The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-08-09
TIMELY TARIFF TALK.
mo. 2.-lSSSS I

y
paper.
Let us take look at our country !
and people, as we find them today. We
have one of the best governments that
was ever formed for the protection of
society, aud the happiness and well
being of mankind. Our acres the
our farms the most fertile,
our mines the most varied, useful, and
the richest that has ever fallen to
free people, since history has recorded
the enjoyments and doings of man.
And yet our government is not perfect,
we are not perfect, and all things hui
man seem checkered with imperfec-
tions AS people, we love one an
other, we love our conntry's Constitu'
ton aud its Flag, foundations and en-
blems of national power and glory.
We dwell midst thousands Of pleasant
surroundings our country has grown
old and become rich. The forests have
been swept off before the march ofciv-
ilization, stumps and roots have been
cleared from the fields, which few
years since so obstructed civilization.
The splendid mansion, with its con-
veniences and comforts, and the beau
tiful nd we'll titled farm, now consti.
tute the happy home of our husband
men, where SO few years ago the rude
hut and the little opening in the forest
of the woodman was found. Many
OF our little villages have grown to be
cities of commerce, manufacturing and
Importance The old cart roads have
become splendid public highways for
the transportation of produce and the
pleasant carriage drives. Our whole
land is interviewer with network of
iron lines, over which swift cars con
vey men of business, parties of pleas
ure. and the great productions of our
country from point to point and from
sea to sea, as circumstances may de
mand. Our rich productions, harvest
ed today. are often on the markets ia
distant states tomorrow. The current
news of the day is spoken in New
York. while listening ears catch the
words in Portland, Sacramento, and
elsewhere transcontinental. Our ed
ucational and Christian advantages
are second to those of no people on
earth. The inventive genius of people
has no bounds. Our advantages, Op.
portunities and privileges far exec I'D
the limits of the compass of my state
ment. And yet, in the midst of all
these comforts and blessings. our sys'
| tenn of government is such, that we
are now upon the threshold of one Of
our quadriennial campaigns, the ex
c.t ,ment of which. for time ser'e
to disturb the channels of business
During this campaign question o.
much Importance to our people is to bs
discussed and in measure acted upon
by them, and the differences upon
this question are not to be defined OF
circumscribed by party lines, thougt
the democratic party will, as party
measure, insist that the duty, or tax
on foreign productions imported her'
shall Gas a whole, rs it now stands, a
about AZ cents on the dollar b. so re
duced as to be only 40 cents on th'
dollar on foreign impOrtatinns 90 a
the one hundred millions of dollar
over and above the legitimate needs o
the government, which is added 10 th
price of the goods which our peopl
actually pay when they pay for thei
goods, shall not be taken from thei
wallets. Reader, stop and think O
this, One hundred millions Gu
powers of Imagination are entirely to-
feeble to comprehend its magnitude
yet you and / and the balance O
our fellow citizens, actually have t
pay it, each and every year. Whel
we were in terrible war, this none
was all needed for our army and navy
but now We are at peace, and still W
are paying this vast sum over and be
yond all the legal and proper govern
ment expenses. Should this vas
drainage, this leech upon the financis
power (our money! of our people, b
needlessly, unconstitutionally, take
from US? The lack of this 500, 600, ,O0
in our business, narrows the avenue
of all improvements, closes the work
shops, reduces the prices of our farm
and artisticai products. narrows tn
demand for labor and makes wage
less, and in fact Supplies business, t
the utmost bounds of our country
This is the question upon which ou
two great political parties are divided
and upon which they are to do battl
during the present political campaign
The democratic party insist that thi
needless, excessive tax shall be stOppe
They propose in some way to reduc
our tax as it now is, AZ cents on tn
dollar, to A cents on the dollar. thi
will be all sufficient to defray all gov
ernment expenses, pay all pension
and leave a fair surplus each year
which can be graded down more close
ly as the exact demands upon our fed
eral treasury become more perfectl,
defined,
| Now the Republican side. The,
propose to fight this 7 per cent. reduc
ton on our taxes. or tariff, to the bit
ter end. In convention at Chicago
they recently resolved to fight this re
duction, as special party measure
They solemnly resolved that no tax o
tariff reduction should be made, onl,
on tobacco and alcohol. Great Scott
what position for an intelligent part,
to 60 before an intelligent people will
as their party shiboleth. The opel
and avowed advocates of free whisky
and free tobacco! For what? Per
chance, our dear wives, maidens an,
children might need little of tn
precious article. Tax their sugar, tai
their coffee. tea, tax all they eat, tal
heavily all they wear, but let then
have whisky and tobacco free. Thi
is not Democratic doctrine; it is Re
publican doctrine, deliberated, and b,
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