THK KKMKUY. 731 



question upon the people, magnifying its importance for 

 the express purpose of attracting their attention from 

 other and more important measures. And the same pre- 

 text is now used which has ever been employed in enacting 

 every measure of class legislation that of its being in the 

 interest of the laboring man. Is it not passing strange 

 that it has taken the two political parties so long to learn 

 that it is the greatest and most important issue ? But it is 

 pliable, adjustable and portable. It can be so worded that 

 it will mean high protection in the East, low protection in 

 the West, and free trade in the South. 



u The old parties seem determined to ignore every 

 other question, and at the same time make no advance 

 towards a proper adjustment of the tariff. In 1868 we had 

 practically the same tariff we have now, though times were 

 good and the people prosperous. In 1873 we had about 

 the same tariff, and had a great industrial collapse. Did 

 the tariff produce either one or both of these conditions? 

 It is poor argument for one to say that because we had a 

 high tariff and prosperity in 1868, that we owe that pros- 

 perity to the tariff; or, because we had a high tariff and 

 industrial prostration in 1873, that the condition was pro- 

 duced by the high or protective tariff. How will the tariff 

 give us relief from excessive transportation rates? Or, 

 how will it relieve us from the consequences of a money 

 monopoly of contraction and resumption ? True, it might 

 have the effect of breaking up some of the gigantic trusts 

 which have formed under the shadow of its protection. 

 But, have we any guarantee that other and larger trusts 

 will not be formed, through a conspiracy of the capitalists 

 of Europe and America, and involving every article, the 

 value of which is now enhanced by these unholy combina- 

 tions? How will a readjustment of the tariff schedule aid 

 us in securing higher prices for the products of labor? 



The American people are in debt almost to the verge 



