Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1903-08-12
G. o. +. Is Past Reformation.

G. q. r. Is Past Reformation.
Where ignorance Is bliss it's folly to
be wise. In n party which exists to
serve the corI orat.ons AMI monopolies
there is no place for Il man who de-
sires to serve the people. In its early
history the Republican was reform
purity and contained many excellent
men. Unfortunately for the country
and for itself, 1t levied high tariff
duties OH imported goods, ,as II war
measure to- raise revenue. Without
intending it-for the country was then
prosperous, under low duties, as never
before or since, and was us strongly in
favor Of free trade as was England
many manufacturing industries were
protected and enabled to obtain high,
very high, prices for their products.
Manufacturers made eXorbitant prof
Its. They said 1t would be harsh and
cruel to take off these protective
duties, all at once, after the war.
They claimed that 1t would ruin their
industries If they were suddenly left
without government aid. They were
unable, they said, to ''stand on their
own bottoms" again, as they had done
before the war and us farming had
always DONE
The upshot Of the matter was that,
after struggle in which the Repub-
lican party attempted to greatly re-
duce 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 contribu-
lions to its campaign funds, dictated
its legislative measures. President
Lincoln saw the attempt of the manu-
facturers, who had grown wealthy
from war tariff profits, to gain control
of the party and to perpetuate their
protection and profits, and he did his
best to save his party and his coun-
try from such nm unholy alliance with
greedy corporations. It was then that
he said:
Eyes, we may all congratulate our
its close. 1t has cost a vast amount
of treasure and blood. 1t has indeed
been trying hour for the republic.
But see crisis approaching which
unneryes me and causes me to trem-
BILE for the safety of my country. As
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 prejudices of
the people until all wealth is aggre-
gated in the hands of few and the
moment more anxiety for the safety
of my country than ever before, even
In the midst of war;
ALI that Lincoln fore,aw, and mere
too, is now reality. Numerous Re
publicans, after Lincoln's death, at
tempted to reduce thrift duties ard to
break the close connection between
the government and corporations, with
the Republican party as thu connect
ing link. Grant, Garfield. Lodge, Sher-
man, Allison. Arthur and other lead
ing Republicans advocated lower
duties, but could mot stem the tide OF
corporation greed. AT last they gave
up hope, forgot their free trade ideas,
and bowed to the protected corpora.
tion 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.
ty 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 or
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
common people, If such rights conflict
in any way with the welfare Of cor
porations. To-day any Republican
like Governor Cummins. who ex
presses opinions that the tariff system
is not just right, is either read out OF
the party or suppressed. The common
people have no place or standing II
the Republican party between election
DAVIS. ANY Republican who rises II
champion their interests is immediate
4 ~ set upon by leading Republican.
and denounced as n Democrat n So
| enlist and an anarchist.
Just now the Governor Of Wiscon
sin, Robert NJ. LaFollette, is maxim.
trouble for himself and for his party
4 by. doing some plnin sneok,no aton
! the rule Of trusts md railroads 7,
his speech Mt Chautououo on Jnlv 70
he said.
"To-flny great arrrepotions NJ c,r
porate wealth buy Immunity from
taxation in our legislatures and throw
the burden which they should hea,
upon the Individual taxrayer Of ever,
municipality and Stnte Retra we'd h,
his representative the individual tax
naver ia oyertaxed for tho benefit q
the CORPORATION.
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