The Forrest City times., 1888-08-04
The Issue.


 Both candidates for the presidency had something to say on the Fourth of July.
 Benjamin Harrison was formally notified of his nomination at Chicago. The chairman of the convention, NIT. Estee, was chairman of the committee, charged with the formal duty of conveying to Mir. Harrison information of his success. He said among other things that the platform adopted by the national republl- can convention marked with clearness and precision the creed of the party. What that platform is the public knows. It pronounces in favor of preserving high tariff taxation upon the necessaries and comforts Of exist ence, even If 1t becomes necessary to abolish the tax on intoxcants. It would have the tax on tobacco removed and commits itself to the obviously impracticable suggestion or re- llevlng from tax alcohol used in the arts. Liberal expenditure is relied upon to dissi- pate the surplus. The consumer Of whisky and tobacco may have relief, but the pur- chaser of clothing blankets, lumber, salt, and a thousand and one useful articles must still pay tribute-in small part to the United States, in large part to a favored class. A policy of tax reduction however slight Is stig- matized as free trade.
 Mr. Harrison replied that he had already examined the platform with some care and its declarations are in harmony with his views. The chairman had alluded to the restriction 
 harmony with the views of the senator who six years ago argued against the restriction of Chinese immigration.
 Mir Cleveland spoke not in person, but by letter addressed to the sachem Of Tammany, A society that for nearly century has made 1t point to celebrate independence day. MT. Cleveland said that the people are not fully enjoying the benefits of democratic form or government when they are unnecessarily bur dened and their earnings and Incomes are uselessly diminished under Inc pretext of governmental support. It is their right to demand that the cost of government shall be limited by frugality. And yet" says the president, who but repeats the idea Of the message addressed to congress last December, "a useless and dangerous surplus in the national treasury tells no other tale but CT. tortion on the part of the government ana perversion of the peoples intention"
 Tn the midst of our impetuous enterprise and blind confidence in our destiny 1t is time to pause and study our condition. II IS no sooner appreciated than the conviction must follow that the tribute exacted from the peo- pie should be diminished. The theories which cloud the subject misleading honest men, and appeal to selfish interests, which deceive the understanding, make the reform which should be easy a dif1cult task. All though those who propose remedy Tor pres, ept evils have always been the frlenos or American labor, and though they declare
  their efforts, yet those who oppose reform attempt to disturb our workingmen by the cry that their wants and their employment are threatened. They advocate a system which benefits certain classes of our citizens at the expense of every householder In the Iand-a system which breeds discontent De- canse it permits the duplication or wealth without corresponding addition reeompense to labor which prevents the opportunity 10 work by stiting production and limiting the area of the markets, and which enhances the cost of living beyond the iaborers hard- earned wages" Tbese differing utterances of the candi- dates like ths declarations Of the party plat forms indicate the real issue of the cam naigp' The question is one of higher or lower | taxation on the line of the tarih Further, ! to empbasize the issue, action must De hsu i fin congress upon the lOng-pending Mhls oHi' which Is a measure not of free trade as isise- | lv represented but of exceedingly moderate l tarif reduction. The democratic party ih l congress has been absurdiY dllatorY ID pusn- tng this bill to a final vote. havlng ma nl ! iorlty it should have forced the hghtlng. VI. l ierine bill is a promise; passing It IS per 1 fornanee Politicians are judged not ,p py ! their words but by their acis Ihe
 nTonnlse of the democratic party thai 1 ii will reform the tarin, thougl
 reneatedly made has never vet been redeem ! ed' lis sincerity will be judged oy me out | come of the pending bill in the house con
 ,aining democratic majority II ID earne 2 ! it will hasten the conclusion. II u has oeel ! trifipg with the country tue manifold virtues , Inf its leader. the president, will not save < from popular contempt -thieago A"'ss-