Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-09-10

upon the utmost care for established in
dustries and enterprises jealous re-
gard for the interests Of American labor,
and sincere desire TO relieve the coun-
try from injustice and the danger OF q
condition which threatens evil to all the
people of the land. We are dealing with
no imaginary danger. It's existence has
been repeatedly confessed 10y all political
parties, and pledges of remedy have
been made on all sides.
Yet, when in legislative body where
under the Constitution all remedial
measures applicable to this subject must
originate, the Democratic majority were
attempting with extreme moderation TO
redeem the pledge common 10 both
parties they were met by detained oppo-
sition and obstruction, and the minority
refusing to cooperate in the House OF
Representatives or proposing another
remedy have remitted 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 legis-
lstive action 10 meet in political CON
vention and hippsntly 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 mis-
led by the appeal to prejudice 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 10 thus
support the interests of our country by
removing the internal-revenue tax from
tobacco and from spirits nsed in the arts
and for mechanical purposes. They de-
clare also that there should be such a re-
vision OF our tariff laws as shall
tend to check the importation of
such articles as are produced here.
Thus proposing to increase the duties
upon such articles to nearly or quite the
prOhibitory point they confess them
selves willing to travel backward in the
road of civilization and to deprive our
people of markets for their goods,
which can only be gained and kept by
| the sembance at least Of interchange
of business, while they abandon our
consumers to the unrestrained
OPPRESSION OF DOMESTIC TRUSTS
and combinations which are in the same
platform perfunctorily condemned
| They propose further to release entirely
| from import duties all articles of foreign
production except luxuries. the like Of
which cannot be produced in this coun-
try. The plain people Of the land and
| the Door who scarcely use artl-
cles of any description produced
exclusively abroad and not already free
will find it difficult to discover where
their interests are regarded in this pro-
position. 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
mentioned 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 talif taxation
now resting upon them. They are offer
ed instead free tobacco and free whiskey.
They ask for bread and they are given q
stone.
The implication contained in this party
| declaration that
| DESPERATE MEASURES
are justified or necessary to save from
destruction or surrender what is termed
our protective system should confuse no
one. The existence Of such a system is
entirely consistent with the regulation
Of the extent to which 1t should he ap-
piled and the correction of Its abuses.
OF course in a country as great as
ours, with such wonderful variety of
interests, often leading in entirely differ
ent directions, it is difficult, if not i'm
possible, to settle upon a perfect tariff
plan. But IN accomplishing the reform
we have entered upon, the necessity
of which is so obvious that | be
lieve we shOuld not be content
with a reduction of the revenue,
involving the prohibition of importa-
tions and the removal of the internal
| tax upon whiskey. II can be better and
more safely done within the lines of
granting actual relief to the people in
their means Of living, and at the same
time giving impetus to our domestic en-
terprises and fuTthering our national
welfare. If Misrepresentation of our
purposes and motives are to gain ere
dence and defeat our present effort in
| this direction, there seems to be no rea-
son why every endeavor In the future to
accomplish
REVENUE REFORM
should be likewise attacked and with q
like result. And yet no thoughtful man
can fail to see in the continuance of the
present burdens Of the people and the
abstraction by the Government of the
currency of the country inevitable dis
tress and disaster.
All danger will be ayerted by timely yac-
tion. The diliicultyof applying a rene
dy will never be less, and the blame
should not be laid at the door of the
Democratic party if it is applied too late.
With a firm faith in the intelligence
and patriotism Of our countrymen, and
relying upon the conviction that mis-
representation will not influence them,
prejudice will not cloud their under
standing, and that menace will not in
timidate them, let us urge the peoples
interest and public duty for the vindica-
ton OF our attempt to inaugurate right
eous and benehcent reform.
GROVER CLEVELAND.
THE CYCLONE IN TIE GULF.