The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1888-01-28
THE FARMERS AND THE TARIFF.

1t is one Of the most astonishing facts
in our history that Bourbon party in
our midst should so stoIitlly set themselves
to work to break down the business in-
terests of a class of the population among
whom their own lot is cast comprising
larger portion by far than any other sin.
gle class. aud amounting to millions upon
whose labor, it has always been ackuowl-
edged, the welfare of other classes de
ponds i'll a greater ratio than all others;
for it is well known that whenever there
is IA failure, OF any other calamity. to any
considerable extent of either of our
great staple products of the farm, de
preston is universally felt in every other
branch of business This fact no inteili-
gent person can deny, and yet the cry is
raised that in order to reduce the price
of manufactured goods to the people the
duty on all raw materials shall be re-
duced, or entirely repealed. I've Presi-
dent, in his message to Congress. has
specially taken this ground, and desig-
mated but a single item-that OF wool
to elucidate his idea, and his parLy to "A
great extent has adopted The principle
thus advanced, and now for tha first
time the free trade party are obliged to
acknowledge that the line is distinctly
drawn between the two great parties of
the country, although the free traders
have always endeavored to shirk the
question, and given other names to
their projects to attain their ultimate
ends. A change, however, has come
over some of them, especially in the
South, where the beneficial effects of the
protective system is being realized to
their newly established industries, which
are now found TO be endangered, Just as
their great value is assured by the booms
which have taken place in various sec.
tlons OF the South and the people there
can see no reason why their own agricul-
tural products should be burdeusd with
the war taxes, which have always been
promptly abolished when, in times of
war or other necessities, these internal
taxes have been established. Senator
Brown, of Georgia, in his speech-which
was a positive slap in the face to his
party leader, President Cleveland, whose
message elected determination to hold
on to the internal revenue taxes on to-
bacc0 and spirits, and to reduce the sur
plus by the repeal of the duty on foreign
imports alone-declared his determination
to vote for the repeal of the entire system
of internal taxation, and to raise the rev
enue on imports, as all the leading states
men of the country had done. Senator
Vance. of North Carolina, also opposes
the RESIDENTS doctrine as odious to his
people, and has determined to cut off,
first, the internal duties, aud then duties
on imports. This senator was vary fair
in his presentation of the status of the
two parties, remarklng that the President
had now drawn the line so distinctly that
there could be no mere quibbling upon
the subject--the Democratic position
enunciated by the President, and ac
knowledged to be received as the plat
form of the party; that the tariff on for
egn goods shall be reduced or taken off,
and the duties on the interval revenue
shall be continued; whilst the Republi-
can party, he said, had taken their stand
firmly on maintaining the present duties
on all imports which come into conpeti-
ton with similar classes produced III this
country, while the internal revenue on
I tobacco and on certain classes of spirits
should be taken off. This is d true state
ment of the case, and the friends of pro-
lection rejoice that at last they have the
naked question before them, which they
have been for years endeavoriug to induce
their opponents to avow. They can no
longer hide their Interior object by the
cry OF "a judiciOus tariff or tariff for
revenue or a tariff to reduce the sur
plus revenus. Call it now by what uame
they please, the world now understands
that the object is to secure free trade,
and the English papers are gloating over
the annoa lc5ment as being in favor of
their interests.