The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-09-05
BUSINESS OR IDLENEss.


the transient and the permanent differences be.
tween the Republican and Democratic parties.
Each campaign brings to the front some tenn
porary questions Of exaedency, which are in.
tended to blind the eyes OF the thoughtess and
attract the floating vote "Tippecsnoc and 1y-
Ter too won more votes than logical arguments.
"Fity.four forty or fight" aroused the whole
country and not a few would have preferred the
fight to the ffty.four forty. And "16 TO l"
drives sound money Democrats into the Rcpubli.
can party, and Silver Republicans into the Dem
oCrati. ranks.
However back Of all these campaign cries
deeper than the money question, more important
than the subject Of Imperialism, more vital TO
the future welfare Of the milton than militarism,
is the radical difference between the two great
historical parties on the tariff question. 1t is
not question Of protection and free trade. No
party advocates and no government practices
absolute free trade. The Democratic party has.
however, for years advocated in its platforms
the we'll defined policy OF "a tariff for revenue
only" refusing to recognize as democratic the
wisdom, justice or propriety OF slfording either
protection to American labor or American CAPT
tai invested in American industries. The avowed
Republican policy, often reiterated in national
platforms and enacted into law, is evidenced
by the Mckinley and the Dingley tariff bills,
openly aifirms that the Republicans favor a pro.
tective tariff that will encourage the invest.
ment OF American capital in manufacturing en-
terprises and insure to American labor, both
native and Daturalized, the advantage Of "a fair
days wages for a 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 Wilson. German tariff
bill and the effects thereof we're Democratic The
Dingley bill and its results are Republican. The
| effects produced by these two measures should
he carefully weighed by every voter who de.
sires his ballot to influence national prosperity
and personal advantage.
| Under the operation Of the Wilson. German
| revenue tariff, the income OF the government was
not sufficient 10 pay current expenses. The tariff
| for revenue only did not produce the revenue.
| Government bonds were sold in time Of peace to
| pay the daily obligations Of the Democratic ad'
ministration. From being a debt.payiug nation
| we became debt'creating nation Industries
| anguished Mills shut down. Factories closed.
| Building ceased. The army OF the unemployed
| increased. Panic came, Banks failed. For
| tunes crumhled. Labor begged in vain for work.
But Just as soon as the people could express their
verdict at the pos, Cleveland was repudated,
the Wflson-Gorman tariff bill was declared want
ing and change was demanded.
| %
With the election Of a Republican president
and Republican congress, protective taIih
measure was enacted, The Dingley bill became
law What have been the results? The ma,
tional treasury overhows 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 before
secured by any nation in history. Mills have
been started. Factories have been running day
and night Wages have been increased. Labo,
has been proftably employed. The exports dur,
ing the four years Of the Dingley Republican
tariff have exceeded the combined amount Of all
the exports of the nation during all the pre-
vlous years of our history from the beginning
Of Washington's first administration to the close
Of Cleyelands last administration.
There is the record. None deny it. Tho
books have been audited, and the balance is
known TO all. What do the American voters
want3 return to the Wilson German tara
bill and panic times, or a continuation Of the
Dingley bill and Mckinley times? Your votes
next November will decide the question.