The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-08-30

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| or intended.
But we know the cost of our domestic
manufactured products is increased, and
| their price to the consumer enhanced by
the duty imposed upon the raw material
used in their manufacture. We know that
| this increased cost prevents the sale of our
| productions at foreign markets in compe-
tltlon with those countries which have the
advantage OF free raw material. Weknow
that confined to home market our manu-
featuring operations are curtailed, and
their demand for labor irregular and the
| rate OF wages paid uncertain. We pro-
| pose, therefore, to stimulate our domestic
industrial enterprises by freeing from duty
the imported raw materials which, by the
employment of labor, are used in our home
manufactures, thus extending the markets
for their sale and permitting an increased
and steady production with the allowance
of abundant profits.
True to the undertaking coHrse of the
democratic party, we will not neglect the
interests of labor and our workingmen.
In efforts to remedy existing evils, we VIII
furnish no excuse for the loss of employ
ment or the reduction of the wages of
honest toll On the contrary, we propose,
in any adjustment of our revenue laws, to
concede such encouragement and advant-
age to the employers of domestic labor as
will easily compensate for any difference
that may exist between the standard of
wages which should be paid to our labor
ing men and the rate allowed in other
countries. We propose, too, by extending
the markets for our manufactures to pro-
mote the steady employment of labor,
while by cheapening the cost of the neces-
sarles of life We increase the purchasing
power of the workingman's wages and
add to the comforts of his home.
And before passing from this phase of
the question l am constrained to express
the opinion that, while the interests of la
Dor should be always sedulously regarded
In any modification of our tariff laws, an
additional and more direct and efficient
protection to these interests would be af-
forded by the restriction and prohibition
OF the Immigration or Importation of la
borers from other countries, who swarm
upon our shores, having no purpose or in
tent of becoming our fellow-citizens, or ac-
qulrlng any permanent interest in our
country, but who crowd every field of en-
ployment with Intelligent labor at wages
which ought not to satisfy those who make
claim to American citizenship.
The platform adopted by the late nation
al convention of our party contains the
following declaration: Judged by demo-
cratic principles the interests of the people
are betrayed when by unnecessary taxa
tion trusts and combinations are permitted
and fostered, which, while unduly enrich
ing the few that combine, rob the body of
of our citizens by depriving them as pur-
chasers, of the benefits of NATURAL compe-
tition."
Such combinations have always been
condemned by the democratic party. The
declaration of its national convention is
sincerely made, and no member of our
party will be found excusing the existence
or belttllng the pernlcIous results of these
devices to wrong the people. Under vari-
GUS names they have been punished by
the common law for hundreds OF years,
and they have lost none of their hateful
features because they have assumed the
name of trusts instead of conspiracies.
We believe that these trusts are the
natural offspring OF a market artifcially
restricted; that an inordinately high
tariff, besides furnishing the temptation
for their existence, enlarges the limit
within which they may operate against
the people, and thus increases the extent
of their power for wrong doing. With an
unelterable hatred of all such schemes we
count the checking of their baleful opera
tions among the good results promised by
revenue reform.
While we cannot avoid partisan mis-
representation, our position upon the
question of revenue reform should be so
plainly stated as to admit of no misuHder-
standing. We have entered upon no
crusade Of free trade. The reform We
seek to lnaugurate Is predicated upon the
utmost care for established industries and
enterprises, jealous regard for the inter-
ests of American labor and sincere
desire to relieve the country from the in
justice and danger of condition which
threatens evil to all the people of the land.
We are dealing with no imaginary dan
R6T. lLS 6AlSC0uC0 mas O6en 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 sub
ject must originate, the democratic ma
jority were attempting with extreme mod
Grafton to redeem the pledge common to
both parties, they were met by deter
mined opposition and obstruction, and
the minority refusing to cooperate in the
nj nr mr. nm Y
other remedy, have remitted the redemp-
ton 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 action to meet in
political convention and fippantly declare
in their party platform that our conserva-
tive and careful effort to relieve the situa-
ton is destructive to the American system
of protection. Nor will the people be mis-
led 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 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 a revision
of our tariff laws as shall tend to check the
importation of such articles as are pro-
duced here. Thus in proposing to increase
the duties upon such articles to nearly or
quite proh1bitofy point, they confess
themselves 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 b
semblance, at least, of an Interchange of
business, while they abandon our consum-
ers TO the unrestrained oppression Of
the domestic trusts and combinations
which are in the same platform perfunct-
orily condemned They propose, further,
to release entirely from import duties all
articles of foreign production Except lux
uries), the like of which cannot be pro-
duced in this country. The plain people
of the land and the poor, who scarcely use
articles of any description produced exclu-
sively abroad and not already free, will
find it difficult to discover where their in
tereSts are regarded in this proposition.
They need in their homes cheaper domes-
tic necessaries; and this seems to be en-
tirely unprovided for in this proposed
scheme to serve the country. Small COM
pensation for this neglected need is found
in the further purpose here announced
and covered by the declaration, that If
after the changes already mentioned there
still remains larger revenue than is
requisite for the wants Of the government, !
the entire internal taxation should be re-
pealed rather than surrender any part OF
our protective system.
Our people ask relief from the undue
and unnecessary burden of taxation now
resting upon them. They are offered in
6I6dO ATco JODdCCO duU-lTe6 WHISKY. 1QcY
ask for bread and they are given a stone.
The implication contained in this party
declaration that desperate measures are
justified or necessary to save from destruc-
tion or surrender what is termed our pro-
tective system, should confuse no one
The existence of such system is entirely
consistent with the regulation of the ex-
tent to which it should be applied and
the correction of its abuses.
OF course in a country as great as ours,
with such a wonderful variety of interests,
often leading in entirely different direc-
tions, it is difficult, if not impossible, to
settle upon perfect tariff plan. But in
accomplishing the reform we have en-
tered upon, the necessity of which is so
obvious. believe we should not be con-
tent with reduction of revenue inyolv-
ing the nrOhihifinn of irnrnrtntinru nr,.I