The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1888-09-19

their abandonment of the field of legislative
action to meet in political convention anG
flippantly declare In their party platform
that our conservative and careful effort tC
relieve the situation IS destructive to the
American system OF protection. Nor will
the people be misled by the appeal to preju
dice contained in the absurd allegation thai
we serve the interests of Europe, while
they will support the interests of America
REPUBLICAN 1NsNcERITY.
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 medicinal purposes. They declare also
that there should be such revision of our
tariff laws as shall tend to check the impor-
tation of such articles as are produced here.
Thus in proposing to increase the duties
upon such articles to learly or quite pro-
hi bitory point they confess themselves will
ing to travel backward In the road OF civil
lization and to deprive our people Of the
markets for their goods, which can only be
gained and kept by the semblance, at least,
of an interchange of business, while they
abandon our consumers to the unrestrained
oppression of the domestic trusts and COM
binations 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 cannet be produced in this country.
The plain people Of the land and the poor,
who scarcely use articles of any description
produced exclusively abroad and not al
ready free, will find it difficult to discover
where their interests are regarded in this
proposition. They need In their homes
cheaper domestic necessaries, and this
seems to be entirely unprovided for In this
proposed scheme to serve the country.
FREE TOBACCO AND FREE WHISKY.
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 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 tariff taxation
now resting upon them. They ore offered
free tobacco and free whisky.
They ask for bread and they are given
stone
The implication contained in this party
declaration, that desperate measures are
justified or necessary to save from cestruc'
tion or surrender what is termed our pro-
tective system, should confuse no one. The
existence of such system is entirely con-
sistent with the regulation of the extent to
which it should be applied and the correc-
tion of its abuses.
Of course, in country as great as ours,
with such wonderful variety of interests,
often leading in entirely different directions,
it is difficult if not impossible to settle upon
a perfect tariff plan. But in accomplishing
the reform we have entered upon, the ne
cessity of which is so obvious, believe we
should not be content with reduction Of
revenue involving the prohibition Of i'm
portations and the removal of the internal
tax upon whisky. 1t may be better and
more safely done within the lines Of grant
ing actual relief to the people in their
means of living and at the same time CIV
ing an impetus to our domestic enterprises
and furthering our national welfare.
If Misrepresentation Of our purposes
and motives are to gain credence and defeat
our present efforts in this direction, there
seems to be no reason why every endeavor
in the future to accomplish revenue reform
should not be likewise attacked and with
like result. And yet no thoughtful man
can fail TO see in the continuance Of the
present burdens Of the people, and the alb
straction by the government of the cur
rency of the country, inevitable distress
and disaster. All danger will be averted
by timely action. The difficulty of apply
ing the remedy 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 firm faith in the intelligence and
patriotism of our countrymen, and relying
upon the conviction that Misrepresentation
will not influence them, prejudice will not
cloud their understanding, and that menace
will not intimidale them, let US urge the
peoples interest and public duty for the
vindication of our attempt to inaugurate
righteous and benedcent reform.
GROVER CLEVELAND.