The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1888-09-18


free trade. The reform We seek to inau-
gnrate Is predicated upon the utmost care
for the established industries and enter
prlses, just care for American labor and
a sincere desire to relieve the country
from the injustice and damage of a condi-
ton which threatens evil to all the people
| of the land.
! We are dealing with no imaginary dan
! ger. Its existence has been repeatedly
confessed by all political parties, and
| pledges of a remedy have been made on
| all sides.
Yet when in the legislative body,
where under the Constitution all remedial
measures applicable to this subject must
originate, the ID ,mocratic majority were
attempting with extreme moderation to
redeem the pledge common to both par
ties, they were met by
DETER, INED OPPOSITION AND orsTRUc-
TIoN,
and, the minority refusing to cooperate
in the House # Representatives or pro-
pose another remedy, have remitted the
redemption oftheir party pledge to the
doubtful power of the Senate.
The people will hardly be deceived by
their abandonment of the field of legisla-
tive action to meet in political conven-
ton and flippantly declare in their party
platform that our conservative and care
tul effort to relieve the situation is de-
structive to the American system of pro-
lection. Nor will the people be misled
by the appeal to prejudice contained in
the absurd allegation that we serve the
interests of Europe, while they will sup
port the interests of America
They propose in their platform to thus
support the interests Of our Country bv
removing the internal revenue tax from
tobacco and spirits used in the arts and
for mechanical purposes. They declare
also that there should be such a revision
of our tariff laws as shall tend tc check
the Importation of such articles as are
produced here
Thus in proposing to increase the du-
ties upon such articles to nearly or quite
prohibitory point, they confess them
selves 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 CON
sumerS to the unrestrained
OPPRESSION OF THE DOMESTIC TRUSTS
and combinations which ar in the same
platform perfunctorily condemned.
They propose further To- release entirely
from import duties all articles OF foreign
production Except luxuries) the like of
which cannot be produced in this country
The plain people of the land and the
poor, who scarcely use articles of any
description produced exclusively abroad
and not already free will find it difficult
to discover where their interests are re-
garded in this proposition. They need in
their homes cheaper domestic necessaries,
and this seems to be entirely unprovided
for In this scheme to serve the country
Small compensation for this neglected
need is found in the further purpose here
announced and covered by the declara-
ton, that if after the chan ses already
mentioned there still remains a larger
revenue than is requisite for the wants Of
the government, the en.ire internal taxa
ton should be repealed "rather than sur
render any part OF our protective system"
Our people ask relief from the undue
and unnecessary burden of taxation now
iNolihS uI'cu tuNHl. lucy dic OHtTtu
FREE TOBACCO AND FREE wHIsKEY.
They ask for bread and they are given
a stone.
The implication contained in this party
declaration that desperate measures are
Justihed or necessary to save from de-
structlon or surrender what is termed our
protective system should confuse no one.
The existence Of such a system is entirely
consistent with the regulation of the ex-
tent to which it should be applied and
the correctness of its abuses
CT course in a country as great az ours
with such wonderful variety of inter
ests, often leading in entirely different di-
rcctions, it is difficult, if not impossible,
to settle upon perfect tariff plan. But
in accomplishing the reform we have en-
tered, upon, the necessity for which is 80
obvious, | believe We should not be con-
tent with reduction of revenue involy-
ing the prohibition Of importations and
the removal of the internal tax upon
whiskey. 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
| furtherlng our national welfare. If mis-
representations of our purposes and mo-
tlves are to gain credence and defeat our
present effort in this direction, there seems
to be no reason why every endeav or 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 bur-
den of the people, and the abstraction by
the government of the CURRENCY of the
country, inevitable distress and disaster.
All danger will be diverted by timely &C.
tion. The difficulty of appl ying the remedy
will never be less and the blame should
not Le laid at the door of the Democratic
party ifit is applied too late.
With firm faith in the intelligence and
patriotism of our countrymen, and relying
upon the conviction that misrepresenta-
tiOn will not influence them, prejudice
will not cloud their understanding, and
that menace will not imimidate them, let
us urge the peoples interests and public
duty for the vindication Of our attempt to
naugurate righteous and beneicent re-
form. GROVER CLEVELAND.
DO you want to make converts to
Democracy, circulate the CAMPAIGN FLOR
IDIAN in your county. Single copies, Is
cents; in clubs of ten, Is cents per copy.