, 1888-09-11

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 the spirits used in the
arts and for mechanical purposes. They
declare also that there should be such re-
vision of our tariff laws as shall tend to
check the importation OF such articles as
are produced here. Thus in proposing to
increase the duties upon such articles to
nearly or quite a %prohibitory point they
confess themselves
WILLING TO TRAVEL BACKWARD.
in the road of civilization and to deprive
our people of markets for their goods,
which can only be gained and kept by a
semb.ance at least of an interchange of
business, while they abandon our con-
sumers to the unrestrained oppression of
domestic trusts and combinations which
are in the same platform perfunctorily
condemned. They propose further to re-
lease entirely from import duties on all
articles of foreign production Except lux
uries) the like OF which cannot be pro-
duced in this country. Plain people of
the land and the poor, who scarcely use
articles OF any description produced ex-
clusively abroad, and not already free,
will find it difficult to discover where their
interests are regarded in this proposition.
They need in their homes
CHEAPER DOMESTIC N~EoEssARIEs,
and this seems to be entirely unprJvided
for in this proposed scheme to serve the
country. Small compensation for this
neglected need is found in the further
purpose here announced and covered by
the declaration that after the changes al
ready mentioned there still remains a
larger revenue than is requisite for the
wants of government, the entire internal
taxation should be repealed, rather than
surrender any part of our protective sys-
tenn" Our people ask relief from the
undue and unnecessary burden of tariff
taxation now resting upon them. They
are offered free tobacco and free whisky.
They ask for bread and they are given a
stone. The implication contained in this
party declaration that desperate meas
ures are justified or necessary to save
from destruction, or surrender what is
termed our protective system,
SHOULD CONFUSE NO ONE.
The existence of such a system is en-
tirely consistent with the regulation of
the extent to which it should be applied
and the correction of its abuses. OF course
in a country as great as this, with such a
wonderful variety of interests, often lead
ing in entirely different directions, it is
difficult, if not impossible, to settle upon
ing the reform we have entered upon, the
necessity of which is obvious, | believe
we should not be content with the reduc-
tion 4( roro,,o inv,1nn tLn oroh h,N,aa
of importations and the removal of the
ter and more safely done within the lines
of granting actual relief to the people in
THEIR MEANS OF LIVING
and at the same time giving an impetus
to our domestic enterprises and further
ing our national welfare. Ii misrepre-
sensations of our purposes and motives
are to gain credence and defeat our pres
ent effort in this direction there seems o
be no reason why every endeavor in the
future to accomplish revenue reform
should not be likewise 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 cur
rency of the country, inevitable distress
and disaster. All danger will be averted
by
TIMELY ACTION.
The difficulty of applying a remedy will
never be less, and the blame should not
be laid at the door of the Democratic
party if it is applied too late. With
firm faith in the intelligence and
patriotism of our countrymen, and
relying upon the conviction that mis-
representation will not influence
them, prejudice will not cloud their I'M
~derstanding, and that menace will not in
timidate them, let us urge the peoples
our attempt to inaugurate righteous and
beneficent reform.
GROVER CLEVELAND.