The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1888-09-21
THE COLUMBIAN AND DEMOCRAT BLOOMSBURY, COLUMBI

and the minority refusing to co-ope-
rate in the House Of Representatives,
or propose another remedy, have re-
mitted the redemption of their party
pledge to the doubtful power OF the
Senate.
The people will hardly be deceived
by their abandonment Of the field oi
legislative action to meet in political
convention and flippantly declare in
their party platform that our conserva-
tive and careful effort TO relieve the
situation is destructive TO the Ameri.
can system of protection. Nor will
the people be misled by the appeal to- pre-
judice contained IN the absurd allega-
tion that we serve the interests of Eu.
rope, while they will support the in
terests of America.
REPUBLICAN INsINCERITY.
They propose IN their platform to
thus support the interests of our coun
try by removing the internal revenue
tax from tobacco and from spirits used
in the arts and for mechanical pur-
poses. They declare also that there
should be such revision of our. tariff
laws as shall tend to check the impor-
tation of such articles as are produc-
ed here. Thus in proposing to in
crease the duties upon such articles to
nearly or quite prohibitory point
they confess themselves willing to trav.
el backward in the road of civiliza-
ton and TO deprive our people of the
markets for their goods, which can
only be gained and kept by the semb-
lance, at least, of an interchange of
business, while they abandon our con-
sumers to the unrestrained oppression
of the domestic trusts and combina-
tions which are in the same platform
perfunctorily condemned.
They propose, further, to release en-.
tirely from import duties all articles of
foreign production Except luxuries)
the like of which cannot be produced
10 this country. The plain people of
the land and the poor, who scarcely
use articles of any description produc-
ed 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,
aud this seems to be entirely unprovid-
ed for in this proposed scheme to serve
the country.
FREE TOBACCO AND FREE wHIsKEY.
Small compensation for this neglect.
ed need is found in the further pur-
pose here announced and covered by
the declaration that if after the chang
ss already mentioned there still re-
mains larger revenue than is requi-
site for the wants of the government
the entire internal taxation should be
repealed, "rather than surrender any
part of our protective system"
Our people ask relief from the un.
due and unnecessary burden of tariff
taxation now resting upon them.
They are offered-free tobacco and
free whisky.
They ask for bread and they are
given a stone.
The implication contained in this
party declaration, that desperate meas
ures are justified or necessary to save
from destruction or surrender what is.
termed our protective system, should
confuse no one. The exi tence of such
a system is entirely consistent with the
regulation of the extent to which il
should be applied and the correction of
its abuses.
OF course, in country as great as
ours, with such a wonderful variety of
interests, often leading in entirely diff
ferent directions, it is difficult if not
impossible to settle upon perfect tar
iff plan. But in accomplishing the re-
form we have entered upon, the neces-
sity of which is so obvious, believe
we should not be content with a re-
duction of revenue involving the pro-
hibition of importations and the re-
moval of the internal tax upon whisky
1t may be better and more safely done
within the lines of granting actual re-
lief to the people in their means of liv-
ing and at the same time giving an
impetus to our domestic enterprises
and furthering our national welfare.
If Misrepresentation of our pur.
poses and motives are to gain credence
and defeat our present efforts in this
there seems TO be no reason
why every endeavor in the future to
accomplish revenue reform should not
be likewise attacked and with like rc-
suit. And yet no thoughtful man can
fail to see in the continuance of the
present burdens of the people, and the
abstraction by the government of the
currency of the country, inevitable dis
tress ani disaster. Ali danger will be
averted by timely action. The diff
Guilty of applying the remedy will new
er be less, and the blame should not
be laid at the door of the Democratic
party if it is applied too late.
With firm faith in the intelligence
and patriotism of our countrymen, and
relying upon the conyiction that mis-
will not influence them,
prejudice will not cloud their under
standing and that menanoe will not in
timidate them, let US urge the peoples
interest and public duty for the vindi-
cation of our attempt to inauguratc
a righteous and benefcient reform.
GROVER CLEVELAND.
WASHINGTON LETTER.