San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1888-09-27
CLEyELAND!
Ills Letter OF Acceptance.
rOontinnoi from fr,t paqe. ]

Legislative action TO meet in politi-
cal convention and lippantly declare
in their party platform that our con-
sentative and careful effort to relieve
the situation is destructive to the
American system OF protection. Nor
will the people be misled by the
appeal to predjucise contained IN the
absurd allegation thas We serve the
intererests OF Europe, while they
will support tho interests OF America
They propose in their platform to
thus support the interests OF our coun-
try by removing the internal revenue
tax from tobacco and spirits used In
the arts for mechanical purposes
They declare also that there should
be such revision OF our tariff laws
as shall tend to check the importa-
ton of such articles as are produced
here
Thus in proposing to increase the
duties upon such articles to nearly
or quite prohibitory point, they con
fess themselves willing to travel back
ward 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 uerestrained oppression OF the do
nestle trusts and combinations which
are in the same platform perfunctori-
ly condemned.
They propose:further..t release en-
tirely from import duty all articles
of foreign production Except luxu'
ries) the like of which cannot be pro-
duced in this country. The plain
people of the land and the poor. who
scarcely use articles of any descrip.
ton produced exclusively from abroad
and not already here, will find it diff
fcult to discover where their inter
ests are regarded in this proposition.
They need in their homes cheaper
domestic necessaries; and this seems
to be entirely unprovided for in this
proposed scheme to serve the coun-
try.
Small compensation for this neg
lected need is found in The further
purpose here announced and covered
by the declaration that if after the
changes already mentioned there still
ermains larger revenue than is requi-
site for the wants of the government,
the entire internal taxation should be
repealed "rather than surrender any
part of our protective system"
Our people ask relief from the
undue and unnecessary burden OF our
tariff taxation now resting upon them.
They are offered-free tobacco and
free whisky.
They ask for bread and they are
given stone.
The implication contained in this
party declaration that desperate
measures are justified or necessary to
save from destruction or surrender
what is called our protective SUSTAIN,
should confuse no one. The exist
ence of such O system is entirely
consistent with the regulation of the
extent to which it should be applied
and the correction of it's abuses.
Of course, III country as great as
ours, with such q wonderful variety
of interests, often leading in entirely
different directions, it is difficult, if
not impossible to settle upon a
perfect tariff plan, but in accomplish
ing the reform we have conferred
upon, the necessity of which is so
obvious, L believe we should not be
content with q reduction of revenue
involving the prohibition of importa-
tons and the removal of the internal
tax upon whisky. 1t Can be better
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
furthering our national welfare. If
misrepresentation of our purpose
and motives are to gain credence and
defeat our present effort in this
direction, there seems to be no reason
why every endeavor in the future
to accomplish revenue reform should
not be likewise attacked and with like
results.
And yet no thoughtful man can
fail to see in the continuance of the
present burden of the people and the
abstraction of the currency of the
country, inevitable distress and dis
aster. All danger will be averted by
timely action. The difficulty of ap-
plying the remedy will never be less,
and the blame s;ould 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
peoples interest and public duty for
the vindication of our attempt to
inaugurate n righteous and benef-
cent reform. GROVER CLEvELND.