Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1897-03-13
Open the MillE.

There is brighter outlook before the
country to-day, SAYS the American
Economist, than any single day has wit
messed since March 4, 1898. Then the
glamour of free-trade was held before
the people as their salvation. Then
they had been overburdened with work,
but the free traders had made them be.
lieye they were overburdened with "the
tariff tax" Of protection. Their taxes
have not been lightened during the four
years Of democratic madadmnistration
but their pockets have been ligntened
Of the wages Il ey used TO earn, wages
Il at have, since 1898, been earned by
Europeans instead of by Americans.
The tariff tax" OF free-trade has cost
many wage Garner a hundred dollars
a year through inability to sell his labor
in his home marker. and has thus pro.
ven to be far more costly than any pro
tective tariff that he never knew he was
paying, and which enabled him to be
bnsy every day in the year if he want
ed to-
The fallacies and falsehOods Of the
free-traders haYe been thoroughly ex-
posed since 1898. 1t hardly seems posi-.
ble that one solitary person can now be
found in the United States 10 put
faith or credit in them. Yet there are
theorists. impractical men who never
work, students who have never en-
gagged in business, fools who preach
what they never practice, malcontents
who live but TO stir up discord, news
papers that bid for circulation by
creating class distinction, pro-
fessioual agtators who never did
an honest days toll, yet who decry
capital as the oppressor Of labor
these and others of their ilk exist and
always will exist, AID while they exist
there will ever be antagonism to hon
est government, to truth in politics, to
earnest and ugrieht administration in
our national affairs, and to protection
and prosperity to oar people
President Mckinley assumes the high
trust that has been given bin by the
American people at an hour Of darkness.
But We feel assured that the dawn Of
light will follow to be succeeded by
brighter days for as all We are sur
rounded by wars and rEmors Of wars
among foreign countries. But these
are none Of our concern so long as we
are not oppressed. Our duty is at home
in our own country, among our own
people. Il is not for Us to war with
strangers while our workers are idle,
starving may be, and without the oppor.
tunity 10 earn their daily bread. War
has beeh forced upon rs. but il was not
I the war Of bloodshed and slaughter up
on the field of battle, it was the var Of
I industry forced upon Us by Grover
1 Cleveland and his band Of Free Traders,
a war that attacked the homes Of our
/ people, ths. shed their blood by suicides,
/ that has stricken them down by star
F, yation, that has ruined homes, turned
T iiOAASSb NSihNAS Npct4 biIC StiCC1S ~ bSr
starve. or steal-this has been the wsr
/ OF brigandaee that the United States
has been engaged in during the four
years OF our first step toward Free Trade
underline leadership of Grover Cleve-
I land.
The President is right. Stop all this
destitution among our people. Stop it
I at once Restore the demand for hon
/ est American labor Let the American
wage earners have the opportunity TO
! sell their product-the labor that creates
wealth. Bring back comfort and happi
ness 10 our homes. Light the fires in
our furnaces. Give back To American
/ labor its honor and its independence
Then deal with subordinate affairs OF
State. But first, first of all, Open The
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