The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1904-08-19

| duction. and as a producer of revenue
to defray the expenses of the War OF
| the Rebellion, the first tariff law
passed by the Republican party proved
itself of incalculable benefit to the
country.
| The Republican party readjusted
| the tariff downward in 1872, and again
in 1883, for the purpose of correcting
| some inequalities. The results of these
| downward readjustments were far
| from satisfactory.
The Republican party readjusted
the tariff upward in 1890, and in con-
| sequence the country entered upon a
new era of prosperity.
Once more, in 1897, the Republican
| party readjusted the tariff upward, in
order to correct the gross inequalities
and disaster-producing features Of the
Democratic tariff readjustment of
| 1894, and forthwith followed a period
OF prosperity fer exceeding anything
| previously known in the worlds his
tory.
Through all those years of tariff re-
vision and modification the position
| of the Republican party has consist
emily been in favor of tariff law en-
bOdying the essential principles OF pro-
lection. Through all those years the
Democratic party has opposed protec-
tion, and in the only period of Demo
cratic control in all branches of the
rny-tor hot nrfyy
vised the tariff upon lines that ig-
nored as far as possible the princi-
pies of protection. Here is presented,
therefore, in few words, the records
OF the two parties during the past for
ty years. The Republican party has
revised and modified the tariff when
such action was necessary either to
increase the Federal revenues or to
correct inequalities of the law. The
Democratic party, when entrusted
with power, revised the tariff upon
non-protection lines, and in the sched-
ules of the law which it passed re-
fused protection to some of the most
important industries in the United
States-the factory, the mine and the
farm. In every instance when the
Republican party made a tariff law
the Industries Of the country were
quickened into new life, capital found
ready investment and workingmen re-
ceived increased opportunities for en-
ployment at increased and increasing
wages. When the Democratic tariff
act of 1894 was passed it was followed
by greater competition from the prod
ucts OF foreign lands, with the result
that domestic industries were Grip
pied and a million sworkingmen in
this country were either thrown out
of employment or their wages were
greatly reduced.
Admitting for the purpose of argu-
ment that the time may come when
the tariff law of the United States
should be modified in order that any
Inequalities it contains may be cor.
rected, and its schedules made to con.
form to altered conditions, the ques-
ton which will confront every voter
in the coming campaign is whether
such changes in the tariff shall be
made by the Republican party, the
friend and supporter of protection, or
By the Democratic party, which op.
poses protection and declares it to be
robbery.
1t would seem from this statement
of the situation, which is an accurate
statement, borne out by the facts of
history and the experiences of men in
this country during very recent years,
that the efforts of the Democratic par
ty in its national platform to meet |
the tariff issue with the plain declar |
alton that protection is robbery"
and at the same time attempt to sugar
coat those powerful and significant |
words with the suggestion that the |
tariff be gradually" reduced, togeth- |
er with the for-revenue-only stipu-
lation that "the tariff be limited to the |
needs of the government" cannot but |
be regarded by thoughtful people
everywhere as a covert attempt of |
the party to mislead the people into
striking a blow at protection under
the claim that the blow will not be
permitted to do harm.
The effort Of the Democrats to dis
guise their purpose in assaulting pro
lection will not be successful. The
American people are in favor of pro-
lection. They will not entrust the
making Of a tariff law to a political
party that is opposed to protection.
As we'll might the American people
have invited Mr.. Bryan in 1896 or in
1900 to make and execute law estab-
ishing the gold standard as to invite
the Democratic party under Judge
Parker, on a platform that declares
protection to be robbery" to make a
tariff law that shall protect American
and American labor.