The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1904-12-22
Before The Official Count

ton as fraud. robbery or
great majority of the American
people for the benefit of the few.
we declare it to Se q fundamental .
principle of the democratic party
that the federal government has
no constitutional power to impose
and collect tariff duties, except for
the purpose of revenue only.
This was tariff for revenue only"
with vengeance. Think of it, Mr..
Bryan, and then think what the party
did in 1872. 1884. 1888. Ask yourself
how it can be so inconsistent?
Tom Watson says the democratic
party has boxed the compass" 1t
would seem to be SO. with respect to
the tariff. And. if it can not remain
constant on the tariff question, can it
remain constant on any question? Does
Mr.. Bryan propose to remain with a
party that is liable to pronounce for
protection at one time and free trade
at any other time? If there is any
one principle for which Bryan stands
more than another, it is free trade or
tariff for revenue only. He has stood
| for this longer than for any other prin-
ciple.
The most fundamental of all is
sues is the tariff. The republican par
| ty is willing to stake it's existence on
protection. The democratic party is
willing to concede everything else
some times being willing to concede
this. But as rule the democratic
party takes the ground that protection
is not only unwise, but demonstrations
al. This was the ground taken in 1892,
when Grover Cleveland was elected
the second time.
The democratic party was defeated in
1888, although it stood for protection.
This shows that the people were way
ering between revenue tariffs and pro-
lection. The probability is that other
things had an influence. 1t could not
have been personal matters, because
the candidates were the same in 1888
and 1892. The money question has had
considerable influence since 1872. A
great many voters have been dissatis-
fled with the course of the republican
! party with reference to coinage and
paper money, since the great financial
panic Of 1S73-1S79. This long panic,
the worst that the country had ever
experienced, caused many people to
cease thinking about the tariff and to
give their attention to money, as a
|science
1t is difficult for the great mass of
the people to concentrate their
thoughts upon money as science, ex-
cept during money panic; which
can not or does not last long, as a
rule 1t does not take long for the rich
folks to seize all the property of poor
folks in monetary panic: and, when
the few have foreclosed their mort
cages, and sold out the many debtors,
it is all over; because those who are
financially dead, can not speak. 1t is
the silence of the grave, and when,
latter little the, the people begin to
discuss political issues again, their at
Itention is usually directed to the tariff
as the cause of all the suffering. IT
seems to be easy for tie politicians to
bring up the tariff as a matter of diff
ference. on politics.
The recer+ campaign is an illus
tration. No subject was so much dis
cussed as tariff reform. or tariff re-
vision, many saving that tariff for
lprotection is legalized robbery; the
other side saving that if there is nc
Iprotection, the factories and mills must
stop, the merchant must close his
store, and the farmer be without a
market for his products. This talk
produces an issue. which hides the
money issue and all others.
Mr.. Bryan. by irving to keep the
democratic party alive. is assisting IN
keeping up discussion about the tar
if, and in so doing, he prevents a
discussion of the graduated income
tax and the money question, and, in
fact, every issue that ought to engage
the attention of the people, rathe,
than the tariff.
1t is a good issue to keep the re-
publican party in power and the demo
cratic party out Of power-a good is
Isue to enable the north to govern the
country, and for the south to have nc
voice in the federal government. AS