Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1904-07-28
WHATS THE DIFFERENcE7


them. This is strikingly shown by a
comparison of their respective plat
forms. II is further shown by a study
of the men chosen as standard bearers.
Going back distance of three or
four campaigns, say to Cleveland's
time, we are able TO recall in the in
tervening period three leading ques-
tons upon which the two parties have
taken opposite sides. These issues
have all been of deep importance and
the divergent views of Republicans
and Democrats, threatening one or the
other form OF settlement, have had the
effect of lending to these past cam
paigns especial interest.
The first issue named is the tariff
Protection had been the established
policy OF the country since the civil
war, and had served as the keystone
of Republican faith. Though the
Democrats, in outside opposition, had
assailed protection. as they had other
Republican policies, there was no
.earnestness about it until Cleveland's
message in his first administration laid
down a doctrine so radical that even
many Democrats could not subscribe
to il. In the following campaign Of
IS, the country refused to sustain
Cleveland and his idea of free raw ma
terials, and chose Harrison and protec-
ton instead. But the desire to make
the experiment kept on spreading and,
despite the tour lat years OF Harrison's
time, in 92 the Democrats came up
united, militant and more determined
than before TO test their theory. In
their national platform, protection was
denounced not only as harmful to the
peoples interests, but as absolutely
unconstitutional and a robbery. They
came out squarely for the British free
trade idea. The battle was fought on
this issue alone. The tariff was
pounded and expounded from every
stump in the country. School debat-
ing clubs and store courts discussed
schedules and free lists, and a veri.
table campaign OF education took the
place of personal abuse and villihca-
ton. The Democrats won a signal
victory. Cleveland and free trade
were voted in.
The result is still fresh in mind
Business came to standstill at once,
and the Democrats in Congress, APP
palled by the prospect, hesitated to 90
to the extreme promised in their plat
form. They did finally pass the Will
son act. so crude a measure that Cleve-
land himself would not sign it and it
became law without his approval.
Matters, instead OF mending, grew
worse. The new act failed to produce
sufficient revenues, and from having a
surplus the treasury faced a deficit.
Confidence in its ability to Withstand
the drain became shaken and the
whole system of finance trembled. 1t
was finally necessary TO sell bonds in
order to tide along. Industry suffered
as never before. Mills closed, wheels
stopped. laborers paraded the streets
in idleness and hunger.
The object lesson served one good
purpose, however. 1t settled the
question OF tariff. Free trade had
wrought the ruin, and the people saw
it. They sighed for the plentiful days
of protection, and at the first opportu-
nifty rectified their error. With Nc
Kinley, the apostle of protection, as
their leader, and a strong reatfirma-
ton of their cardinal faith, they won a
signal triumph in 90, and the skies
frightened at once. The Dingley tar
if. speedily enacted, has given album
dant revenues and unparalleled pros
perity.
The discredited Democratic doctrine
of free trade no longer survives As
an issue, it has passed away. Though
the st. Louis platform criticises almost
everything Republican, it handles
protection gingerly, and there is no
serious intention of trying again the
ruinous policy OF tree trade, even if !
the Democrats should succeed in No |
vember. A slight modification of
some schedules would be the only |
change. 1t is appreciated by all that
the immense revenues needed can best /
be raised by duties levied on foreign |
imports, so placed as to protect the
home production. The Republican !
policy, through victory and defeat has
not changed. The party has stood by
protection, and the Democracy has
been forced to abandon its position
and practically to come over to the
other side. So that this great issue |