The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-04-15
FREE TRADE AND FREE SILVER

ThoSe Democrats, WHO, like Mr.. Bailey,
of Texas believe that the quickest way to
overthrow the Republican party Is to let
it pass the Dingley tariff bill, ara predi-
eating their hopes upon the expectation
that that measure will have no effect to
changesthe existing bueiness and indus
trial situation for the better. They are
saying in effect that inasmuch as the
Dingley bill will not improve matters,
but on the osher hand more likely ma Ike
them worse, we will let it pass without
any more than formal protest, il the
hope that the disappointed people will
turn to cur party as the Moses to lead
them out Of the wilderness. This method
of reasoning ignores ole important fact,
namely, that it was tins Democratic party
that led them into the wilderness. Our
industrial decline dates it's BEGINNING
from the threat of free trade or strictly
revenue tariff which was ushered in by
the election Of Grover Cleveland and
Congress Democratic in both branches.
1t continued under the operations of the
Wilson tariff Ii the Dingley bill does
not put An end to it and turn the tide
the conclusion which the great mass of
the people are likely TO come to is that
tariff medicine is inert to cure the disease
and that some other remedy will have to
be tried. The wrecaing Of tie Republic
can party By the Dingley bill, if such
thing should occur, would not mean the
triumph of the Democratic party, that is
TO say tie Democratic party Ct Jefferson,
Jackson and cleyeland. The beneiioiaries
CT such result would not he the free
traders and the rerenue reforners but tie
Populists and the silveiites. In case the
Dingley bill is Ineffective ID revive our
Industries tho masses will net turn to the
Wilson bill Or the authors of it for relief.
for the very gooa reason that they cannot
so SION have forgotten that that measure
precipitated the present Industrial de-
preston. The next experiment they will
insist on ma kiEg will net he free trade
becauss TREY have made approximation
to that already, ann found it wanting,
but fres silver. Those Democrats who
last year repudiated the aell-out of their
party tn the Populists which was
consummatel at Chicago, anil
who axe new laboring to dis
credit and prejudice the Dingley
bill, are preparing tt Q way tpr !hes ulii-
mate triumph of the continuation Of
Populism and silverisn which theY pro-
fassad to beliese last fail was "a menace to
sne hoaor AMI honesty Of the country.
They Kew Perfectly well in November
that the eisction Of Repu Llican Presi-
dent AMI Republican Congress meant the
revision of the tariff along the lines of
protection, and though they did not ke-
lieye III protection, they Practically
voted fer it in order 10 avert what they
believed to tie the far greater DANCE. OF
the nctaseme1it Of our currency and the
practical Reputation Of our national onli-
cations. They made the choice and it WAS
no doubt n wise one. But the very dan
ger they sought to avert by sheir votes
they IRE now doing much to restore by
their reckless efforts to arouse preju ii e
against the principle CT the Dinghy bill
Fair criticism of the bill with view
to improving it cannot be oh
iected to- whether it CONES from Demo-
cratic or Republican or Popul'stic sources
but the reckless characterization Of it as
an nboniiiiation of aboninations, as
o raid upon the poor, as a promoter Of
trusts and ,noDopolies can have but one
effe2t and that is to arouse the prejudices
and passions of tho unthiuking, and lead
them to attribute whatsvar disasters
may come to them III the future
to this bill. AMI 50 make them the
easy prey of tie silver boomers
who will say the tariff has failed you
now try our remedy of free silver. A
reckless raid upon the bill by Populists
and silverites can be defended as "a piece
of strategy. But for Democrats who
abhor the silver theory to join in it
is simply to help prepare the way for
Their own political extinction or absorp-
tion by Populists.