The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1888-06-23
VOL. XXIII.-NO. SO.

As to the particular direction in which the reduc
ton ought to take place and the various details in
cidenal thereto, there is, as was 10 have been eX
| peeted, considerable diversity of opinion-party
because of conflicting local Interests perhaps. and
SUI more because OF confessed inability without
expert knowledge TO deal inteliigently with the
subject in detail. Generally speaking however, the
DRIFT of popular Republican sentiment in far
the local editorial Judgment may be accepted as
trustworthy guide thereto. is pretty fairly reflected
IN the bill recently presented Ill the House by Mr.
Nelson of this state which, in the present issue
of the Republican, Mr.. Youmans admiringly invites
attention. The proposition made in some quarters
to remove the internal tax FROM whiskey is univer
sally deprecated. As regards the tax on tobacco
the objection to its removal is made contingent ap
parently on how far such removal might operate to
sity consumed at the West. Evidently the distiler
and the tobacco grower maintain no very strong
grip on the Republican party of Minnesota.
also beg leave to quote the following let
ters-not from "blarsted Euglishmen''-
from living, active Republicans in the great
West. Here is one:
WISoNA, Mimi, February II, 1888.
DEAR SIR: have just read in the St Paul Pio-
neerPress the bill introduced by you to remove the
duty from sugar, rice, coal, salt, hemp manila jute
and sisal grass lumber, etc.
As q lumber manufacturer let me thank you for
including that product in your bill; and as one of
the largest wool growers in the State except that it
might embarrass the measure. would be glad to
see wool included also. 1t gratiies my State pride
that member from Minnesota, and Republican
ctdIe, party, Dy INIT
iating Legislation momentous and so benehcent as
this Your bill may not be enacted into law al this
session, but the agitation will not until these
burdens removed from the people. l must
commend your Judgment in the selection of only a
few artices-and those such as everybody knows
should never have been polluted by tariff taX-on
which TO put members of Congress on record.
1t viii require cheek to vote against your bill and
difficult 70 justify himself to constituency that is
becoming educated upon this question,
Let the bill pass and il is the Waterloo of proee-
tNufll ka en- u1aaff nF
laws was to England, and the onward progress of
the reform will be rapid and easy. .,-
Hon. Knute Nelson, Washington, D. c.
And here is one:
CARMAN Mimi, February 10, 1888.
DEAR SIR: Itseems to me our party leaders are
making great mistake that they do not make
greater effort to redeem their pledge TO remove the
universally agreed that it is full of defects and "i
regularties."
Hon. X. Nelson, Washington, D. C.
And here is another:
DULUTH Mimi, March g. 1888.
DEAR SIR: We write you at this time 10 urge you
to do all you can to reduce the duty on window
glass to the smallest amount possible We have
been at the mercy of the Pittsburg manufacturers
long enough. You may not know that the duty on
common window glass is more than the cost of 1t in
Antwerp Belgium; but such Is the fact
SCOTT & HOLSTON.
Hon. Knute Nelson, NJ. c., Washington, ID. C.
And here is another:
MADISON, Wis, February %, 1SsS.
Ny DEAR SIR: Your amendment of the tariff, as
published in the papers, is just the thing as far Us
it goes; but. for Gods sake amend it by putting
wool in the free list Don't be afraid of the bleatng
of sheep or their owners. They need no more pro-
lection than hogs and hens and their owners and if
there is anything in Gods world that needs cheap
ening it is WOODEN goods in this cold country. God
speed you. o. PETERSON
Hon Knute Nelson.
But will quote no more. l have an abun-
dance of similar letters. These are only
samples to show you how the people feel.
Not only is there a strong sentiment among
people in favor of tariff tax reduction, but our
national, and our State platforms in the
Northwest, are pledged and committed to
tariff reform and tariff reduction. The fol-
lowing are the national and State Republican
tariff pledges The last national platform
says:
The Republican party pledges itself to correct the
inequalities of the tariff and to reduce the surplus.
The Minnesota platform says:
We favor an early and judieious revision of the
tariff with simplifcation and reduction of Gus
toms duties.
The Iowa platform says:
We believe the tariff should be revised and re-
duced
And the Nebraska platform says:
As the business of the country now demands re-
vision M oil the tari the Republican party alive to
it that such revision shall be made at the earliest
practicable day
All this, Mr.. Speaker, means something
more than free whisky and free tobacco.
Spfely these promises ought to be kept.
Senator John Sherman, protectionist as he
is, makes the following admission in his re-
cent speech before the Home Market Club in
Boston. Here is what he said:
The tariff ought to be carefully revised with view
to correct inequalities iueongruities that have
of the act of 1888 every imported article which does
not compete with our domestic industry and is es-
sential TO the comfort and wants of our people
should be placed on the free list every material
of industry which does not compete with our own
list.
In the face of these platform pledges; in the
face of these admissions from unwilling wit
nesses; in the face of the large, ever-growing,
and threatening surplus, taken from the peo-
pie by taxation, and used by certain banks
without any consideration therefor; and in the
face Of the fact that so many of the barest ne
cessaries of life are loaded down with the
highest kind of tariff taxes, it makes me sick
at heart to think that there are leading men
on this side the Chamber who can find at this
juncture, and under these circumstances, no
other field for tax reduction than the internal
revenue taxes on spirits and tobacco. Surely
these things are not the diet on which the poor
laboring man keeps his family.
Worthier, better, and juster, it seems to my
mind, would it be to give our people-the
toiling masses-cheaper food, cheaper fuel,
cheaper clothing, and cheaper rshelter-cheap-
er because released from the heavy and un-
necessary bondage of high tariff taxes. will
put free sugar, free coal, free salt, and free
lumber against free whisky and free tobacco,
under all circumstances, and so will the great
mass of the American people.