Richland beacon., 1888-09-01
The Proposed Embargo on Trade.

The Proposed Embargo on Trade.
The tariff plank in the Republican
platform Is so monstrOus, so utterly un-
patriotic and unreasonable and SO dire tly
menacing to the trade and prosper ty Of
the country that men have hardly vet
realized the fact that national conven-
tion has deliberately proposed such a
thing. II seems incredible and it takes
time for the mind to grasp the fact that
the incred bic is true.
The proposal is to suppress the COM
merce Of the Ditcd States with all for
eign nations. to lay am embargo on trade
in time of profound peace.
1t is proposed to do this, not by way
of cutting of our noses to spite our faces.
as was the cases when the celebrated
cml argn of $50, was la Il to the utter
prostration of all our industries. but sim
ply to prevent any reduction of the taxes
now laid upon the common people for
the benefit of clique of monopolists
who have secured coltrol of the machin-
cry OF political party and who seek to
use that machinery for their own enrich
ment at the expense Of everybody else.
II is not the protection of American
Industry that is so1ght 1t is not the
principle OF protection even, that is in
volved. 1t is policy of delibera' e
and designed destruction Of American
trade in the interest and at the behest Of
ring of trusts and mOnopolies
ct us see pr ci.e'y what the platform
sets forth as the purpose and policy of
the Republican party under its new
leadership. We have tax laws VIII ch
ment needs. The taxes are of two kinds,
namely, internal revenue taxes on
whisky, tobacco. etc, and tariff duties
npon the common necessaries of life,
levied in part for revenue but in larger
part for the purpose of enabling the
associated trusts to exact higher than
normal prices for the goods that all the
people use. In enact line with what the
Republican party under its greater
leaders has ALWAYS declared to be its
policy, Mr.. Cleveland has proposed TO
get rid of the excess of revenue by re-
ducing OF removing the taxes on ncces.
saries and on the raw materials Of manu-
facture. reta ming the tax on whisky in
order that the greater relief might he
given to the people. That was both
Republican and Democratic doctrine
until the monopolists secured control
of the Republican machinery and framed
a Republican platform in violation ofthe
pledges of years Now the Republican
party, through its platform, declares:
|. That it will resist all proposals to
reduce the taxes upon nCcessar rs ard
the raw materials of manufacture all
proposals looking to the relief of the
people from their burdens.
.. That in order to escape from
surplus without granting any relief TO the
people, it will set whisky free
?. And. most atrOcious of all, that it
will advance the present rates of duty on
all art cles the like of VIII 'ch are manu-
factured here-that is to say. on cloth.
ing, blankets, cutlery. hardware and
other things which everybody uses-to
SO so high a point as to ''check importa-
tons"
That means that so far and so fast As
the revenue from GU toms duties can he
spared the Republican purity, if intrusted
with the power. will place an embargo
upon commerce. until all trade with
other countries shall cease, for il i'm
ports are stopped exports also must
cease.
Then we shall be a nation such as
Japan was before Commodore Perry
sailed into japanese waters Our mas
ters, the trusts. will have a complete
of our markets secured to
them by law. The people will be for
hidden by law to buy goods of anybody
else, and equally to sell to ANYBODY else
They will fix whit wages they please.
for they will have 4 monopoly of the
machinery of industry. They will
charge what prices they please. for they
alone will be permitted to supply the
market with goods, and we have seen by
experience what means they have of pre-
venting any healthy competition among
themselves when outside competition is
barred out.
Surely no sane man who intelicen,lv |
,ares for the welfare of the country and |
,lcarly sees what it is that the monopo- |
lists have induced the Republican Con
rent;on to propose, will vote to give |
uch a pol cy rs that the remotest chance |
If practical enforcement. Are we opium |
,ating Chinese mardarins, that we shall
consent to this thing?-Ntw York Com
aerc.M 1drerti er.