The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-09-13

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hance the prices Of commodities, but i
is painfully obvious that the Democrat
candidate does not feel under any off
cial obligation to deal with facts.
He reiterates his theory that "unnec
essary taxation is unjust taxation" an,
yet says that the cost Of gOvernmen
must continue to be met by the tarf
and by internal taxes on liquors, tobacco
and oleomargarine. He signed the oleo
margarine bill. Did he consider the tai
necessary for the support of government
Clearly not, and in effect he said so. Ii,
approved the bill because that was tn,
only way in which the general govern
ment could regulate a traffic that wa!
imposing upon the public. Now tht
point we make is this If it was propel
by means of tax, to protect the pubic
from imposition, why is it not proper, by
means of tariff, to protect American
industries from ruinous competition
from abroad If taxation that is not
necessary for the support Of government
is unjust in the one case, it ID in the 9th.
er and Mr.. Cleveland's practice is incon,
sistent with his preaching.
lie continues to prate Of free raw ma
terlals and foreign markets for our man
ufactures, showing very narrow range
OF economic facts. There are none so
blind as those who will not see. More
than ninety per cent. of all that is pro-
duced in this county is consumed here.
The idea of opening this market for free
competition from foreign producers of
raw materials, for the sake of being bet
ter able to compete in foreign markets
for the sale of the ten per cent. surplus
of our goods. is worthy a man who is so
busy vetoing pension bills for saving
f25, 900 year that he let S2j, 900, 600
river and harbor bill become law with
out objection.
But there is something worse than
foolishness in his attitude. He proposes
to discriminate against our farmers and
miners for the benefit of a small class of
manufacturers-or rather for what he
supposes would be benefit, though in
judgment it would soon prove curse.
But even in this he is not impartial. He
says 1--WE propose" thereby meaning
himself and party, hut he utterly ignores
the fact that the Mills bill, which is
made part of his party platform, makes
wool and lumber free, but protects rice
and sugar by heavy duties. In other
words, il discriminates against Northern
and in favor of Southern producers So,
to class favoritsm he adds sectional fa-
voritism.
Then he undertakes to criticise the
Republicans for offering free tobacco
and whiskey as a means OF reducing rev.
enue. This is not fair statement of
the Republican platform aud he knows
it. The platform stated this as an alter
native, and rather remote and lmproba-
Bile at that; that is, it said that rather
Nhhi lOhuNt Nllt NDol VI BlO
tecting our industries, it would prefer to
abolish our entire system of internal
revenue. This is quite a different thing
from giving a stone in place of bread;
indeed, it is the exact reverse, for Pro-
lection gives bread.
Now, since he has assailed the Repub-
lican position on this subject, let us zee
how he stan is himself He accep's the
Democratic platform and of course he
adopts the Mills bill. That bill complete
y abolshes the tax of whlskey, not as
an alternative or remove contingency,
not for the sake of freeing alcohol used
in the arts, but without limitation and
absolutely, How is this for giving bread?
How is this for great moral reformer,
hurling scripture at his political oppo-
nents? Even the Springfield Repnbli-
can thinks he had better not have at
tempted to criticise the Republican plat
form.
But he goes further and unjustly cen
sures the Republicans in the House of
Representatives for not presenting a
tariff bill. The Republicans there are in
the minority and not responsible TO! the
legislation of that body. The Republi-
can members Of the Committee of Ways
and Means were excluded from the de-
liberations of the subcommittee which
framed the Mills bill. They tried in vain
to be heard and in the Committee OF the
Whole the Republicans did all they could
to have the bill made wise and safe
measure instead OF one which would i'm
peril the industries Of the country. To
blame them for not doing more is like
blaming the negroes Of the South for nc I
voting, or helpless wife for not ruling
the household of her brutal husband.
And yet, of man who puts before he
country such dsingcnuous talk as this,
such trifing with the most important
matters, such ignoring OF facts necessary
to sound conclusions, and such reitera- |
tion of exploded errors, his partisans say
he is honest and great, and they even
compare hun with Washington and Lin
coin. Let us be thankful that Washing
ton and Lincoln are beyond humiliation
by this intliction.