The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1888-05-12
a NoTAeLE CoNcouRsE.

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Important Convention of the Year.
Philadelphia is the Nazareth of tax
alton. One could hardly expect pub
lie good to come out of the city that
he's flourished by virtue of the monop-
olics of the anthracite basin. 1t is
therefore an extraordinary event of
which we read, this tax-reduction con-
vention in the Quaker City. AS Con-
gresham Breckenridge, of Kentucky.
said in his address. it seems almost in
credible that himself and Frank
Hurd should be speaking to great
audience in Philadelphia. 1t is the
whirligig of time. 1t is the system of
protection dying of its own sting.
This meeting is indicative of the
hollowness of Blaine's contention that
the Republican party can afford to OPP
pose the sentiments of President
Cleveland's message. McCulloch, Sec
rotary of the Treasury under Lincoln,
and again under Arthur, sent to the
meeting letter which, like the Ex-
ecutive message to Congress, declared
that the tariff question must be lifted
out of politics; that the present tariff
was a war measure. and that the sur
plus it creates is but one of its evils,
that it is prejudicial to farm interests.
and reduces foreign demand for our
goods; that it is anti-Republican, and
fosters monopolies; and, finally, that
it is in violation of the constitution,
some of its taxes having no other OBJ
ject than prohibition of imports.
The speech of Congressman Breckin-
ridge sustained his reputation as q
brilliant orator. Having the crying
truth behind him. he was able to move
his audience as Patrick Henry worked
upon the patriots of early days. For
the situation is urgent. People are be-
ing taxed into absolute poverty. Men
are daily borrowing the money that
they turn into the Treasury. or into
some tarifF-fattening monopoly. There
must be an end Of it soon. These hun
dreds of millionaires on every hand are
getting all there is. When there shall
be nothing left how can this over
blown bubble of taxing Government
secure its 1871. 600, 600 yearP It can
not. 1t will not Breckenridge might
indeed be eloquent standing at the
crater Of this Vesuvius whose ashes of
taxation are covering all the cities at
its base. He was called and recalled.
Evidently there are Taxpayers, even in
Philadelphia, who are tired of paying
1852 per cent. on absolutely every
thing that enters into human use and
consumption.
If protection be for American manu-
facturers, then it is not protective to
tax the raw materials used by those
manufacturers. This was the conten-
ton of the President The convention
passed resolution to that effect. Tho
public burden was too great. 1t should
be lightened. So said the Philadelphia
ANS
Congressman Breckinridge is re-
ported to have said he was proud to
live in day when man could be
elected Chief Magistrate of the Nation
who was brave and honest and
mindful of his obligations to the peo-
pie; who could with the Presidency in
his gift lay it aside for his duty. In
this matter it would be well to wait
and see if the Chief Magistrate really
laid any thing aside. The people are
sgain reading the message, and they
are beginning to think that Cleveland
Is the man who is most likely to veto
steals. and thus force cutting down
Of the Chicago Herald