The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1888-09-15

mon law for hundreds Of years; and they have
lott none - their hateful features because they
have assumed the name Of trusts instead OF con
spracies We believe that these trusts are the
natural offspring OF market artitcially restrict
ed that an inordinatey high tariff, besides fur
nishng 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 I'M
alterable hatred for all such schemes we count
the checking Of their baleful operations among
the good results promised by revenue reform.
while we can not avoid partisan misrepressnta
ton. our position upon the question of revenue
reform should be 10 plainly stated AZ 10 admit OF
no misunderstanding We We entered upon no
crusade Of free trade, The reform seek to in
augurate Is predcated upon the utmost care for
established industries and enterprises, q iealo Is
regard for the interests Of American labor, aud a
sincere desire 10 relieve the country from the in.
Justice and danger Of condition which threatens
evil Ia all the people OF the land. We are dealing
with no imaginary danger. It's existence has been
repeatedly confessed by all political parties, and
pledges Of u remedy have been made on all sides.
Yet when in the legislative body where under
the constitution, all remedial measures applicable
b. this subject must originate, the Democratic
majority were attempting with extreme moder'.-
ton 10 redeem the pledge common 10 both par
ties they were met by determined opposition and
obstruction; and the minority, refusing 10 coop
crate in the house Of representatives or propose
another remedy. have RENTED the redemption OF
their party pledge to the doubtful power of the
senate,
The people win ardly be deceived by their
abandonment Of the field OF legislative action to
meet In political convention and fippantly declare
In their party platform that our conservative
and careful effort to relieve the situation Is de-
structive to the American system of protection.
Nor will the people be mised by the appeal TO
prejudice contained In the absurd allegation that
we serve the interests OF Europe. while they will
support the interests OF America. They propose
in their platform to thus support the interests Of
our country by removing the internal revenue
tax from tobacco and from spirits used in the arts
and for mechanical purposes. They declare also
that there should be such revision Of our tariff
laws as shall tend TO check the importation OF such
articles rs are produced here. Thus, in propos-
ing 10 increase the duties upon such articles to
nearly or quite prohibitory point, they confess
themselves willing 10 travel backward In the road
OF civilization and TO deprive our people of the
markets for their goods which can only be gained
and kept by the semblance. at least, Of an inter
change Of business, while they abandon our con
sumers TO the unrestrained oppression OF the
domestic trusts and combinations which are in
the same platform perfunctorily condemned.
They propose further TO release entirely from
import duties all articles OF foreign production
except luxures) the like Of which can not be
produced 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 IL difficult to dis
cover where their interests are regarded In this
proposition. They need In their homes cheaper
domestic necessares; and this seems entirely un-
provided for In this proposed scheme TO serve the
country.
Shall compensation for this neglected need Is
found Ia the further purpose here announced and
covered by the declaration that II, after the
changes already mentioned, there still remains
larger revenue than is requisite for the wants Of
the government, the entire internal revenue taxa.
ton should be repealed rather than surrender
any part Of our protective system" Our people
ask relief from the undue and unnecessary bur.
den Of tariff taxation now resting upon them.
They are offered instead-free tobacco and free
whisky. They ask for bread and they are given
a stone The implication containe in this party
declaration that desperate measures are justified
or necessary TO save from destruction or surren'
der what Is termed our protective system. should
confuse no one The existence Of such system
is entirely consistent with the regulation Of the
extent to which Il should be applied, and the cor
rection OF it's abuses.
OF course In q country as great ours, with
such wonderful variety Of interests often lead
ing In entirely different directions, 1t Is difficult,
II not impossible, to settle upon perfect tariff
plan. But in accomplishing the reform We have
entered upon. the necessitv Of which is so obvi-
Gus, I believe we should not be content with re-
iuction of revenue involving the prohibition OF
and the removal Ofthe inter
nal tax upon whisky. II can he better
md more safely done within the lines Of granting
.ctu relief to the people In their means Of liv-
ng, and at the same time giving an impetus to
,ur domestic enterprises and furthering our ma
onal welfare.
II misrepresentation Of our purposes and mo-
lives arc to gain credence and feat our present
effort In this direction there seems to be no rea
son why every endeavor In the future to accom-
psh revenue reform should not likewis. attacked
and with like result 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, inev-
table distress and disaster. The diff ulty Of ap
plying the remedy will never be less and the
blame should not be laid at the door Of the Demo
cratic party II IL IL applied too late
With firm faith in the intelligence and patriot
ism Of our countrymen, and relying upon the con.
viction that Misrepresentation will not influence
them, prejudice will not cloud their understand
ing, and that menace will not intimdate them,
let us urge the peoples interest and public duty
for the vindication Of our attempt to inaugurats
a righteous and benehcent reform.
GROVER CLEVELAND.
freight steamboat City Of Lawrence, Of the
Norwich & New York Transportation line,
from New York to this city, was one Of
peril and excitement. The boat carried
twenty five or thirty passengers. At Sp m.
fire was discovered in the forward part Of
the vessel among 200 bales Of cotton, and it
seemed at times as though the crew could
not successfully cope with it. The excite
ment was intense, and all the passengers had
equipped themselves with life preservers
LA PORTE, Ind, Sept S-George Willis
was arrested in Clinton township at ~
o'clock Friday for stealing. He was tried
in the circuit court at l: 80 o'clock and given
three years in the penitentiary, and at
O'Clock the prison doors closed behind him.
1t was his second offense
WATERLOO, Iowa, Sept. S,-Judge Lene-
han denied Friday the application Of the
Chinese laundryman, Fong Wing, to be
made citizen, on the ground that the Chi
nese are not eligible to citizenship under
the laws and constitution of the United
States.
New YORK, Sept. ST. E. Beardsliey,
chemist in the employ of Robert d. Radcliff.
manager of the Denison Auto Telegraph
laboratory committee suicided Saturday
morning by taking a dose of chemicals