The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1888-01-14

is attempted.
DANGER TO MANUFACTURERS.
Sir, ! rejoice in every element oI
American success | am proud of the
inventive gGnins of this country and o.
lis vast establishments where skilled
labor ubOunds. | look with deliYli.
upon the cotton mills OF the south, as
well AZ upon those of New England
Pennsylvania and OF many ut the
western states. ! would encourage
= them in their gigantic career of deyel-
Opmeni and usefulness by every lPgiti-
mate means aud by the exercise OF
| every power confidcd tn my bands by
the constitution, and | hold that the
policy of the democrats has ALWAYS
been ample for their prosperity and
progress. More than that, il is the
only safe policy for American manu-
faclurers. Let il once be clearly
understood that the manufacturers OF
this country as a class demand that
they be enriched by using the powers
OF the government 10 collect iraudu-
lent taxes remaining idle in the treas
nry solely for their benefit; let il be
understood that they insist on u
Chinese wall of high protection, built
| 0y wanton, undisguiSCd tribute levied
on the farmer and on every other
! class OF labOrers with no preteuse that
the government needs dollar of such
| unrighteOus extortion; let il be under
| stood that the manufacturers accept
the guidance of the leaders of the re-
publican party and join in the praise Of
| the surplus taxation now going on al
the rate of 10000 Il month, with
no other reason whatever except 10
enhance their gains and swell their
enormous profits; let all these facts be
once understood and iasten themselves
in the public mind, and then indeed
| will perils environ the manufacturing
interests of this country such Us have
never been known before.
II every suggestion OF relief TO the
taxpayer by u reduction of duties.
however moderate in tone, reasonable
i'll amount and regardfuI OF the manu-
facturers' Investments, Is to be met
with the senseless, untruthtul and
KNAvIsH CRY OF FREE TRADE,
it will not be long until it will be made
manifest that the minority cannot rule
and and rob the majority OF the Ameri-
can people. Free trade, to mind
|
signifies the repeal OF all tariff laws.
the abolition Of all custom houses and
resort to direct taxation for revenue
Ii the democratic party, with its record
OF more than fifty years administration
OF the government, and its frank and
constant declaration OF principles, is TO
be charged with the folly OF free trade
every time an attempt is made 10
| a,.,H l.. .,l.
very vitals of labor and business, the
people will very soon and very clearly
find out that such assaults are ONLY
made to divert public attention from
| evil designs and schemes Of piunder OF
winch they are the victims. cannot
| believe, however, that the strong and
sagacious and patriotic business men oi
| the country in control of manufacturing
industries will permit themselves tor
political purposes to be placed in an
attitude of absolute injustice, selfish,
overweening avarice and disgrscefnl
untairness toward the great mass OF
their fellow citizens. On u former
occasion, more than five years ago, on
| this floor, l made the following state
ment. which | here now repeat: Il
voted for the amendment offered by
the senator from North Carolina (Mr.
vance, because am one of those who
| believe there is no antagonism between
the agricultural and manufacturing
| industries. | believe there is a safe,
| sound middle ground between the high
protection per sc on the one hand and
| the mild free trader and direct taxa
| ZIONIST on the other that the prosperity
of this country lies where its growth
and development, both of lands and
manufacturing, will be best promoted
and protected, and | hope before this
session closes TO embrace an opDortu.
nifty to point out that trne medium
ground; that ground where | think ali
tue Industries Of this country can be
encouraged and harmonized and Mt the
same time sufficient revenue obtained,
Again say il my place as a member
oi this body: | speak not in support of
tarin for revenue only, nor of a tariff
for protection, but in support of tariff
which collects the necessary revenue
and at the same time, to the extsu.
.ot the revenue, extends protection
with discriminating justice to Ameri-
can manufacturers. am conscious OF
not the slightest change in nv cunyic-
tion on this subject from that hour to
this.
TIE PRESIDENT s MESSAGE.
But having pointed out what con-
conceive TO be the true position of the
democratic party on the subject under
discussion, | desire in this connection
to consider next, and somewhat care
fully, the message from tine president,
which has caused SO much demoralised |
commotion amongst the leaders of the
opposition. Sir, it is a pleasure to me
to dwell Oh This remarkable state
paper. 1t bears close and repeated |
scrutiny and study. 1t is trae TO the
principles and teachings of the demo-
cratic party trOm its foundation by |
Jefferson, eighty-seven wears ago, TO
the present day. The thauks OF the
laboring and business classes of the
country, and, Indeed, OF every friend |
OF equal and exact justice are due TO the |
executive for forcing ou this vital issue
with the grasp of u strong, honest man,
and placing =. before his countrymen in
sucn a shape and light that it will
never disappear until the WRONGS ex-
posed are redresaed and the outrage
of over-tayatiou shall cease. The
'pOuhhS VI lulS
rings ont in the air and startles the
drowsy camp fires OF bath political
parties like bugle call on the Geld I
announcing the hour tor action. and
calling every man to his position. Ii
Is as follows aud Will sound well an
rehearsal again. ,even here in this stately
presence "rhe amount o. money
eXacted through the operation
OF present laws from the industries aud
necessities oi the people largely exceeds
the sum necessary to meet the expenses
OF the government. When we con-
slider that the theory of our institutions
guarantees to every citizen the full
enjoyment OF all the fruits of his indus
try aud enterprise, with only such
rs may be his share toward
the careful and economical maintenance
of the government which protects him.
II is plain that t.o sxaction OF more
than this IL lndeiensible extortion and
H Gnipable betrayal of American fairness
and Justice. This wrong inflicted upon
those who bear !he burden of national
taxation, like other wrongs, multipiics
a brood OF evil consequences. The
public treasury, which should only
1XiSt as q conduit, conveying the
peoples tribute to its legitimate objects
IF expenditure, becomes hoaraing
place for money needlessly Withdrawn
rom trade and the peoples n,e. thus
our nationa.. energies. sus-