The San Francisco call., 1896-06-27
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE,
PROTECTION THE ISSUE.
AN OLD REPUBLICAN, POINTS OUT How HISTORY
REPEATS ITSELF

AN OLD REPUBLICAN POINTS OUT How HISTORY
REPEATS ITSELF.
Editor Of the CdlE-DEAR SIR: As one OF your
readers interested in the success of the Repup-
lican party at the coming election, and having
implicit confidence in the integrity, executive
ability and political sagacity of our candi-
dates, feel anxious, in common with so many
Others, to see every proper exertion made by
pen and voice and press, wherever the people
can be reached, to make our work effective and
our triumph complete. While feel that the
protection of our industries coupled with the
replenishment of our depleted treasury, is the
dominant issue before the people, our none
tary affairs have so jostled the minds of many
that new complications are liable to lead some
astray, If not properly enlightened or put on
guard. The trivial dissensions or false issues
growing out of mere difference of Judgment
in regard to coinage should not overshadow
the leading policy for our political salvation,
or the grand essentials for personal thrift ana
National prosperity.
native of Pennsylvania, once resided In
Lancaster County of that State, bat few
miles from the residence of James Buchanan;
but while there is no merit in that, had the
pleasure of casting my first vote for a member
OF Congress for that stalwart Republican,
Thaddeu5 Stevens of Lancaster City, man
whose memory will be revered for his noble
bearing, his forensic ability, his political IN
huence and his many humanitarian deeds
long after Buchanan's good deeds shall have
been forgotten. I afterward lived and con-
Quoted Republican newspaper in the Con Con
gress1onal district represented by David VIII
mot OF the anti-slaVery territorial proVlso
lame, and not far from the residence OF
Galusha A. Grow, the ex-Speaker of the House,
VINO again represents his district among the
National law-givers. Now, have noticed that
in political affairs as well in other transp1r-
ing events, the old saying Is often yerlheo,
that history repeats ITSELF and Will cite q
little incident in proof. In 1857 the Demo-
cratic party was in power. with Buchanan as
our chief executive. Under Democratic rule,
or misrule rather, our revenues from imports
were reduced and our man ufactures dwindled-
A depression In trade enSued, and q financial
crisis was experienced just prior to the re-
bellion, much as we find it at the present day.
although the President, with his Cabinet and
Congress, did not have the same chance 1or
lavish expenditures, for lack OF tnnds, nor 10
increase the public debt under some plausible
pretext, as is the lamentahle case with our
Clevelandish administration.
l have by me copy of a letter written ny
MI. W1lmot to David s. Brown, September 20,
1887, in which he depicts the trouble SO
clearly and in a manner SO apropos to present
conditions that think it would gratify many
OF your readers to reproduce it. BY the GATE
of the letter you may see that it was a short
time prior to the formation of the Republican
party but after Mr.. Wilmot had become dis
gnsted with the pro-slayery domination OF his
old political associates and had severed ms
connection therefrom. The sentiments and
arguments he then expressed are in full
accord with those of the Repu blican party OF
man liberty and of honest industry are con-
eerned, and the same you will ind all along
the line of our history marking out those car
dtnal and distinctive features under which
the resources of the country have been In
creased, its industries fos tered and its general
prosperity augmented. It is referred to now TO
show similar condition OF affairs 70 that OF
the country under the old Democratic execu-
tive fossil whose free trade and pro-slavery
sympathies allowed the Government, under
reckless engineers and petty despots, to ride
nT1 nTf m tha n
extract.
After deploring the financial convulsions of
the day and expressing his deep sympathy
with "the thousands of honest and industrious
workingmen unex xpectedly thrown out OF en-
ployment and deprived OF the means OF sup
port for their families" he adds: "On our visit
to the Gloucester Mills we had some conyersa-
ton upon the subject of the tariff policy OF the
country in connection with its influence upon
American enterprise and labor. That the tariff
policy of the Government has much to do with
the revulsions that periodically conyulse the
country is doubtless true, intimately con-
nected as that policy must ever be with all our
financial and Industrial interests. The very
considerable reduction in the tariff at the last
session of Congress must have had disastrous
influence in bringing upon US the present state
OF things, as 1t greatly stimulated 1mporta-
tions, causing heavier drafts upon the country
for its precious metals.
ait is great misfortune that our tariff policy
cannot be wholly removed from the party
conflicts of the country and placed upon
permanent and reasonable basis. Aside from
partisan prejudice there is not, l imagine a
very wide difference of opinion upon this sub
ject among intelligent and rejecting men. /
have always looked TO our policy as settled in
the respect that the ordinary revenue is to be
provided for by duties upon foreign importa-
tions, and have ever favored the policy OF
such Determinations as would afford adequate
ana ample protection to American interests
and American labor
ready the expenditures OF our Government
reach the enormous sum of sixty millions of
dollars, and 1t is rapidly increasing under the
prof1igate and demoraliZ1ng expenditures cf
Democratic administrations. In raising this
vast sum there is ample room, by judicious
and proper Determinations, to afford to our
great industrial interest ample protection and
to American labor just and adequate reward
have never intentionally violated this sound
American policy and would cheerfully unite
to-day with the reasonable and judicious men
of the country in placing our tariff policy on
basis that would secure to American enter
prise and labor fair and just measures of pro-
lection.
1.-The great struggle in which we are now en-
gagged and in which my feelings are so deeply
embarked is a struggle to maintain the dig
nifty and rights of free labor against the de-
grading competition of the labor of the slave,
and I am equally in favor of protecting our
American labor against ruinous competition
with the cheap labor of the Old World.'
This isolated excerpt is given as sample
only of the expression of thousands, for such
were the views of the leading Republicans
thirty and forty years ago, and the same code
National and State platforms of the party to-
day. 1t is the same grand underlying prinei-
pie of protection which permeates all branches
of trade and commerce, the stimulus to home
manufacture by discriminating tariff both
for revenue and protection until we shall grow
in skill and power to become selfsupporting,
Independent and truly free. All minor topics
of home or international Importance may be
discussed or nodded to the popular will, and
need not oe ignored, but let the word go forth
to every tireside, farm, town and hamlet in
the land that protection is our rallying cry
and will be until victory shall perch upon our
banners, prosperity be restored and the people
can cry out amenl WILLIAM BURGESS.
San Francisco, June 25, 1896.
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