The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1908-07-30

REAL EFFECT or REPUBLICAN
TARIFF PROTECTION.
Prosperity Of Which the Party Has
eossted Confined TO the Few
Who Became MlIIionsires,
Not to the People.


When four years ago the Democrats
predicted that the high tariff would
beget panic instead OF prosperity and
that Republican policies would pro
duce business depression In place OF
welfare and happiness. the whole
pack, from Roosevelt to the lIttlest
spellbinder Of them all. pointed with
pride. etc. to the achievements Of the
o. o. p. But the panic came and the
business depression still continues.
although our Republican friends are
trying to make as believe that II all
has been but little financial furry"
When we come TO consider what of-
feet this exaggerated tariff protection
has had upon the Industrial condition
In this country, how far II has pro-
duced prosperity. TO what extent II Is
responsible for the perils which now
confront us. and which have involved
the Industrial system Of this country
In confusion. II not In paralysis. no
wonder our Republican friends change
front and instead Of standing pat are
now promising tariff revision. The
Republicans still boast OF the pros
perity which they have produced In
this country. but no real prosperity
has existed. IL was sham and not
genuine. and the first breath Of ad-
versity has blown down the whole
fabric like breath demolishes the
child's house built OF cards.
Not that there has been no pros
peri;y. far from Il. The too prosper
Gus trusts have fourished amazingly.
but II was not the well doing that
comes from successful labor, but the
fortune produced by successful plum
der. The few have become million
aires and the many have Just con-
trived to live and but few of them to
save. Such are the fruits Of protec-
tionism. High prices for speculative
securities and watered stock doled out
TO gullible victims Is the Republican
conception OF prosperity. and that is
the only kind OF prosperity they have
ever shown in the long years they
have controlled the government.
Now. the Democratic notion OF pros
perity-real prosperity-consists in
the abundance OF commodities fairly
distributed among those who produce
them. II means more houses. larger
and more commodious rooms with
healthier people dwelling In them; II
means warmer clothing. covering
stronger and more healthy limbs;
more abundant food OF better quality;
more shoes and more of everything
In the nature of comfort that man
can use-more books. higher wages
and shorter hours; more leisure TO en-
Joy what increased earnings can buy.
This alone is what Democrats mean
by prosperity. and this alone Is pros
perity which is genuine.
Now. how is that prosperity to be
reached. how are things available for
the comfort OF. men TO be reachedg .
Can Theodore Roosevelt or Taft
produce a dollars worth of such
things? Can the whole Republican
party insure the farmers good crops.
although II impiously claims to be al
lied with omnipotence? Have any of
them. great or small. or all combined
az the government. the capacity TO
increase anything on the face OF the
earth? They have shown themselves
to possess the power OF spending. so
much so that with the end OF the fiscal
year at hand there Is a deficiency OF
$50, 100000 OF revenue to meet their
expenditures. But II requires the farm
er and the laborer to produce, for the
trusts. aided by the politicians. TO dis
sipate. The Republican national plat
form ascribes in fulsome terms all
the benefits that any OF us have been
fortunate enough to receive to our
most exalted servant" Theodore
Roosevelt. and then boastfully de-
scribes long list Of accomplishments
most OF which have not yet been
achieved and never will be under the
plutocratic-bred policies fer which the
Republican party is famous.
But. after all. the Republican party
has had 10 turn tail and run for
cover from the righteous wrath OF an
injured people. II declares its car
dinal policy of protection to have
been failure and promises to revise
II after election" What the prom
lse stands for no one knows. The or
gan of the Protective Tariff league
with Joy declares that II means revis-
ing the tariff higher. while Reformer
La Toilette and Reformer Cummins,
the father OF the Iowa Idea" OF tariff
reform are satisfied
The disastrous effect OF tariff pro
lection leads many people to doubt
the honesty OF Republican profession
and to hope for real tariff reform that