Democratic messenger., 1888-09-15

from import duties all article, of foreign
production Except luxurics) the like Of
which cannot be produced in this country.
The plain people of the land and the poor,
who scarcely use articles Of any dcscrip.
tion produced exclusively abroad and not
already free, will find it difficult to dscov.
er where their entercsts are regarded in
this proposition. They need In their homes
cheaper domestic nscessaries, and this
seems to be entirely unprovided for in this
proposed scheme to serve the country.
Small compensation for this neglected
need is in re further purpose here an.
nounced and covered by the declaration
that II, aftcr the changes already mentioned
there still remains larger revenue than
is requisite for the wants of the wants Of
the government, the entire internal taxa.l
ton should be repealed "rather than sur
ender any par, of our protective sys,e'
Our people ask relief from the urr...c
and unnecessary burden of tariff tsxation
now resting upon them. They are offered
free tobacco and free whiskcy.
They ask for bread and they are given
stone.
The implication contained in tins party
declaration that desperate measures are
justified or necessary to save from destruc.
tion or surrender what is termed our pro.
tcctive system should confuse no one.
The existence of such system is entirely
consistent with the regulation Of the ex-
tent TO which II should be applied and the
pernicious results Of these devices to
wrong the people. Under various names
they have been punished by the common
law Tor hundreds Of years, and they have
lost none of their hateful textures because
they have assumed the name of trusts In.
stead of conspiraclcs.
We believe that these trusts are the
natural offspring OF a market ariificially
restricted tha, an inordinatc;y high tariff
besides furnishing the temptation for
their existence, enlar.es the limit within
which they may operate against the peO-
pie, aud thus increases the extent Of their
power for wrong.doing
With an unaltcrablc hatred of all such
schemes We count the checking of their
balcful operations among the good results
promised by revenue reform.
While we cannot avoid partisan mis-
representation, our position upon the
question of revenue reform should he so
plainly stated as Ia admit oi no misundcr.
standing.
We have entered upon no crusade Of
free trade. The reform we seek 10 inaug.
urate is predicted upon the utmos, care
for established industries and enterprises,
n jealous regard for the interests of Amer.
lean labor and n sincere desire TO relieve
the country from the injustice and danger
Of condition which threatens evil TO all
the people of the land.
We are dealing with no imaginary dan.
ger. Its existence has been repeatedly
confessed by all political parties, and
pledges of remedy have been made on
all sides.
OF course in country as great as ours,
with such wonderful variety Of interests
often leading in entirely difcrcn, direc.
tions, il Is difficult II not impossible TO
settle upon perfect tariff plan. But In
accomplishing the reform we have entered
upon, the necessity Of which is so obyi ious
| bclievewe should not he content with a
reduction OF revenue involving the pro.
hibii ion of imporiations and the removal
of internal iax upon whiskey. II eau be
better and mo- safely dome within the
lines of granting actual relief 10 the pco.
pie in their means of living, and ut the
san time giving AN impetus TO our do.
nestle enterprises and iurihering our
national welfare.
Ifmisrcpreseutation OfOur purposes and
motives ARE TO gnin crcdcnce and defeat
our present effort in this direction, there
seems to he no reason why every en,lcavor
In the luiurelO accomplish rcvende reform
should not be likewise attacked and with
like result
And yet M thoughiinl man can ihll To
see in the continuance ofihc present bur.
dens of the people aud the abstraction by
the government Of the currency ofihe coun'
try inevitable distress and disaster. All
dlauger will be ayerled by timely action.
The difficulty ofapplying the remedy will
nc,cr Lc less aud tie blame Should not he
laid at the ioor Of the Democratic party
if II Is applied too late.
With Ilrm faith In the intelligence and
patriotism of our cOuniymcn, and relying
upon the conviction that misrepresenta.
tion will not influence them, prejudice will
not cloud their understanding and that
menace will not intimi,lale them, let us
urge the peoples interest and public duty
for the yindicaiion of our attempt TO In
augumlca righteous and bcneiiceui re-
firm GROVER CLEVELAND.