements. 1t is the occa-
sion of constant corruption in congress.
The manufacturers themselves ought
to lead the movement to discard it"
These expressions are indeed re-
markable, coming from one who raised
his voice for the re-enaatment OF a
high protective policy through the
election of Mr.. Mckinley, as did Mr..
Watterson. He says that protection
is the "father of paternalism," that it
imposes 'grievous burdens" upon the
farming classes, that it occasions cor
ruption," yet he denounces the farm
ers who are discontented with the re-
suits of thirty years of this system, and
during the recent campaign prated
about the Changers of reputation"
Even more, he speaks OF the rule OF
the people as mob rule, and at the
same time prates about ''rescuing the
country from monarchism, thus ad-
hitting that the present tendency OF
this government under the rule of the
classes, tends toward monarchy. And
thus he goes on and compares these
times with those of 1900, when the
election of Jefferson thwarted the at
tempt of the classes to govern the
masses, and asserting ''if Jefferson had
failed the federal party would have gone
on suppressing individual liberty and
consolidating the central power until
we should had a republic in name only"
Further on he asserts that the issue
we will have to meet in 1890, is wheth-
er the masses or the classes shall gov
ern. though he stigmatizes the efforts
of the masses in the recent election as
the ''clamor OF mob" In concluding
he warns the East to profit by exper-
ience, and desist from further attempts
to oppress the poor by their avoricious
desire to accumulate wealth.
He recites long line of grievances
which the Westand South have against
the East and states sufficient causes for
the recent uprising against class rule
and paterpalism that has made few
richer and the many p0orer, system
that has shackeled individual liberty
and enthroned corporations. But still
he gloats ovei the victory of corpora
tions on the Sd of November, since it
put down what he styles the ''gorgon
agrairianism of traitors and repudia-
tors" Watterson makes himself out
about as thorough demagogue as
either Dana or Scott, if such thing is
possible