Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1902-09-25

The National Republican Pa1Iorm
Of 1900 says:
I'VE renew our faith IN the policy Of
protection to American labor. In
that policy our industries have been
established, diversified and main.
tanned. By protecting the homo
market competition hss been stimu'
lated and production chsapsnsd. 0p'
portunity to the inventive genius Of
our people has been secured and
wages in every department Of labor
maintained Of high rates. higher than
ever before, and always distinguish.
Ing our working people in their better
conditions Of life from those Of any
competing country. Enjoying the
blessings OF the American common
school, secure In the right Of self'gov.
eminent and protected In the occu-
psucy Of their own markets, their
constantly increasing knowledge and
skill have enabled them to finally
enter the markets Of the wsrld. We
favor the associated policy Of reci-
procity SO directed as to open our
markets on favorable terms for what
we do not ourselves produce In re.
turn for free foreign markets."
There stands the Republican party
on protection as far as 1t has de-
clared itself. 1t favors no reciprocity
on articles that we produce ourselves.
1t iavors the protection Of American
products that the. high standard Of
American wages may be maintained.
This platform is right; it is Republic
can doctrine; it is good enough for US.
In 1892 times were good. Presi-
dent Harrison was 1t the helm Of the
nation. Wages were high and people
prosperous. But tariff-reiorm became
rampant. A lot Of Republican lead
ers encouraged 1t. The Democrats
took it up and Cleveland issued pom.
derous addresses and letters calling
on tariff reiormers to support him.
They did and be won. The business
Of the country went to smash and 1t
took half q decade to recover lost
ground. 1t would be worse than
folly to favor such = program again.
The talk about tariff tinkering by
the Republicans should be brought to
an end promptly. There is not only
no popular demand for tariff revision,
but there Is no division among the
Republican leaders on this point.
There is harmony between the Re-
publican chiefs on the question Of
the trusts, though the Democratic
papers are trying to make it appear
that there Is not. 1t will be well for
the Republicans to keep all those
facts in mind. The number OF Re-
publicans, even in Iowa, who sub
scribe to the notion that the tariff
ought TO be revised Is so small that
they ought not to be taken seriously
by anybody. They are not taken
seriously by Secretary Shaw, though
Speaker Henderson, as a rebuke to
this little cabal, declines to accept
another election to congress.
The Globe Democrat puts the mat
ter clearly when 1t says:
1.-THE Republican party is no place
for free trade arguments or tend.
encies. 1t has been from its birth
unequivocally for the protection Of
American wages and industries, and
such will continue to be one Of Its
fundamental articles Of faith a. long
as 1t exists. 1t condemns free trade
and all Its notifications. 1t regards
free trade, no matter how disguised
or qualified, to be calamitous to our
own national welfare. However, the
bait may be presented, whether in
the form Of experimental tariff re.
vision or Of q so.called reciprocity
Al .-A.-A..-. .u.kL 49, - 80. 1891.