Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1904-10-13
The Issue i'm 1904.

1t seems meet and proper and wholly with,
in the province of an independent newspa-
per having democratic editor, to discuss
the situation as it discloses itself,o one whose
democracy is founded upon the proposition
that Protective Tariff eves an unwarrant.
ed tribute upon the entire people for the ben
eft of a certain portion Of the whole, such
proven portion being subject to the variant
of biased statistics, the iugglery of figures,
which may be made to show o greater or less
percentage directly and indirectly benefited
by the policy ofa Protective Tariff, as the
statsticlan essays the one or the other task
Herein, then let it again be said, will it be
shown about how it looks to that kind of
democrat, and, paren,hetically, it may here
be asserted, that the tariff question, single
and alone, is all except the most tenuous
sham and strained pretense, that there is OF
difference between the two great parties.
Then the republicans openly, courageous.
" and without the shadow Of wavering,
stand by the foundation principle OF "pro-
lection :" the democrats, except by retreat
from their ancient and safe mooriugs, are
compelled to combat the doctrine, and with
formrl words, both IN their platform and in
Judge Parker's letter of acceptance, do SO.
The republicans boldly clam that every
material good that has come to us must be
credited up to their protectlonst policy and
their roar is that of real live lion; the DEM
ocrats deny this, but both their platform and
their candidates utterances on the subject,
markedly the latter, lack vlgor and direct
ness. Judge Parker virtually says: Pioiec'
ton is responsible for the grasping trusts
and there are other evils arising directly from
it as q national policy, but, don't be alarmed,
We chosen of Protection My policy Will be
to not deal decsively with your pet con
TESS that it embodics vicious principle and
that it has made it easy for few to grow
rich at the expense of the many; l know all
this and more, but, you are mighty and strong
and YOU will wicld determining influence
in lust those states that ! must carry and
will not smite you as | would lesser evil,
one welding a lesser influence; | will deal
moderately, scientifically with you ; will
reduce your position by the slow and precise
methods of the college professor of politica!
economy. Then, "Hear me Norma in pity
hear mel want your sympathy and | fear
your (un)rightcous anger; know you tariff
barons are but licensed pilfcrers, but you
and yours are "here"-inrenchcd, and am
yet outside the citadel; you are rich, yigor-
Gus and on the seeming solid ground OF &C
complshed facts, while have as possession
but my splendid theory, little enervated
through lack Of recent exercise and my lcct
rest upon On unstable toundation-thiss same
democratic doctrine of antagonism to pro
lection" weakened and diluted beyond re.
cognition through fear of you. must roar,
but you will note that l have modulated;
that the vibrations are those Of the mellow
chords of the dove; the note is there, the mu'
sic is writ the same, but pray note, we men
of mighty "snews", that rs Joshua encom-
passed the city of Jericho seycn times, even
SO do we for the third time since 1892 three
or seven, it is immatcria) and, as the trum'
pet sounded "the wall fell down flat, SO
even should we do unto the tariff wall, on
ly that we will not; instead of the "trumpets
of rams horns" Justify sounded by the priests
of tariff reform in front Of your wall, you
have my promise that only the familiar and
innocuous bray of the anamic democratic
donkey shall be heard round about your cit
adel on the morrow of our victory. We DO
not approve of the "big stick" in this matter.
but we do agree to speak softly" gossamer
should not be agitaied by the vibrations
when our people shout with great shout"
before your tariff wall.
Thus does it appear to one who fails to see
in the present campaign merit in single is
sue between the two great parties OTHER
than that of the tariff.
In the matter of Philippine policy it is the
difference between twcedledum and tweedlc'
dee In the Panama matter the adInnlstra-
ton has been justified in its every step; in
the matter of public expenditures, no admin
istraton that comes in Can or eyer Will ma.
lerlaly lessen them, if at all; the siyer issue
never was real and honest one and now it
is so dead that its "remains" smell badly al.
ready. There is then but one issue, the tar.
if; one party is irrevocaby committed to the
protective policy; the other lacks the cour
age to attack lt-and there you are
This leaves the personality of the prcsi-
Dental candidates as about the only really
available capital of the democracy and that
is found to be largely matter of viewpoint ;
on one side is a conservatism which, rs re-
CARDS the main issue, approA ches timidty,
Ia more significant term is warranted) with
in recognizable distance on the other side is
an apostle of the strenuous life. One gives
ample promise of an amount of thinking -
the other of an amount of doing, One may
be led by his party associates to do some
thing the other would probably be prevent
ed by his party associates from over doing
anything.
And, again, there you are