President Harrison's election manifesto, which takes the form of a
letter accepting his nomination by the Republican Convention, was published in Washington on Monday. The policy of Protection relieved by reciprocity with foreign States has, he declares, been successful, and he represents the Democratic party as having declared that " if it is given the power, it will enact a tariff law without any regard to its effect upon wages, or the capital invested in our great industries." A tariff for revenue only is un-American, and contrary to the teachings of such great Democratic leaders as Jefferson and Jackson. An impartial committee of the Senate, after investigating the effects of the tariff, has shown that the cost of living for persons earning less than $1,000 per annum has decreased, and that the prices of farm products have at the same time increased. Wages, Mr. Harrison declares, have gone up to 1 per cent., farm produce 18.67, and cereals 33.59 per cent.,—a remarkable instance of the danger of proving too much, since, even under the President's own figures, it is by no means impossible that the struggle for life may be harder for the workman. In regard to silver, the President executes a " straddle." He is for every dollar, gold, paper, or silver, being as good as any other dollar ; but he is also in favour of taking joint action as to silver with the European Powers. It is impossible to make any guess that is worth having as to the chances of the election, but the signs certainly seem to show that the shoe of Protection is pinching a good deal. Besides, the swing of the pendulum is in favour of the Democrats.
