The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1888-10-13

tdnt part OF TIE Sldtt.
After passing through months OF soil
citude and responsibility In assisting my
colleagues in attempting TO guide the
sugar and rice interests In the pain O!
comparative safety during the revision OF
the tariff by the house OF representatives
we are now threatened with danger III
much more serious form.
The Republican senate after months
devo to tn. consideration OF their Ia
riff scheme, have determined to maintain
the duties on manufactured goods, III
some eases 10 raise them higher so that
every article we have TO buy will he Kept
M: while they reduce the duties on SUI
gar and rice to one half of what they are
at present under Xisting law.
They have Joined with the views ex-
pre- .spd by the majority of the Republl-
can members of the house III practically
constituting The Chicago protection plat
form to mean that northern manufae-
turers shall he fully protected, but that
protection shall not incluhe the sugar
! and rice Of Louisiana.
All disguise is now thrown aside and
policy is proclaimed which will lead to
the destruction Of the successful culture
of sugar cane and rice in the South I'M
less their efforts can be prevented by up
holding Democratic influence.
The Democratic policy is to maintain
high duty on foreign sugar because 1t Is
one of the largest sources OF revenue
most easily collected and falling most
uniformly on the whole community.
The Republican policy is to cut down
the duties OH foreign sugar becaure that
reduction works large re luction in the
revenue and every dollar thus reduced
prevents reduction on northern manu-
featured wooden clothing. blankets. hats
tinware and other goods which they have
determined shall not he reduced.
sincerely believe that every labOring
man in the sugar and rice districts o
Louisiana. whether White or black has
as great a personal interest in voting at
the November election for Cleveland and
Thurman for Democratic Congressman
as any of his neighbOrs can have.
The important improvement about To
he inaugnrated in hayous Lafourche and
PlaQuemine will require industry and
the co Cperation Of influence to sustain
and carry forward by further apprOpria,
: ton.
: The improvement of bayou Pladuemine
II rega d as beai ing the same relation to
the waterways of the interior as the
roots and trunk of the giant oak bear to
its branches.
Let us first establish firmly the roots
and the trunk then the improvement of
I the branches, which permeate the inte-
: rior will be universally recognized as
worthy.
r After two years in laying the founda-
ton of the permanent improvement OF
the outlet of the Calcasieu river to the
gulf, in securing surveys and estimates
, the report of the secretary of war to the
present Congress declared that outlet un-
worthy Of improvement.
This means that the expenditure re-
Guircd was greater than the commerce OF
the stream justified.
have arranged for another eXamina.
ton and report with the hope that the
local engineer may he more favOrably
impressed with the Importance Of the
commerce of the CalcaSieu river.
As there is no prospect OF the adjourn
ment of Congress before November may
be deprived of the opportunity and pleas.
IRE of visiting my constituency but
feel assured that the Democracy of the
Third Congressional District will rally tC
the polls in November and add another
victory for Cleveland and Thurman ant
your Obedient servant.
EDWARD j. GAY.
Washington Sept. % 1888.
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