The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1888-08-04
PLEADING FOR REFORM.


Senator whiting, of Illinois, Announces
His Determination to support Mr.. Cleve-
land - The President Representing .
Great Principle-vicws of q Lifelong
Republican.
"Men do not make enduring political parties.
To earn and retain the confidence Of the voters
OF this country party must hold principle
higher than men," Lorenzo d. Whiting was
the speaker. He saw Chicago in 1898; he came
to Tiskilwa fifty years ago; he was the trusted
ally OF Owen Lovejoy, the abolitionst; again
and again through eighteen years he was re-
turned to the State Senate by Republican
votes. In 1869 in the Illinois Constitutional
convention Senator Whiting was the first to
Introduce measure looking to the control Of
corporations by legislative enactment. A man
OF pronounced ability and rugged honesty, he
Is rounding his three-score years and ten rich
in the respect Of those who know him best.
Six months ago the Herald presented at some
length the views of Tisliilwa's farmer states
men on the tariff question He said then that
the issue of tariff reform would dwarf all other
issues in the campaign OF 1885, and expressed
hope that the Republican party would array
itself on the side of the people In tho surely
impending conflict. Senator Whiting has been
disappointed In the action OF the Chicago con-
vention, but he will not eat crow. He says
that the Republican masses OF the country
were not fairly represented by the body over
which Thurston and Estee presided, and thinks
there are hundreds of thousands of Republic
ans who will not surrender principles ut the
dictation OF q class interest. II do not like to
take my Republicanism from B. L. JONES'" he
said. "for 1t is SO unlike the doctrine which
Abraham Lincoln advocated. William Walter
Phelps Is not an acceptable substitute for
Wendell Phillips. No protected lumber barons
can interpret to me the Republicanism which
was taught by the lips of Owen Lovejoy. In
the old days the Republican party was not run
nf nd min pora
and d railroad man controlling s300,0O00OO Of
capital was not supreme Dictator"
The object OF the correspondent in visiting
Tiskilwa was to obtain Senator Whiting's
views on tho platforms adopted at st. Louis
and Chicago.
"I have" continued Senator Whiting,
"studied the two platforms chiefly in reference
to the tariff planks. The tariff issue now be-
fore the country is the most important Ques-
ton we have been called upon to consider since
slavery was abolished. The Republican party.
through Its last convention, transformed itself
into high tariff and monopoly party. l con
not think OF the convention that nominated
Harrison as Republican convention. 1t was
high tariff and monopoly assemblage 1t
took an entirely new departure the tariff,
leaving all the grounds it has formerly occu-
pied. When the present war tariff was levied,
as q compensation for the direct tax which was
laid on manufactured goods, it was conceded
coming in together. would go out together.
But when the direct taxes were removed from
manufactured goods the protectionists man
nged to retain the high tariff. The country
submitted, on the ground that the money, so
far as 1t went to the Treasury, was applied to
pay off the war debt; but all parties conceded
that the time was near at hand when it
would be improper to continue this high war
tariff. Strong protectionists then said its
continuance would be unjust to other
interests. But now what do we sect These
protected interests, having long enjoyed its
advantages, have Joined in combination, Of
fensvo and defensive, to make a war tariff o
permanency. Their first oracles to broach
their scheme were Messrs. Randall and Kelley,
who, something more than year ago openly
advocated that the National revenue should
be reduced by the removal of the tax on spirits
and tobacco This proposition was then
deemed by the people generally to be too alb
surd for serious consideration. Massachusetts
and the East generally (where the protected
interests dominate in public affairs), through
State conventions and the press, gave 1t their
Endorsement. The nearly unanimous public
sentiment Of tho West was for retaining the
tax on spirits and tobacco and removing it
from lumber, coal, salt, and reducing it on the
other necossaries Of life. The former, through
their grangers' alliances and farmers insti-
tutes, were unanimous in demanding such o
tariff reduction, but the politicians who Sc
and National conventions were passive and al.
lowed the combined protected interests to
shape the revenue plank in the platform.
~ regard the action of the Chicago conven.
tion as anew departure, dictated by powerful
interests for perpetuating an unjust advantage
which the cxigcncy Of the war had given them.
consider 1t q robbery OF the West to enrich
the East think it is drawing the life blood
from Western agriculture to give large bounties
to class interest. The programme of the pro.
tectonfsts is to confne their operations to the
home market, and, as the mills, their employees
and appendpges are ample to manufacture for
continent, they contemplate, through com.
binattons and trusts, to stop production by run
ming on half time and other devices and yet OBJ
tain prices for their goods which will give them
their desired profits. This tariff or revenue
plank, aims to secure this state Of things, and
the election of the high tariff candidates Is ia
obtain the Endorsement of the country Of this
programme. believe the time has come when
the manufacturers of tina United States should
contemplate in the near future o competition
at home and abroad for tho trade OF the world
This country affords SO many advantages fol-
such IN enterprise that by running on full time
and with economies which are now In many
cases disregarded, their profits will not be re
duced and tho wages OF their employees will be
greater because of the increased demand. Ir
the early days of the Republic com
merCe was counted as one OF the
great elements of our prosperity. Com
merce Is oivilizer and enrlcher o.
nat ons. It is contrary to the genius O.
our institutions nnd instincts Of oue people
20 adopt the Chinese plan proposed by the late
high tnrih convention Though I would no,
suddenly make radical changes In the tariff the
protected interests should prepare for the up
plication Of that sound principle that bushes!
or interest which can not sustain itself 10 MOI
worth sustaining by others. The American
people are rapidly learning that to protec
one interest Is to do II at some other ones OK
pense.
"Iwould retain the internal revenue taxes
on spirits and tobacoo ns one of the permanent
sources OF revenue. l fully indorse Mr.. Blaine
when he said, not long ago, that he would To,
whisky so long as there was any whisky to b
tuxed. fully indorse Presidents Grant, Gar
field, Arthur and Cleveland In their declare,
purpose to keep the taxes on spirits md tobac
co 80 as to give o proper opportunity for re
forming the war tariff regard the revenue
plank In the high tariff platform US no less al
Endorsement OF Grant, GARFIELD and Arthur will
their distinguished Secretaries OF the Treasur.
than OF Mr.. Cleveland. This now departure O
the late high tarin convention at Chicago Il
not only condemnation OF Mr.. Cleveland bu
Of these distinguished Republican statesmen
and OF the Republican party up 10 very re
cent period.
"Its SUCCESS at the polls can not destro
tarin reform. but u will delay II and convuls
the country Tor an Indefinite time to the detri
ment OF other rof0rms II win continue sys
tenn OF robbery which the farmers can not muc
longer endure. Tariff reform Republicans no,
face m exigcncy which taxes to the utmos
their wisdom and courage and faithfulness t
principle. It seems TO be plain that they mus
refuse TO support the doings OF the Chicag
Ian Inn otA tu nt lAun tnu