Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1903-10-05
LA F0LLETTE'S FOLLY.
His Attempt to Reform the Re.
publican Party.
UNDERTAKING A HOPELESS TASK.

V0e 1'urty, uOOO ~ rlESte 4" NJ"
Dominated by Protected Trusts.
Lincoln's Prophecy of "EnthrOned
COrpOrntions" and nm EZRA of Cor
ruptiOn In High Places"
Where ignorance Is bliss 'twere folly
to be wise. In party which exists to
serve the devil Of corporations and mo-
nopolies there is no place for man
who desires to serve the Lord-the peo-
pie. In it's early history the Repub-
licap was a reform party and contained
many excellent men. Unfortunately
for the country and for itself it levied
high tariff duties on imported goods as
q war measure to raise revenue. With
out intending it--for the country was
then prosperous, under low duties, as
never before or since, and was as
strongly in favor of free trade as was
England-many manufacturing indus
tries were protected and enabled to OBJ
tain high, very high, prices for their
products. Manufacturers made eXOrbi-
tant profits. They said 1t would be
harsh and cruel to take off these pro-
tective duties all at once after the war,
They claimed that it would ruin their
industries If they were suddenly left
without government aid.
The upshot of the matter was that
after struggle in which the Repub-
lican party attempted to greatly reduce
the tariff and the manufacturers
profits the manufacturers won out and
from that day to this they have had
control Of the Republican party and
have, by virtue of their contributions
to it's campaign funds, dictated it's leg
islative measures. President Lincoln
saw the attempt Of the manufacturers
who had grown wealthy from war
tariff profits to gain control Of the
party and to perpetuate their protec-
ton and profits and he did his best to
such an unholy alliance with greedy
corporations. 1t was then that he said
Eyes, we may all congratulate our
selves that this cruel war Is nearing it's
close. 1t has cost vast amount Of
treasure and blood. 1t has indeed been
a trying hour for the republic. But
see crisis approaching which I'M
nerves me and causes me to tremble
for the safety Of my country. AS a
result of the war, corporations have
been enthroned, an era Of corruption
will follow in high places, and the
money power will seek to prolong its
reign by working on the prejudice OF
the people until all wealth is aggre.
gated in the hands of few and the
republic is destroyed. feel at this
moment more anxiety for the safety
of my country than ever before, even
in the midst of war"
All that Lincoln foresaw, and more,
too, Is now reality. Numerous Re
publicans after Lincolns death at
tempted to reduce tariff duties and to
break the close connection between the
government and corporations, with the
Republican party as the connecting
link Grant, Garfield, Lodge, Sherman.
Allison, Arthur and other leading Re
publicans advocated lower duties, but
could not stem the tide Of corporation
greed. At last they gave up hope, for
got their free trade ideas and bowed
to the protected corporation powers
that be. All are now stand patters,"
even to our president who began his
political life as free trader.
So completely is the Republican par
y now dominated by the protected
corporations that during the last ten
years no leading Republican has
dared to challenge their power, though
numerous outbreaks have occurred on
the part Of minor or irresponsible Re
publicans. 1t Is rank heresy for any
Republican to entertain any old fash
toned ideas about the rights Of the com
mon people, If such rights conflict In
any way with the welfare Of the cor
porations. Today any Republican, like
Governor Cummins.. who expresses