Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1908-09-17

during that entire period of low tariff
and until relief was obtained by re-
turn to protection. The history of
tariff legislation in congress is one of
continuous struggle.
Success has been achieved by a
narrow margin. The principle of pro-
lection to American labor and indus
try has frequently been put in peril in
the house of it's friends.
Democratic Soup House Period.
Every one recalls the dreadful in.
dustrial depression during Cleveland's
second administration Following the
re-establishment OF protection in 1897
came an immediate restoration Of
prosperity, which continued steadily
until the great disturbances in world
finances resulting from the Boer and
Russo-Japanese wars and the local
disturbances resulting from the great
losses consequent upon the Baltimore
and San Francisco disasters-disturb
ances due ultimately to monetary
causes and being but temporary in
duration.
These causes, with the lack of suf-
ficient currency to finance great un-
dertakings consequent upon the tre-
mendous prosperity which has come
to the country under a decade of pro
lection, are generally conceded to be
the chief elements in that cessation
which we all believe to be but tenn
porary in the extraordinary prosperity
and industrial development and ex-
pansion of commerce which the coun-
try has enjoyed since the principle of
protection and sound money were es-
tablished in the election of William
Mckinley in 1896.
Setting aside minor issues and
theories of legislation, does any sane
man doubt that the future prosperity
of the country cannot be safely in
trusted to the Republican party by
the election of William H. Taft as
president?
THE people from one end of the
land to the other demand a cessation
of the temporary interruption to our
prosperity from which we are recently
recovering. They are most interested
in such an administration of the gov
ernment and such legislation by con-
gress as can most reasonably be eX-
pected to bring about resumption
of our splendid march of development
at home and abroad.
Want American Standard Of Wages.
"The great mass of our people want
to be assured of permanent employ
ment at remunerative wages. which
will enable them to maintain a stand
ard of living such as becomes Ameri-
can citizenship. History demonstrates
beyond any question that the mainte-
nance Of the principle of protection
under Republican administration and
legislation has secured these results.
History has shown that where this
condition has been interrupted by
Democratic success and tariff tinker
ing and free trade principles that dis
aster and panic have ensued.
CLOSED mills and idle men were too
familiar to all of us little over twelve
years ago, and would hardly need re-
calling now were we not so apt to for
get Nor is there anything in the atti-
tude of the Democratic party to assure
the American people of consistent
adherence to the protective principle.
Tariff Cuts Cause Depression.
1T would seem to be evident enough
not to require argument that the pro-
tective system can best be maintained
by those who have been successful for
nearly 100 years in its maintenance
and development
The general statement stands un-
challenged that whenever the tariff
has been reduced in whole or in part
business depression has followed,
and in many cases most severe COM
mercial and industrial panics.
THE present tariff law has been in
operation unchanged longer than any
other tariff law in our history.
MANY favor continuing the law un-
changed for the present, on the theory
that stability of conditions is an es-
sential feature of any tariff system.
and that the agitation in changing the
same introduces uncertainty in the
trade conditions, and is apt to be fol-
lowed by curtailment of industrial
activity.
There is, however. a general de-
mand for a readjustment of schedules
to meet changed conditions in the in
dustrial world, and it is conceded on
all sides that general revision will be
made in the near future, but what
ever changes are made the Republi-
can party this year stands emphati-
cally pledged to the principle that a
tariff shall be imposed on all imported
products, whether Of the factory, the
farm or the mine, sufficiently great to
equal the difference between the cost
of production abroad and at home, and
that this difference should, of course,
include the difference between the
wages paid in this country and the