Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 34, Number 98, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 August 1902 — Political Comment. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Political Comment.

_ Kettueninc to the TariflL ~.r. Having practically ignored the tariff in the last two national campaigns, the Democratic leaders are now proposing to return to that issue for the next fight for the control of the government. Mr. Cleveland, as the leading exponent of ao-called, tariff reform, Urges that the Democracy must again take up this question and make it the leading Issue in their fight of 1904. In the opinion of Mr. Cleveland, who is unquestionably the foremost champion of what is called tariff reform, the greatest of all injuries tn which the American people are now subjected Is tariff taxation, which he thinks makes exactions far beyond the needs of eco nomlcal and legitimate government expenditure. Consequently Mr. Cleveland would have the Democratic party take a very decided stand against the tariff, just as he demanded it should ta. 1881 awd. ’which savea years later it did do, with what consequences to the business interests of the country almost everybody remembers. It appears to be pretty evident that the Democratic party is prepared to accept the counsel of Mr. Cleveland in this particular. All the State conventions of the party thus far held this year show this. Their platforms'have made prominent the demand for tariff revision, all of them plainly showing that the leading idea among Democrats at this time is to subordinate everything to the question of so-called tariff reform. In all the Democratic State platforms of this year this question is given the most conspicuous place. In the Democratic mind at present this seems to be the “burning issue.” Even “imperialism” has taken a secondary place and the trust issue occupies a place as an outgrowth of the tariff, notwithstanding the fact that the Democratic leader in the last two Presidential campaigns declared that the tariff was not responsible for the trusts. It seems to be now plainly indicated, therefore, that the"next national campaign is to be fought, so far as the Democratic party is concerned, upon the tariff. The old issue between the two parties is to be revived and the country is once more to be asked topass judgment upon the question of protection to American industries. The Republican party will heartily welcome the issue. There is nothing in its great record of which it is more proud or in defense of which it can Invoke more splendid and conclusive facts. The great industrial growth of the country, our wonderful commercial progress, the great increase in national wealtn, the unprecedented prosperity of the American people—these are arguments in support of the tariff policy of the Republican party which appeal to the Intelligence and the Interests of the. people with a force that is irresistible. - The Republican party Is fully prepared to meet its opponents in a discussion of the tariff policy before the people, confident that the history oi the last four years, to go no further back, will amply vindicate and justify Republican policy, which is as necessary to-day to American labor and industry as at any time in the past— Omaha Bee.

Let It Alone. The enormous purchasing power and consuming capacity of the American market is a factor in the problem of business that Is too often lost sight of or Ignored by those who concentrate their attention upon the question how to Increase their export trade. In 1091, for example, the United States produced and utilized more than one-half of the world’s total output of pig iron. We gained In production over the preceding year about 2,000,000 metric tons, while England lost over 1,000,000 tons and Germany about 500,000 tons. Our gain in manufactured steel was 3,000,000 tons, and we exceeded the combined output of Great Britain and Germany by 012,400 tons, though the year before those two countries led us by 1,240,000 tons—a net change of 1,552,000 tons in favor of the United States in one year’s time. These extraordinary facts lead the Pittsburg Dispatch to remark:

“As an evidence of the phenomenal prosperity of this country these figures are astonishing. The iron and steel trade reflects the material progress being made in all other branches of business. That the demand has already* been guaranteed until well into next year shows that there is no sign of slackening speed and no diminution of confidence in the continuance of the present splendid condition of the American home market.” Still more to the point is the observation of the New York Commercial, which, after commenting upon the tremendous development in iron and steel production, pertinently says: “It is, after all, not so much what we can export as what we can buy and pay for at home that keeps us prosperous. And the vast volume of American Industry that keeps our millions employed and consuming la made possible only by our wise policy of protection. We must preserve the home market at all odda. The minute we let go of that all sorts of things happen. Don't touch that tariff wall.” That lesson should find lodgment in the brain of every intelligent man—the lesson of preserving Intact the purchasing power and the consuming capacity of a market which absorbs every year products estimated at more than WO. •08,000,000 In value. Protection. more than all other causes combined, ere

ated this wonderful market, and, more than any or all other things, protection will maintain it In the light of such facts and conditions, why should the country commit the incalculable folly of ‘Tooling with the tariff?” Why meddle with a good thing? Democracy'* Search for an lune. The leaders of the Democratic party continue to search for an issue, yet .find none. They fill the air with words, but they make no progress. The reason for this failure is not far to seek. For years the leaders of tho Democracy have been taking up one issue after another, not because the issue in hand was right, but merely because it looked right. And to-day they are working on this same old line. There is this fundamental difference between a political issue that is right and one that merely looks right: The former stands wear and tear. ft raises a question that endures until the correct answer is given. The latter raises no enduring question, and speedily goes to tatters under the friction of argument and of fact The Republican party has made blunders. It has committed numerous errors. But it has the distinction that from its foundation its leaders have always sought the good of the people. They may not have seen always what was best for the people, or may not have been able always to accomplish it at once when they have seen it, but they always have sought the greatest good for the greatest number. On the other hand, from the day when it. declared the war for the Union a failure the Democratic party, with rare exceptions, has sought issues that merely looked right at the timeissues to win on—rather than issues that raised enduring questions for which it offered a right solution. That is why thq Democratic party for more than forty years has shifted Its policy perennially, has never ceased to pursue political novelties and nostrums, and has failed utterly in all constructive work. So the Democratic party has failed for forty years as a party of wholesome achievement, or even wholesome opposition. And so it will continue to fail until its leaders make up their minds to cease trifling with issues that merely look fair—that may win an election, but will not really benefit the people—and search sincerely for issues that are right In themselves and will not down until they are properly met and honestly settled.—Chicago Inter Ocean. The Baffled Villain’* Impotent Ratre.

Not at All. How would the Texas wool growers and cattle men like to see another “tariff reform” fanatic inaugurated President?—Valley Mills (Texas) Protectionist.