The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1912-10-30

It's tie OAdN AhFaAAdbtC ASA~
any public man. or collection OF men.
come to ocala for a public purpose,
such as a convention. or to address
the people on any policy they are adj
vocating, to report their proceedings
without argument. Such people are in
a large sense the city's guests and en-
titled to hospitality and respectful
hearing.
AS aforesaid. Mr.. Z. r. Gunby. in his
speech Monday night, put up good
argument for his own party and was
fair to democracy. Its a pity that all
men in debating political questions |
cannot rise to his standard. II they |
could, everything in public life would
rise appreciably and Immediately. One
OF the things that politics suffers from
Is that the average campaign speaker
seeks to delude his hearers as to the
merits OF his own cause and the fail
ings OF his opponents. and we have TO
counteract It with the doubtful benefit
that the people distrust and are care
less about hearing them.
Mr.. Gunby spoke OF tariff conditions
In 1892, of the prosperity Of the coun-
try under a republican administration,
and the Mckinley tariff law, of the
election of Cleveland, of the Wilson
tariff bill and the subsequent panic.
He particularly reminded US Of the
tariff bill prepared by another school
master whose name was also Wilson,
and asked us all IL we didn't remem-
Der IL. OF course we did, all of us who
were old enough to vote in those days.
Mr. Gunby was drawing a parallel be-
tween '92 and now and warning US not
to vote the democratic ticket lest an
L. rop
ensue.
But Mr.. Gunby did not present the
democratic side of the case. 1t wasn't
to be expected of him that he should
do so. And now since he has gone,
leaving only pleasant memories be-
hind, the Star will give a few points
on that same tariff matter that 1t
would be well for all Americans to
consider
The Mckinley tariff was the high
est that had ever been levied, but 1t
was also the most scientific and SYM
metrical. William Mckinley tried to
legislate for the whole country, even
as he tried to be president for the
whole country. He regarded protec-
ton as protection and not as a priv
ilege and nearer than any other re-
publican he carried that policy into
effect His tariff fostered privilege.
but it's spirit was privilege for every
body. His could. not have failed IN
time to haze had almost the same eff
fects that Aater tariffs have had, but
at first II vastly stimulated industry in
many parts OF the country and caused
an activity in trade that spread to all.
However. all was not serene, even
under this scientific tariff. 1t laid such
htrwH nwn hn INN hnt
ments OF goods to the United States
fell of, and the tariff duties failed to
meet the expenses of the government.
The huge surplus of a quarter of a
billion accumulated under Cleveland.
went to- meet the riotous expenses of
the billion dollar Congress. Its the
opinion of men who have carefully
studied public affairs that the great
Cleveland panic began under Harrison.
Begging Mr.. Gunby's pardon, but the
country was not unanimously happy in
1892 Southern cotton was selling at
5 cents, because the Mckinley tariff
had shut down the English mills. Not
only was bottom down to 5 cents, but
1t couldn't find buyers at that price
and was stacked in warehouses from
Virginia to Mexico. Western corn was
a drug on the market at 10 cents a
bushel. and the eastern holders OF
mortgages were beginning to fore
close.
Then Cleveland was elected, and at
once. without waiting to see what the
democrats were going to do, tariff
protected manufacturers began closing
their plants and throwing men out OF
work. Under no circumstances was ii
necessary for them to do so. They
have vi md
something over. but they did 1t to give
the country an object lesson, and in
many cases to punish their working
men for voting the democratic ticket
They succeeded beyond their fondest
hopes.
Also, '92 was bad crop year, and
Kansas farmers who had used their
corn for fuel the winter before, and
Southern planters who had sold their
cotton to spectators at less than hall
price. faced dire want in the winter OF
80. And OF course the democrats were
blamed for It.
Then Professor Wilson framed his
tariff. He gave II deep study and said
and Grover Cleveland and other states
men agreed with him. that it was a
good tariff law. just and symmetrical
and would benefit the whole country
But that Wilson tariff was never tried
When 1t came before Congress, cow
ardly and traitorous democrats Joined
hands with republicans and amended II
till its own father didn't know II. and
made II a thing of shreds and patches
with protection for those strone
enough to obtain it, and persecution
for some that were not. and when they
passed this mongrel thing thru Con
gress Cleveland refused to sign 1t, and
IL became law without his consent.
And yet that same rotten Wilson
tariR went to prove how little the
prosperity OF this country really de-
ponds on protection. For as soon as Il
was settled what the law was going
to be. men went to work. bushes.
slowly began to pick up; also. another
thing. the tariff receipts under tn.
Wilson law came nearer paying the ex.
penses OF the government than they
had under the Mckinley law.
The free silver agitation, which
nearly all democrats now concede Il
have been a mistake, had much more
to do with prolonging hard times thar
the tariff. But IL 1t hadn't been for tn,
immense deposits of gold discovered IN
South Africa and Alaska, that fire.
silver business might not have beer
such a mistake after all
Mr.. Gunby probably did not think Of
the freezes OF "a and '95. which mad,
that period more distressing to us o.
try. Also, he did not explain why, In