Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1888-09-20

should be always sedulously regarded IN
any modification Of our tariff laws, an ad
ditional and more direct and efficient pro
lection TO these interests would be Afforded
by the restriction and prohibition OF the
immigration or importation OF laborers
from other countries who swarm upon our
shores, having no purpose or intent OF Dc
coming our fellow citizens, or acquiring
any permanent interest in our country, but
who crowd every field OF employment with
unintelligent labor at wages which ought
not TO satisfy those who make claim TO
American citizenship.
The platform adopted by the late national
convention Of our party contains the FOL
lowing declaration:
Judging by democrat principles the in
terests of the people are betrayed when by
unnecessary taxation trusts and combina-
tions are permitted and fostered which,
while unduly enriching the few that COM
bine, rob the body of our citizens by deprlv-
ing them as purchasers Of the benefits or
| natural competition.
Such combinations have always been con-
demned by the democrat party. The dec
| laration of its National convention Is SIN
| cerely made, and no member OF our party
| will be found excusing the existence or be
| lifting the pernicious results OF these de-
| vices TO wrong the people. Under various
names they have been punished by the com
mon law for hundreds of years; and they
/ nave fObL uOut VI NdNulpp "
cause they have assumed the name OF trusts
| instead of conspiracies. We believe tina
| these trusts are the natural offspring OF q
market artificailly restricted; that an in
ordinately high tariff beside furnishing the
| temptation for their ex stence enlarges the
| limit within which they may operate
! against the people, and thus increases the
extent of their power for wrong doing.
With an unalterable hatred for al such
schemes we count the checking of their
| baleful operations among the good results
| promised by revenue reform.
While we cannot avoid partisan misrep-
resentation our position upon the question
of revenue reform should be so plainly
stated as to admit of no misunderstanding.
| We have entered upon no crusade or Tree
| trade. The reform we seek TO inaugurate
is predicated upon the utmost care Tor es-
tablished industries and enterprises,
| Jealous regard for the interests Of American
labor, and a sincere desire to relieve the
country from the injustice and danger OF a
condition which threatens evil to all the
people of the land.
We are dealing with no imaginary dan
ger. It's existence has been repeatedly
confessed by all political parties, and
pledges of remedy have been made on all
sides.
Yet when in the legislative body, whore
under the constitution all remedial meas
ures applicable to the subject must origl-
nate, tho democrat majority were at
| tempting with extreme moderation TO re-
| deem the pledge common to both parties
| they were met by determined opposition
and obstruction; and the minority refusing
to cooperate in the house OF representa-
| tives or propose another remedy, have re
| mitted the redemption OF their party pledge
to the doubtful power Of the senate. The
people will hardly be deceived by their
abandonment Of the field of legislative &C
| . in AOli
! fiippantly declare in their party platform
that our conservative 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 prelu-
dice contained in the absurd allegation that
| we serve the interests Of Europe, while
| they will support the interests Of America.
| They propose in their platform TO thus
| support the interests Of our country by re
| moving the internal revenue tax from to-
bacco and from spirits used in the arts and
! for mechanical purposes. They declare,
also, that there should be such revision
| of our tariff laws as shall tend to check the
importation Of such articles as are produced
here. Thus, in proposing 70 increase the
| duties upon such articles 10 nearly or quite
| a prohibitory point, they confess themselves
| willing TO travel backward in the road of
| civilization and to deprive our people OF the
markets tor their goods which can only be
|
of an interchange of business, while they
| abandon our consumers to the unrestrained
| oppression of the domestic trusts and COM
| binations which are in the same platform
perfunctorily condemned.
They propose further 10 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 descrip-
tion produced exclusively abroad and not
already free, will find it difficult to dis
cover where their interests 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 country.
Small compensation for this neglected
need is found in the further purpose here
announced and covered by the declaration
that if after the changes already mention
ed there still remains a larger revenue
than is requisite 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 tariff taxation
now resting upon them. They are offered
free tobacco and free whisky. They ask
for bread and they are given a stone.
The implication contained in this party
declaration that desperate measures arc
justified or necessary TO save from destruc
ton or surrender what is termed our pro
tective system should confuse no one. The
existence of such a system is entirely con
sistent with the regulation of the extent tc
which it should be applied and the correc
ton of its abuses.
OF course in a country as great as ours
with such wonderful variety of interests
often leading in entirely different direc
tons, it is difficult, if not impossible, tC
settle upon perfect tariff plan. But in
accomplishing the reform we have entered
upon, the necessity Of which is so oblivi
Gus, / believe we sho I'D not be content
with a reduction of revenue involving the
prohibition of importatitns and the remov
al of the internal tax upon whisky. 1t car
be better and more safely done within the
lines of granting actual relief TO the people
in their means of living, and al
the some time giving an impetus to oul
domestic enterprises and furthering oul
national welfare.
If Misrepresentation Of our purposes anC
motives are to gain credence and defea
our present effort in this direction thor,
seems TO be no reason why every endeavol
in the future to accomplish revenue reform
should not be likewise attacked and will
like results. And yet no thoughtful MAJ
can fail to see in the contir aance of tn,
present burdens of the people, and the
abstraction by the government of the cur
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