The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1888-01-19
AB1G DEMOCRATIC EFFORT.

Manufacturers Association" which
meets in Washington this week.
The memorial urges the association
to pass resolution asking
at the hands of Congress. an immed-
late repeal OF the internal tax on to-
bacco. This is a mere incident Of
their trip; they go to Washington, to-
gether with other gentlemen at the
instance of the Democratic Executive
Committee of the State, to urge upon
Congress itself the necessity, exped
iency and propriety of repeal of the
entire system of internal revenue tax
atoms.
To do this, Of course the entire re-
publican strength of both the Senate
and House of Representatives with
one or two exceptions. must be over
come.
The Republicans are welded to
high protective tariff, tariff that on
many leading articles of commerce
prevents importation.
If the Internal Revenue system is
repealed, this nece.sitates modifcat-
on of the tariff, and a reduction of
duties, which now prhoibit importa-
ton, to revenue basis. This neces-
sarily follows or there is at once a de-
fciency in the receipts of the govern
ment
The Democratic party in Congress
is not unit. There are few high
tariff democrats, who represent manu-
featuring districts that are controlled
by monoplies, and desire to retain the
tariff as a protection to monopoly.
The great majority, however, of the
democrats, led by the President, are
preparing for desperate fight of the
people against these monopolies.
TIE battle is already joined, and
we may expect fierce conflict during
the next ninety days.
Again there are Democrats in Con-
gress, as we'll asRepublicans, who rep
resent the great whiskey monopolies of
the West. These monopolies, years
ago when the Republican party con-
trolled both branches of Congress,
dictated the internal revenue laws.
1t was the western whiskey ring that
made the many odious features in
those laws possible. Itwas their braz-
en- backing that kept down the blush
from the cheeks OF the peoples rep
resentatives, who voted for provisions,
authorizing the cruel and heartless
execution of the law few years since,
that the people have not forgotten.
There are, therefore, two powerful
combinations to be overcome, before
the people can obtain relief from ex-
cessive taxation. The one organiza-
ton to protect the high protective tar
if system. The other organized to
protect the high protective internal
revenue system.
The North Carolina and Virginia
Democratic representatives are pre-
pairing to make desperate effort
while the great struggle is going on to
at least get the internal taxes remov-
ed from tobacco, and brandy distilled
from fruit.
They are fresh from the people and
know their wishes. They have seen
the tobacco growers toiling year after
year, to produce and prepare for mar
ket, great staple, that the govern
ment taxes more than one hundred
per cent of its market value; a great
staple that the producer must sell in
crop as it comes from the field, or be
guilty ola crime that throws him into
prison. No wonder that from Mary
land to South Carolina, they are with
clenched teeth cursing the law.
These Democratic representatives
fresh from the people, have seen the
fruit fall from the orchards planted by
a generation gone, and rot upon the
ground. 1t will not bear transporta-
ton to market except when near the
railroads. 1t is only marketable when
manufactured into brandy. This
was the custom of the fathers of
the present voters in the piedmont
and mountain regions of Virginia and
North Carolina. They cannot pay
the taxes and sell it in competition
with Western whiskey.
We see that Senator Vance the 9th.
er day made speech in the Senate
advocating the repeal of these taxes,
but in that speech he made one mis-
take; a mistake OF which he will be
convinced. He stated that the peo-
pie did not care for the tax, they we're
willing to pay it,they only objected to
the manner of its collection. 1t was
mistake. They object to both, their OBJ
lection is emphatic, and they will make
it loud and emphatic against both
the man and the party in the near fu-