Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-04-13
PARKERssURa, April II, 1888

ascribed to me in the Enquirer article were
by me, and incorrect from
beginning TO end; that l am in full accord
with President Cleveland and his admins
tration; that / am in favor of his nomina-
tiol and reelection, and have no doubt
that the same result will repeat itself at
the next election in West Virginia that
has followed for tho last dozen or more
years, tha. is, that the Republicans will
carry the State before the election, and the
Democrats at the election-that 1.-THE boys
will 90 marching along and roll up the
usual mf ority for Cleveland ard the Dem
Ocratic State ticket and that we will all
be there TO see.
ON THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Ol the evening of tine day on which
P, esident Cieveland's last annual message
received telegram from the
REGIsTEE asking my views in regard to it,
to which 1 replied as follows: 81 think the
message is able and practical and the Pres
ident's manner Of presenting the one great
question Of vital interest to Congress and
the country, separately from all others, is
original ard forcible. Whatever differences
opinion may exist in relation 10 the details of
Of tariff reduction, all must agree in the
urgent necessity OF such tariff reform as will
reduce the revenues to the neces-
sites of the Government, eco
nomieally administered, in order
to relieve the people and the business OF
the country from excessive taxation and
the dangers aud temptations to corruption
from an overhowing surplus in the Treas
ury. The adjustment of such tariff will
provoke differences of opinion, even
amoDgst members Of the same party and
amongst politicians for party effect, while
individuals will honestly differ without re-
gard to party, but the overwhelming ne
cessity for modification AMI prompt reduc-
tiOn exists all the same as an imperative
necessity. The President has frankly and
earnestly laid the whole subject before
Congress and tue country, aud If Congress
addresses itself to the subject with the
zane patriotic earnestness the Executive
has, the country will have great reason to
rejoice and look forward to increased pros
perity."
This was 70 meaningless expression Of
Of opiniOa-there was at that time, and
still Il, IN the Treasury about one hundred
millions of the peoples money locked up,
aud Withdrawn from circulation, with an
surplus derived from unneces-
sary taxation accommodating at the rate OF
about one hundred millions more per year.
This tax, beyond the legitimate wants Of
the Government, is not cGly an excessive
and unnecessary tax upon the people, but
that is not its worst feature.
a DANGEROUS SURPLUS.
The people might bear the burthen of
taxation if it was required to sustain the
provided the money was re-
turned to them through the usual chan
nelS OF trade, but, TO have it locked mp in
the Treasury, withdrawn from circulation
and the avenues of business is q double
burthen, which must of necessity produce
disaster unless speedily corrected, aud l
fully endorsed the Presidents able, honest
and courageous manner OF presenting 1t to
Congress and the country as the one great
question OF paramount importance.
My record, in relation to the adjustment
OF the tariff, was made on several occasions
in the Senate during the tariff revision in
1883, which may be briefly stated as fol-
lows: The Government, even when eco
nomic llly administered, will require from
one hundred and fifty to two hundred
millions TO be raised from tariff imposts
[ the amount depending somewhat upon
the revenue that may be raised from inter
nal souTCes), the amount collected by tariff
duties, il imposed upon articles either pro-
duCsd or manufactured in this country,
will produce what is called protection to
the articles upon which it is levied; in
other words, the people pay the
duty to the producer or manufacturer, by
enabling them to add the duty imposed to
the price of the article upon which the
tariff is levied, as compared with outside
IL, then, one hundred and
fifty millions is collected from a tariff so
levied, il will produce one hundred and
fifty millions OF incidental projections;
therefore, as long as the Government re-
quireS the revenue, there can be no such
tang as free trade; the necessity tor tariff
for rereRuc sristS. and rith Il tOiiOIrS GER
tain alaOUaf Of protection, there is no room
ior difference e; opinion on this point, un-
less some system Of direct taxation Is
which no one proposes, and no
one wants
TIE REAL QUESTION,
is the limitation Of the revenue
TO be collected to the legitimate wants of
the Government. aud the proper adjust
ment of tariff duties-upm what 1t shall
be levied, and in what proportions? and
what articles shall 90 upon the free list?
Upon this there will always be difference
of opinion, the result mainly Of geOgraph-
ically different Interests. Louisiana pro-
duces sugar. She wants tariff on sugar to
beneh. her producers. The Carollnas,
rice; Missouri, lead and zisc; kentucky,
hemp; Texas objects to Mexican cattle
coming across the line to compete with her
products; Pennsylvania, iron and coal;
West Virginia, iron, coal and lum-
ber, and the New England States,
their great manufacturing interests OF all
kinds. Ny position has been that the ad-
arising from incidental protec-
ton, by, reason of necessary tariS, should
be shared by the interests Of the whole
country, and should be fairly distributed
10 the interests OF all sections, and that
West Virginia was entitled TO her fair
share of the advantages Of such q tariff,
limited to the necessities OF the govern
ment, for her products and interests. The
basis OF such tariff is fixed by the
revenue required, bat the adjustment
is difficult, and requires not only invssti-
CATION and comparison IS to results to
be obtained, but must also be the subject
of compromises. The broad line Of differ
encs between the republicans and Demo-
erats, IS . rule, is that the Republicans
favor tariff for protection, for the sake Of
protection without regard to revenue,
while the Democrats favor tariff limited
to the revenue required, fairly adjusted,
incidental protection as the re-
suit That, at least. has bsen my position
and claimed for West Virgins her fair