The Portland daily press., 1886-11-18
DEMOCRATS BANQUET.
A Letter from President Cleveland
Speaker Carlisle on Revenue
Reform.

NhiCAuO, NOV. lf.-1ne 1Ourtn annual
banquet OF the Iroquois Club was given to-
night at the Palmer House. Among the
dest known Democrats present being John
G. Carlisle, Senator j. B. Beck and Edward
,. Bragg. A letter of regret was received
from President Cleveland, saying:
Il am much impressed with the present
Importance of thorough and timely discus
sion by the people of the various questions
which are related to good government and
the prosperity of the country, and which,
whlle they are so related, concern the well
fare and success of the Democratic party In
the work which must be undertaken of pre-
sentlng these questions to the Judgment of
our citizens in such manner as to remove
mlsapprehensions and aid correct conclusions
believe that the lrOquois Club will prove
most effective inStrumentally.
Letters were also read from VIM. G. Endi-
colt, Abram S. Hewitt, Roswell p. Flower.
5, ). Cox, Gov. ID. B. Hill. A. G. Thurman,
Fitz Hugh Lee and others. After the ban
qnet, at which between $50 and 300 members
OF the club and guests sat down, toasts were
made and responded to.
:, Among other things Mr.. Carlisle said:
IaxeS DO not create wealth. They destroy
1t. All taxation whether it be direct or indi-
rect and no matter how it may be disguised,
or In what manner its payment may be en-
forced 1t is ultimately charged upon labor.
while its immediate and invariable effect is
10 withdraw the full amount of exaction
from the productive Industries of the peo-
pie. Absolute equality in the adjustment of
rates OF taxation and in the designa-
tlon Of articles upon which it shall be i'm
posed Is not TO be expected, and in fact not
attalnable, but substantial equality and uni
formty are essential elements in every Just
revenue system.
The policy of protection inaugurated near
~ three-quarters of century ago, has add
ed largely to the cost of production by in
creaslng the price of machinery and materi-
ais and the necessaries of life. 1t has con-
hned the products of the so-called protected
industries to the home market exclusively,
SO that the amount Of production must be
regulated by the domestic demand, and oper-
ations must be suspended when that demand
Is satisfied. 1t has obstructed international
exchanges, thus partially excluding the pro-
ducts OF our other industries from profit
able market abroad, diminishing their earn
lngs and aTresting their growth and prosper
lty. Ii has provoked other governments to
resort 10 retallatOry measures discriminating
against our products, and trade in their own
ports and markets, and giving preference to
the products and the trade of our most for
mldable rivals, and here at home, by encour-
aging capital and labor to rely upon legisla-
llOn Tor prOntS, rather than their o Nn capac-
ity; IL has greatly injured that spirit of
independence and enterprise which is abso-
lutely indispensable to the successful plose-
cutlon OF business in this age of improve
ment and progress. These are only few of
the evils which the existing system of taxa
tlon mas inflicted upon the country. Many
valuable industries which would have -four
lshed without 1t have been tortured to death
by its unequal burdens and unjust discrimi-
nations; While others have been crushed by
combinations and monopolies which it ere
ateS and SuStainS. Some have prOspered in
splte OF IL but the sum OF the peoples wealth,
the aggregate accumulation of savings in all
branches OF industry is undoubtedly much
less than 1t ought to have been, and would
nave been, under more equal revenue sys-
tenn and more liberal commercial policy. A
ieW nave become very rich, but many have
become very poor, and the gulf between lux
ury and penury IS growing wider and deeper
day Dy day. This unnatural and dangerous
condition of affairs conld not possibly exist
IN young and rapidly developing country
IKE ours, II laws and regulations affecting
creation and distribution of wealth more lust
ana equal in their operation. With a fertile
soli ana friendly climate, with inexhaustible
stores Oh coal and iron and most powerful
maternal agencies in our modern civilization,
WIN vast extent of unoccupied and unde-
veloped territory; with free institutions aud
intelligent industrious and an enterprising
population, we ought to be exempt from the
social ana political diseases which affect the
crowded nations of the old world, and we
VIII be exempt from them when
we tax all alike. Living in such q
country, and surrounded by the m ar
yelous achievements of the most wonderful
nail century i'll the annals of the human
race. Ii the people continue unprosperous
and diseontented. If wealth continues to
accumulate rapidly in the hands of the idle
few, While hunger and n3kedness increase
IN the very homes of industry, and if in
vested capital remains uneasy and insecure,
aud labor dissatisfied, it will be q burning
disgrace to the craftsmanship of the age and
the terrible weight of responsibility win
resi- upon those who reject all measures Of
relief and cling with stubborn tenacity to
the worst features of the system under
which these evils have ori isinated, and at
tanned their present proportions. While
free trade is impracticable, industrial and
commercial emancipation can and will be
accomplished by most moderate means of re-
form without interfering with any private
enterprise or injuring any public interest.
To this, some of us at least, are irreyocably
pledged, not only by the traditions and de-
caratiOns Of the political party to which we
belong, but by a sense of personal and Off
eal duty, which cannot be disregarded with
ont betraying the confidence reposed in us
by the people. Whether in public or in pri-
yate lie shall stand by that pledge and to
the extent of my abilities and opportunities
contribute on every way to an early aid and
the complete triumph of revenue reform.