The Red Cloud chief., 1904-08-19

d~uction, and as a producer OF revenue
to defray the expenses Of the VA OF
the Rebellion, the first tariff law
passed by the Republican party proved
itself Of incalculable benefit to the
country.
The Republican party readjustet
the tariff downward in 1872. and agait
in 1883, for the purpose of correcting
some inequalities. The results of these
downward readjustments we're 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
raSy readjusted the tariff upward, in
order to correct the gross inequalities
and disaster.produclng features of the
Democratic tariff REIMBURSEMENT OF
1894, and forthwith followed a period
OF prosperity far 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 a tariff law EN-.
bodying the essential principles Of pro-
lection. Through all those years the
Democratic party has opposed protec.
ton, and in the only period of Demo.
cratic control in all branches of the
Federal government that party re-
vised the tariff upon lines that liz.
nored as far as possible the princA
pies of protection. Here Is presented,
therefore, in a 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 or to
correct inequalities Of the law. The
Democratic party, when entrusted
with power, revised the tariff upon
non.prOtection lines, and in the SEIZED.
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
fern. 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 workingmen 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, OF
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
| hicfnry an1 fhn nvnnriannnc pf rpan "
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
err with the for.revenue-only stipu
lation that the tariff be limited to the
needs Of the government" cannot blu,
be regarded by thoughtful people
everywhere as .covert attempt OF
the party to mislead the people into
striking a blow at protection under
the claim that the blow will lot 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 politica'
party that is opposed to protection
AS we'll might the American people
have invited Mr.. Bryan in 1896 or il
1900 to make and execute a law estab
ishing the gold standard as to invite
the Democratic party under Judge
Parker, on a platform that declare!
protection to be robbery" to make {
tariff law that shall protect American
industries and American labor.