The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1888-09-13

they have assumed the name of trusts in
stead of couspiracies. We believe these
trusts are the natural offspring of q
market artifcially restricted; that an in
ordinately high tariff, besides furnishing
the temptation for their existence, en-
larges the limit within which they may
operate against the people, and thus
increases the extent of their power
for wrong doing, With an unalterable
hatred for all such schemes, we count on
! the checking of their baleful operations
amongst tie good results promised by
revenue reform. While we cannot avoid
partisan Misrepresentation, our system
upon the question of revenue reform
should be so plainly stated as to edmit of
no misunderstanding. We have started
upon no crusade of free trade. The reform
We seek to inaugurate is predicated
upon the utmost care for established in
dustries and enterprises, jealous regard
| for the interests of American labor and a
sincere desire to relieve the country from
| the I'M ustice and damages of a condition
which threatens evil TO all the people of
| the land. We are dealing with no imagin-
Any danger. Its existence has been re-
peatedly confessed by all political parties,
and pledges of a remedy have been made
on all sides. Yet, when in the Legislative
| body, where, under the constitu-
ton, all remedial measures applicable
TO this subject must originate,
when the democratic majority were at
tempting with extreme moderation to re-
deem pledge common to both partieS,
they were met by determined opposition
and obstruction, and the minority, re-
fusing TO cooperate in the house of rep
resentatives, or propose another remedy,
have remitted the redemption of their
party pledge to the doubtful power Of the
senate. The people will hardly be de-
ceived by their abandonment of the field
of legislative action, to meet in a
political convention and fippantly de-
clare in their party platform that
our conservative and careful effort
to relieve the situation is destructive to
the American system of protection, nor
will the people be misled by the appeal
to the prejudice contained in the absurd
allegation that we serve the interests of
Europe, while they will support the in
terests of America. They propose in
their platform to thus support the IN
terests of our country by removing the
the internal revenue tax from tobacco and
spirits used in the arts and for mechani-
cal purposes. They declare, also, that
there should be such a revision of our
tariff laws as shall tend to check
the importation of such articles as are
produced here. Thus, in proposing to in
crease the duties upon such articles,so as to
nearly or quite reach the prohibition point,
they confess themselves willing to travel
backward in the road of civilization, and
to deprive our people of markets for their
goods, which can only be gained and
kept by the semblance, at least, of an in
terchange of business, while they abandon
our consumers to unrestrained oppres.
sion, domestic trusts and combinations,
which are, in the same platform,
pertunctorily condemned. They propose
: further to release entirely from import
duties all articles of foreign production
Except luxuries) the like of which cannot
4 beSprodacsd in.thiS country .,,
THE PLAIN PEOPLE OF THE LAND,
and the poor who scarcely use articles of
any description produced exclusively
abroad and not already free, will find it
difficult to discover where their interests
are regarded in this proposition. They
need in their homes cheaper domestic
necessaries, and this seems to be entirely
unprovided for in this proposed scheme
to save the country. small compensa-
ton for this neglected need is found il
the further purpose here announced ant
covered by the declaration that, if aftel
the changes already mentioned there still
remains larger revenue than is required
for the wants of the government, the en-
tire internal taxation should be repealed
rather than surrender any part of our
) protective system.
Our people ASK relief from undue bur
dens of tariff taxation now resting upor
them. They are offered free tobacco and
free whisky. They ask for bread and
they are given stone. The implication
contained in this party declaration, tina
desperate measures are justified or neces
sary to save from destruction or surrender
what is termed our protective system
should confuse no one. The expense o!
such system is entirely consistent will
the regulation of the extent to which II
. should be applied and the correction Of
its abuses. OF course, IN country al
great as ours, with such wonderful va
: riety of interests, often leading in entirel!
different directions, it is difficult, if moi
impossible, to settle upon perfect tariff
= plan. But, in accom- plishing the reform
we have entered upon, the necessity o
which is so obvious, l believe we shoulC
not be content with a reduction of tn
), revenue involving prohibition of ion
portations and the removal of the inter
! nal tax upon whisky. II can b. bette
3 and more safely done within the lines o
: granting actual relief to the people in thei
: means of living and at the SAN
. time giving an impetus to on
domestic enterprises and furthering gu
L national welfare. If Misrepresentation
e of our purposes and motives are to gail
IS credence and defeat our present effort il
II this direction, there seems to be no reaso
9 why every endeavor in the future
10 TO ACCOMPLISH REVENUE REFORM
! should not be likewise attacked, and will
u like results. And yet no thoughtful mai
'r can ( all to see, in the continuance of tn
v present burden of the people and abstrac
II ton by the government of the currenc
+ of the country inevitable distress en-
10 disaster. All the danger will b
l. averted by timely action. The difficult
az of applying the remedy will never be les
to and the blame should not be laid at tn
door of the democratic party, If it is al
piled too late.
1r With firm faith in the int
n: ligence and patriotism of OF
ne countrymen, aud relying upo
.G.As