The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1886-01-23
Mr.. MORRISON AND THE SU-
GAR PLANTERS.

National Democracy on the tariff cues
ton with the interests of the sugar
planters is furnished by the introduce
tion in the Federal House of Repre-
sentatives of a Joint resolution by Mr.,
Morrison, directing the Presiden: to
give necessary notice for terminating
the Hawaiian treaty.
Mr.. Morrison. be it remem bered. has
been perhaps the ablest and most per-
sistent apostle of the doctrine OF a tar
if for revenue only, and has formulas
lated the systems of revenue reform
which have alarmed the sugar district
of Louisiana to such an extent that
many of her most patriotic citizens
have feared in the ascendency OF the
Democracy the ruin ..of "a rich section
of the State !; and the powerful prompt
ing of large interests allured a mum
Der to the false and ~treacherOus
light of the ignis .fatu.s Of Republican
theories.
No emphatic denial or reputation
by the leaders Of the party could dis
pei the suspicion that seized upon
their minds that the policy of revenue
reform meant the jeopardy if not the
sweeping destruction of their interests;
and it took all the power of a heroic
sentiment in favor of Democracy, and
hatred of the despised system Of Re-
publican rule in this State, to hold firm
" to the cause the deeply concerned
minds of the sugar planters.
IN due course their wise aud fOrtu-
Gated, and the sugar men now clearly
see in the logical evolution Of the prin-
ciples of the great apostle of Tariff
for revenue" the very salvation of
their industry, And while the loud
mouthed advocates Of the Republican
party have been seeking to eutrap them
with glittering theories, while really
favoring a system that is disastrous to
this section, Mr.. Morrison finds it con- !
sistent entirely with his enlightened
theories to remove the crushing weight
Of foreign competition from the devel- |
oping sugar interest, and opposes a
treaty which by placing sugar produ-
ced with peon labor in competition !
with our free labor sugars will ruin
our industry. And those sugar plan
tors that viewed with so much snspi- !
cion the tendencies Of this reform are
now a%pplauding the course Of the ex
ponent of the principles of tariff for
revenue.
The resolution which practically pro
tects the sugar Of Louisiana, could on
II be regarded as in opposition to the
Democratic idea. on the question of
protection and free trade by superficial
critics, who have Inexperienced en-
eirely the significance and scope of the
opposition OF the party to the high tar
III Of the Republicans.
Enlightened Democratic statesman
ship on this subject has maintained
that it was unwise to wiring from the
import trade enormous duties to create
a surplus in the treasury, and for the
sole purpose Of fostering and protec-
ting the industries and manufactures
OF the country. It has inclined to free
trade. but has recognized that it would
only be safe policy to approach it when
1t could be done without a shock to es-
tablished systems. The most in1uen-
tlal civic organization, the New York
Free Trade Club, has announced that
its policy did not contemplate a sweep
ing removal of duties which would
PROSTATE such an interest as that of
Louisiana sugar where the investments
ln.machinery have been so heavy, and
the employment Of labor is 90 extern.
slve.
The plain theory is that in obtaining
a competent revenue tor governmental
purposes. those commodities and ex.
changes should be made the subject of
the operation of the tariff which will
yield in bulk the greatest revenue and
in protective principle will extend to
the smallest province of trade. Now
by the annulmentlot this treaty only a