Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-07-27

mean the same thing from year to
year. We do not have TO avoid a def
mite and conclusive committal on the
most important issue which has re-
Gently been before the people, and
which may at any time in the near
future be before them again. Upon
the principles which underlie this is
sue the convictions of half of our
number do not clash with those of the
other half. So long as the republican
party is in power the gold standard is
settled. not as a matter of temporary
political eXpediency, not because of
shifting conditions in the production of
gold in certain mining centers, but in
accordance with what we regard as
the fundamental principles of national
morality and wisdom.
Under the financial legislation which
we have enacted there is now ample
circulation for every business need;
and every dollar of this circulation is
worth a dollar in gold. We have re-
duced the Understanding debt and
in still larger measure the interest on
that debt All of the war taxes i'm
posed during the Spanish war have
been removed with a view TO relieve
the people and rs prevent the accumu-
latiOn of an unnecessary surplus. The
result is that hardly ever before have
the expenditures and income of the
government so closely correspondent.
In the fiscal year that has just closed
the excess Of income over the ordinary
IL g
dollars. This does not take account
of the fifty millions expended out of
the accumulated surplus for the pur-
chase of the isthmian canal. 1t is an
extraordinary proof of the sound finan-
cial condition of the nation that in
stead of following the usual course in
such matters and throwing the burden
upon poSterity by an issue of bonds,
We were able to make the payment out
right, and yet after it to have in the
treasury a surplus Of one hundred and
sixty millions. Moreover. we were
able to pay this fifty millions of dol
lars out of hand without causing the
slightest disturbance to business con-
ditions.
Where Tariff Comes In.
We have enacted a tariff law under
which during the past few years the
country has attained a height of ma
terial well-being never before reached.
Wages are higher than ever before
That whenever the need arises there
should be 4 reimbursement of the tariff
schedules is undoubted; but such
changes can with safety be made only
rhngn 30
ciple of a protective tariff is beyond
question; for otherwise the changes
would amount not to reimbursement.
but to repeal. The readjustment when
made must maintain and not destroy
the protective principle. To the farm
er. the merchant, the manufacturer,
this is vital; but perhaps no other man
is so much interested as the wage
worker in the maintenance of our pres
ent economic system. both as regards
the finances and the tariff. The stand
ard of living of our wage-workers is
higher than that Of any other country.
and it can not so remain unless we
have a protective tariff which shall
always keep as a minimum a rate of
duty sufficient to cover the difference
between l0e ldDOI COSL mere ana
abroad. Those who. like our oppon-
ents. "denounce protection as rob
berry" thereby explicitly commit them
selves TO the proposition that if they |
were to revise the tariff no heed would |
be paid TO the necessity of meeting this |
difference between the standards OF |
living for wage-workers here and in |
other countries. and therefore on this |
point their antagOnism TO our principle |
is fundamental Here again we ask |
that their promises and ours be judg- |
ed by what has been done in the i'm |
mediate past. We ask that sober and |
sensible men compare the workings of /
the present tariff law. and the condi- |
tons which obtain under it. with the |
of the preceding tariff law of |
1891 and the conditions which that /
tariff of IS 4 helped TO bring about
Believe I'm Reciprocity.
We believe in reciprocity with for