The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1912-09-26
THURSDAY, SEPT. 26, 1912.

The political conditions in the United
States in 1860 bore some resemblance
TO the present situation. The Demo
cratic party had split on the question
OF the extension Of slavery and had
two presidential tickets in the field
Breckenridge and Lane and Douglas
and Johnson. The situation was still
further complicated by the candidacy
of Bell and Everett on the Constitution
al Union ticket. The result OF the
election in November of that year
marked an epoch in American his
history.
Fifty-two years have rolled by on the
tide of time, and the Republican party,
the victor in that contest, is now rent
in twain and the Democratic party is
united; has harmony enthusiasm, or
ganization, energy and determination
in every state. The Republican party
which has dominated and controlled
for nearly fifty years now has two
candidates for President and they and
their friends are conducting a cam
paign Of bitterness and criticism and
are marching to defeat.
The greatest question in this cam
paign is the tariff question, and both
Gov. Wilson and President Taft, in
their speeches Of acceptance, have
made the tariff the main issue. The
first tariff act was passed in 1889, and
the average duties were 81 per cent.
Now the average is 80 per cent. In
1912 the average was y per cent. BY
the Walker tariff act of 1916 duties
were reduced to an average Of 30 per
cent. This worked so well that in 1851
the average was further reduced to 20
per cent. The tariff beneGciaries,
however, availed themselves Of the
exigencies of the civil war and made
two increases: First, to an average Of
37i per cent; second, to an average of
~ per cent; and now, forty.siX years
later, the average is 30 per cent.
The Republican party is responsible
for this increase from an average of 20
per cent, as it stood in 1862, TO 80 per
cent, as it stands today, and for the
millions Of dollars, that through it.,
have been taken from the people to
make more millionaires than are found
in any other country in the world.
The existing tariff law contains 2,O24
articles, and the report of the Depart
ment OF Commerce and Labor shows
that the total production in the United
States of goods protected by the tariff
last year was Sl3,OO0000 600, and there
was imported into the United States
last year goods valued at S779, 900, 900,
on which tariff tax was collected
amounting to 1929, 600, 900 by the United
States Government; but the unparallel-
ed outrage is that the producers in the
United States Of 1900, 900, 900 Of goods
were enabled, because of the protective
tariff, TO increase the price Of their
goods, so that they made 90, 000,0OO Of
consumers pay them a tribute Of about
$1,000, 100000.
The Democratic party is in favor Of a
tariff for revenue only, which benefits
the people; Republicans are in favor OF
"A tariff for protection, which benefits
the classes. According to Democratic
faith, in making tariF schedules the
tariff should be lowest on all the neces.
stiles Of life and highest on luXuries
The excessive tax provided for in the
schedules OF the existing tariff law in.
creased the price on every article on
which ii is levied and helped TO make
the cost Of living 81 per cent higher
than II was sixteen years ago.
The pathway Of Democrats 10 take
charge Of the government and accom-.
plish reduction Of the tariff and other
needed reforms, is open and leads tC
victory. The Democratic party, united
in every section Of the country, with q
strong ticket, standing on n great de-
caratiOn Of Democratic principle,
awaits the shock Of battle confident o.
success. The confidence is not inspired
so much by the condition OF demoraliz
alton existing in the Republican part,
as by the belief that the party is rgh
and It's cause deserves success
THE only apparent obstacle in the
way Of victory in November is th,
existence Of that apathy among Dem
ocrats which is bred by oyerconiidence
Many a fight has been lost on this &C
count. There is TOO much at stak,
this year for the Democrats TO 20 {,
sleep. The Pilot urges Democrats I,
be watchful, active and do as was don
at The rebuilding Of the walls 0
Jerusalem-each man building 40 tina
part Of the wall over next TO his owl
house.
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