The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1904-09-01
THE FARMER
IS INTERESTED

The difference between the two
greatpolitical parties can be con-
cisely stated. The republican
party has "a definite policy;
knows exactly what it wants to
do and does it. The democratic
party has no policy as an under
lying principle, and when they
have the power to do. do not
know how to use it. The repub-
licans carry their ideas into effect
the ideas of the democrats on all
of the great questions that affect
the prosperity of the country are
negative.
To claim that the one is always
right and the other always wrong
would be absurdity, but to claim
that the results of the policy of
one. as it affects the daily life
and well-being of the people, as
against the lack Of a definite,
well defined and well executed
policy of the other. has been
proven over and over again to
have produced the greatest good
to the greatest number is easy to
demonstrate.
If this was an exclusively ag-
ricultural country or an exclusive
manufacturing country, the prob
lem would be easier to solve.
But it is both, and rules that
benefit some sections, seem to
injure others. Absolutely free
trade that might help the farmer
would destroy the manufacturer,
and where so many varied inter-
estS have to be considered the
policy that benefits the greatest
number and the country as a
whole is the one that should be
carried out.
Apparent injustice is done to
some interests by any tariff law
that might be enacted; but still
greater would be done by none
at all or one so inequitable that
its effect would injure the coun-
try at large.
Political economists of world
wide celebrity have differed as
widely as the poles on the ques-
ton of protection or protected
interests, and free t de. or "a tar.
iff for revenue only, which is
practically free trade, but politi-
cal economists, like all other
theorists, see only lone side OF
the shield" and all theories that
are applied to facts are vain.
The present condition of the
United States, in its unquestion-
ed prosperity and its steady ad-
vance to commanding position
among the great powers of the
world, owes that position more
largely to its tariff than to any
other condition.
The country is populated with
an intelligent, industrious, brave
and honorable people. Within
its borders it has the soil and
climate to produce almost every
thing that grows on earth. It's
mountains TEEN with metals. Its
coal and timber and oil are mex
haustible. The enterprise of its
citizens is boundless. No hap
pier people than those who have
so many of the necessities and
Injuries of life at their disposal
exist anywhere on the globe;
and it is not too much to say
that the wisdom of the republi-
can party has had much to do
with putting it in their power to
take advantage of the circum-
stances by which they are sur
rounded.
1t is not the purpose of this
article to analyze and take up in
detail what that party has done
for the country, but to soberly
ask the intelligent voter whether
it is wise to change from this
known, successful, prosperous
system, to the unknown, expert
mental and unsettled policy of
the opposite party, no matter
how admirable nay be its stand
ard bearer, or how honorable
and patriotic its leader.-New
York Dairyman.