Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1884-04-11
THE TARIFF.
Grand Democratic banquet at Brooklyn
Addressed by Prominent Menu
beers OF the Party.

NEW IOlth, -hpllt w. Luz !hNNrih-
bly, Room of the Academy o. Music
at Brooklyn was ablaze last night,
the occasion being a dinner given by
Tie Young Mems Democratic Club
of that city. Nearly every Democrat
of local note was present. Among
those from q distance was Senator
Pendleton, who sat ut the right of
the Chairman, while on the left was
Senator Bayard. Those at the main
table were Senator elect Blackburn,
Congressman Hurd. Mohr and Slo-
cum, Andrew Mclean, editor of the
Brooklyn Eagle, and few other
gentlemen of this city. Letters
were received from many distin
Snished Democrats, regrettinG their
inability to attend. The following
letter from Congressman Morrison
read: eve are trying to make
the burdens of the people of the
great State of New York little
lighter and her commerce q little
freer. If we fail, it will be because
her chosen Democratic representa-
tiyes, forgctful of their Democratic
principles, shall unite with the Re-
publican protectionists in voting to
restrain the war on tariff taxes. "
Speaker Carlisle writes: /" If it were
possible for Inc to do so, it would
afford me great pleasure to meet the
Democrats of Brooklyn, especially
at this time. The whole country is
looking to our party for some relief
from the oppressive taxation i'm
posed upon the people by the Gen
eral Government. You can safely
assure our Democratic friends that a
great majority of their representa-
tives to Congress a.e determined TO
make an earnest and honest effort
during the present session to inau-
Gurate a policy of tariff reform to
which we have been so long com
mitted as political party. Time
for resolutions and declarations has
passed, and time for action has come.
We may not be able at this time to
accomplish all that ought to be done,
but we can do something to give as
surance to the country. We have
been sincere in such profession. and
it is our fixed purpose to reduce and
equalize the burden of taxation as
rapidly as circumstances will permit.
Joseph Pulitzer, editor of the New
York World, says: 81 am, myself,
heartily in favor of real tariff reform
and decided reduction of tariff, TO
stop the senseless collection of need
less surplus in the Treasury, and to
tell them that in Brooklyn found
myself surrounded by men represent
ing the wealth and business interest
Of a great metropolis, bou nd to them
by common tie of shaping the des-
TIMES of this country - bring it TO
on economic Government and manly
and fair system of levying taxation.
This was the issue of the parties to-
day, and on it they must stand or
fall" LGreat applause.l
"The Democratic Press" was the
theme of Andrew Mclean, editor of
the Brooklyn Eagle. He opened
with glowing tribute to Senators
Bayard and Pendleton and Con-
gresham Hurd. He said there was
no Democratic journalist who was
not q revenue reformer, and there
was no Democrat who could be at
variance with the pleading for rev.
enue reform. After the menu
was exhausted, Chairman Shepard
claimed the attention of the COM
pany, and said: We are here to
learn whether the Democratic House
will pass the Democratic bill, or
rather, we are here to learn whether
the House of Representatives will be
Democratic or Republican House.
We read that the distinguished au.
thor of the Morrison bill himself as
serts that the measure is not entire
ly sufficient, and is not altogether
specific in its character. If the bill
eau be improved SO as to curtail fur
Their evils, from which we were suf-
fering, and without seriously endan-
gering its passage, or diminishing
the heartiness of Democratic sup
port, let it be so amended and we
shall rejoice. The Morrison bill,
without scholastic disquisition of
which revenue reformers are often
accused, and without verbal plays
upon a tariff only for revenue, OF a
tariff for revenue only, proposes o
practical, real and substantial re.
duction in duties on imports. This
is performance, not a promise.
The Chairman announced Senator
Bayard as the first speaker, and he
was very warmly welcomed.
Representative Jos. G. S. Black
burn, of Kentucky, replied to the
toast, War taxes not for times of
peace" He attended struggle
twenty years ago between the North
and South, and said that none to
his knowledge, on this broad conti-
nent, complained of the decision
then rendered. The taxes arising
from this war continued now would
be cxtor!ion, and should not be ex-
acted. 1t was not just nor fair to
perpetuate this extra burden on the
already bent backs of the taxpayers
of this land. He was not an advo-
cate of free luxuries, but he was an
advocate of free necessaries of life.
He frankly confessed here, as a mat
ter of principle, that he was an
avowed and absolute free-trader.
Loud applause He was no revo-
lutionist and would not disturb o
single industry, but would put his
party on the road that looked to a
reform of tariff abuse. He wanted
to see the American registry open
! for American ships. He wanted to
see the owner of ship register it