The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1900-08-18
BUSINESS OR IDLENESS ?

guish between the transient
4 and the permanent differences
between the Republican and
Democratic parties. Each campaign
brings to the front some temporary
questions Of eXpediency, which are in
tended to blind the eyes Of the thought
less and attract the floating vote.
"Tippecanoe and Tyler too" won more
votes than logical argument "Fifty-four
forty or fight" aroused the whole country
and not few would have preferred the
fight to the fifty-iour forty. And "I6to I"
drives sound money Democrats into the
Republican party, aud Silver RepubIi-
cans into the Democratic ranks.
However, back OF all these CAM
paign cries, a great issue is the radi-
cal difference between the two great
historical parties Oh the tariff question.
1t is not question ofprotection and free
trade. No party advocates and no gov
eminent practices absolute free trade.
The Democratic party has, however,
for years advocated in its platforms the
well detinedpolicy of "a tariff for revenue
only refusing TO recognize as demo-
cratic the wisdom, justice or propriety
OF aitordinE either protection to Ameri-
can labor or American capital invested
in American industries.
The avowed Republican policy, often
reiterated in national platforms and en-
acted into Law, as is evidenced by the
Mckinley and the Dingley tariff bills,
openly afiirms that the Republicans
tavcr protective tariff that will encour-
age the investment of American capital
in manufacturing enterprise and insure
to American labor, both native and
naturalized, the advantage of "a fair
days wages TOR fair days work"
Both of these plans have been tried
within the memory OF most Of those who
will cast their votes next November.
The Wi!son-Gorman tariff bill and the
effects thereof were Democratic. The
Dingley bill and its results are Republic
can. The effect produced by these two
measures should be carefully weighed
by every voter who desires his ballot to
influence national prosperity and per-
sonal advantage.
Under the operation Of the Wilson,
German revenue tariff, the income ofthe
government was not sufficient to paw
current expenses. The tariff for revenue
only did not produce the revenue. Gov
eminent bonds were sold in time of
peace to pay the daily obligations OF the
Democratic administration. From being
a debt paying nation we became a debt
creating nation. Industries languished
Mills shut down. Factories closed.
Building ceased. The army of the I'M
employedinc 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 repu-
dated, the Wilson-Gorman tariff bill
was declared wanting and change was
dehahded,
with lie election Of a Republican
President and a Republican Congress,
protective tariff measure was enacted.
The Dingley bill, became law. What
have been the results? The national
treasury overiows. The nation has
fought to a successful issue two wars
and has been paying debts AT the same
time Bond issues nave given place to
bond redemption and reiundinG tie out
standing obligations Of the Nation at
lower rate of interest than was ever be-
fore secured by any Nation in history.
Mills have been started. Factories have
been running day and night Wages
have been increased. Labor has been
probably employed. The exports dur
ing the four years Of the Dingley Repub-
liCan tariff have exceeded the combined
amount OF all the exports Of the Nation
during all the previous years Of cur his.
tory from the beginning Of Washington's
first administration TO the close Of Cleve-
lands last administration.
There is the record. None deny it.
The books have been audited, and the
balance is known to all. What do the
American voters want? A return to the
Wilson-Gorman tariff bill and panic
times, or a continuation Of the Dingley
bill and Mckinley times, Your votes
next November will decide the question.