The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1902-10-24

u
consoled- He can imagine himself in
partnership with the big republicans Of
Wall street and he can use WE in
speaking Of the sperity-although
the Wall street end Of the partnership
gets the lions share Of the privileges
and profits
TARIFFS CHANGING DEFENSE.
Republican orators are IN the habit
Of defending a high tariff as II It had
always been a republican. doctrine, and
as II II were always justified by the
same arguments. AS a matter Of fact
the first national platform written BY
the republican Party-the platform Of
1S56-did not mention a high tariff.
That platform wah written at a time,
too, when the people we're enjoying a
low tariff, but the republican leaders
did not see Mt TO suggest protection as
q necessary thing.
The victory won by the republicans
in 1850 was not won on the high tariff
issue.
When the civil war broke out and
the government needed more revenue
the tariff was raised as a war measure,
but the manufacturers we're not willing
to have the rates reduced when peace
was restored
A new reason had to be found and
Clay's argument was brought forward.
namely, that infant industries must be
protected for a short time until they
were able to stand upon their feet.
This argument did service in several
national campaigns. It was answered
in 1876 by the election Of Mr.. TiIden.
and in 1884 by the election Of Mr..
Cleveland.
In 1888 the infants had grown so
large that they could not only stand
upon their own feet, but they could
run all over other peoples feet, and il
became necessary to manufacture a
new defense. And what was it? Well,
they said that a high tariff was not
such a temporary policy designed to
assist infants as a permanent policy
intended to give manufacturers an ad-
vantage over foreigners, just equal
to the dimeTencen between the wages
paid here and abroad. The republicans
insisted upon comparing wages per day
when they should have COMPARED
wages per piece land thus make allow
ance for the greater efficiency Of Amer
lean labor and under the pretense
that they were securing Just enough
to cover the difference in labor cost
the manufacturers obtained a tariff
sufficient to cover the entire amount
paid to American workingmen, and in
many instances doubled that amount.
The manufacturers wrote the law
themselves and appointed themselves
trustees without bond; they secured
for themselves an enOuromus profit,
but were not compelled to divide with
the wage-earners for whose benefit they
asked protection.
But now we are exporting an ever
increasing number Of articles and GER
tanly no one can say that we need a
tariff to protect industries which can
pay ocean freight on their output and
compete in foreign markets with the
cheap labor Of the whole world.
The trusts are hiding behind a high
tarin wall and demanding eXtortionate
prices from people in this country.
while foreigners are given better
treatment than American citizens. A
new argument is necessary, and what
will il be2 1t has already been sug-
gested, namely, that the benefciaries
Of protection must stand together and
object to any reduction anywhere
They can not defend each schedule on
its merits-they will not try-they will
simply insist that the tariff must be
reformed, il at all, by its friends, -
which means that it viii not be re-
formed. The republican voters have
supported the doctrine Of protection
under the delusiOn that they were
performing a patriotic duty they have
accepted the statements Of the manu-
facturers without examination and
have felt a sort Of partnership in the
| industries protected, but they are be
/ ginning TO learn that they have been
made the victims Of q confidence game.
/ They are beginning to learn that the
manufacturers who, during each ses-
| sion Of congress, approached that body
I as mendicants and begged for legisla-
-tiOn which they claimed was necessary
l to save them from bankruptcy-that
I these. manufacturers not only have
/ larger bank accounts than the tax
i payers upon whom they have imposed,
\ but have cOnspired together to form
/ mOnopolies for the plumber Of their
] benefactOrs-
] The light is breaking In Speaker
/ HendersOn's district the farmers and
/ business men are already in revolt and
/ the revolt will spread. On the tariff
| question, as on all other questions. the
republican party discriminates against
| the many and in favor Of the few, and
the masses viii ultimately register a
| protest that will be effective.
Mr. Baer says he is yelling to leave
/ Il to Pennsylvania judges With the
memory Of Judge Jackson still fresh
in their minds can you blame the min
| ers for not accepting the proposition.
The ordinary republican can't get
any relief from the treasury when he
I is afnicted with financial stringency
but he is permitted to borrow from the
I banks at q high rate the money which
the governments loans the banks with
| out interest
The people who praise Secretary
Shaw for lOaning the bankers money
on chips and Whetstones are the same
people who grew red in the face and
spluttered frightfully a few years ago
when the pOpulists limited at similar
thing
The republicans say that we have
plenty OF money, and yet the president
is violating precedent and resOrting tC
all sorts Of expedients to relieve the
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