The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1888-09-20
HENDERSON, n c.. THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 90, 1888.

io2l purposes They declare. also, that there
should be such a revision of our tariff laws
as shall tend to check the importation of such
articles as are produced here Thus, in pro-
posing TO increase the duties upon such articles
10 nearly or quite prohibitory point, they
confess themselves willing to travel backward
in the road of civilization and TO deprive our
people of the markets for their goods, which
can only be gained and kept By the semblance,
at least, of an Interchange of business while
they abandon our consumers to the unre-
strained oppression of the domestic trusts and
combinations which are in the same platform
perfunctorily condemned.
They propose further to release entirely
from import duties all articles of foreign pro-
duction except luxuries, the like of which can
not be produced In this country. The 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 inter
ests are regarded in this proposition They
need in their homes cheaper domestic neces-
saries; and this seems to be entirely unpro-
vided for in this proposed scheme to serve the
country.
Small compensation for this neglected need
| is found il the further purpose here an
nounced and covered by the declaration that
u after the changes already mentioned there
| still remains larger revenue than is requi-
site for the wants Of the government, the en-
! tire internal taxation should be repealed
''rather than surrender any part of our pro-
| tective system"
Our people ask relief from the undue and
! unnecessary burden of tariff taxation now
resting upon them. They are offered free
toDacco and free whisky. They ask for bread
and they are given stone.
The implication contained in this party de-
! claration, that desperate measures are justi-
Ted or necessary to save from destruction or
surrender what is termed protective sys
tenn, should confuse no one. The existence of
such a system is entirely consistent with the
regulation of the extent to which it should be
applied and the correction Of its abuses.
OF course in a country great as ours,
with such a wonderful variety of interests,
often leading in entirely different directions
it is difficult if not impossible to settle upon
a perfect tariff plan. Bpt in accomplishing
the reform we have entered upon, the neces-
sity of which is so obvious, | believe we
| should not be Content with reduction of
revenue involving the prohibition of impor-
| tations and the removal of the internal tax
upon whisky. 1t can be better and more
safely done within the lines Of granting ac-
tual relief to the people of their means Of
living, and at the same time giving an i'm
petus to our dom astic enterprises and further
ing our national welfare.
If misrepresentation of our purposes and
motives are to gain credence and defeat our
present effort in this direction, there seems to
be no reason why every ellleavor i'll 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 govern
ment of the currency Of the country, newt
able distress and disaster. All danger will be
averted by timely action. The difficulty OF
applying the 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 misrepresentation
will not influence them, prejudice will not
cloud their understanding, and that menace
will not intimidate them, let us urge the peo
pies interest and public duty for the vindica
ton of our attempt to inaugurate righteous
and beneicent reform.
GROVER CLEVELAND.