The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1900-08-15
Business or Idleness2

and Democratic parties. Each cam
paign brings to the front some tempo
rary questions of expediency, which are
intended to blind the eyes of the
thoughtless and attract the floating
vote.
"Tippecanoe and Tyler too" won
more votes than logical arguments.
"Fifty-four forty or fight" aroused the
whole country and not few would
have preferred the fight to the fifty
four forty. And "16 to 1" drives
sound money Democrats into the Re-
publican party, and Silver Republicans
into the Democrats ranks.
However, back of all these campaign
cries, deeper than the money question,
more important than the subject of i'm
perialism, more vital to the future well
fare of the nation than militarism, is
the radical difference between the two
great historical parties on the tariff
question. 1t is not question of pro-
lection and free trade. No party aGvo-
Gates and no government practices ap-
solute free trade. The Democratic
party has, however, for years advo-
Gated in its platforms the well defined
policy of ga tariff for revenue only" re-
fusing to recognize as Democratic the
wisdom, justice or propriety of afford
ing either protection to American labor
or American capital invested in Amer
can industries.
The avowed Republican policy, often
reiterated in national platforms and
enacted into law, as is evidenced by
the Mckinley and the Dingley tariff
bills, openly affirms that the Republi-
cans favor protective tariff that will
encourage the investment of American
capital in manufacturing enterprises
and insure to American labor, both ma
tive and naturalized, the advantage of
"a fair days wages for fair days
work"
Both of these plans have been tried
within the memory of most Of those
who will cast their votes next Novem-
Der.
The Wilson German tariff bill and
the effects thereof were Democratic.
The Dingley bill and its results are Re-
publican. The effects produced by
these two measures should be carefully
weighed by every voter who desires
his ballot to influence national pros
perity and personal advantage.
Under the operation of the Wilson
German revenue tariff, the income of
the government was not sufficient to
pay current expenses. The tariff for
revenue only did not produce the rev.
enue. Government bonds were sold
in time of peace to pay the daily obi
cations of the Democratic administra-
ton. From being debt-paying ma
ton we became debt-creating nation.
Industries languished, Mills shut
down. Factories closed. Building
ceased. The army of the unemployed
increased. Panic came. Banks failed.
Fortunes crumbled. Labor begged in
vain for work. But just as soon as the
people could express their verdict at
the polls, Cleveland was repudated,
the Wilson. German tariff bill was de-
clared wanting and change was de-
manded.
With the election of Republican
President and Republican Congress,
protective tariff measure was enact
ed. The Dingley bill became law.
What have been the results? The ma
tional treasury overfows. The nation
has fought to successful issue two
wars and has been paying debts at the
same time. Bond issues have given
place to bond redemption and refund
ing the outstanding obligations of the
nation at lower rate Of interest than
was ever secured by any nation in his
tory. Mills have been started. Fac.
tories have been running day and
night. Wages have been increased
Labor has been pro6tably employed
The exports during the four years o.
the Dingley Republican tariff have ex
ceeded the combined amount of all thu
exports of the nation during all thu
previous years of our history from thu
beginning of Washington's first admin
istration to the close of Cleveland's las
administration.
There is the record. None deny it
The books have been audited, and tn
balance is known to all. What do tn
American voters want? A return to tn
Wilson German tariff bill and PAM
times, or continuation of the Dingle
bill and Mckinley times? Your vote
next November will decide the quei
ton.