Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-07-26
THE PLEDGE KEPT.

The Democratic party has kept its faith
with the people of the United States.
Every promise il made four years ago
when the people entrusted it with the
National Administration and with the con-
troll Of the House Of Representatives has
been fulfilled. The passage of the bill ito
reduce taxation and sim pity the laws in
relation to the collection Of revenue" the
MILLS bill, enables every Democrat to
look any man in the eye and cay with
pride: II belong 10 party which holds
sacred the obligations of its platform and
falfiLs them to the letter"
The Democratic platform of 1884 made
these promises to the people Of the United
States:
The Democracy pledges itself to purify the adj
ministration from corruption, to restore economy,
to revive respect for the law aud TO reduce taxa
ton TO the lowest limit consistent with due re-
gard to the preservation OF the faith Of the nation
70 It's creditors and pensioners, Knowing full
well, however. that lesisa alton affecting the OPP
ersions of the people should be cautious and con-
sentative in method. not in advance OF public
opinion, but responsive TO its demands the Dem
cratic party Is pledged to revise the tariff In
spirit OF fairness TO all interests. But in making
reduction oftaxes IL Is not proposed to ipjure any
domestic industries, tut rather 10 promote their
healthy growth. From the foundation Of this
taxes collected at the custom house
have been the chief source OF federal revenue
Such they must continue to be. Moreover, many
successful continuance, so that any change Of
law must be AT every step regsrdful OF the labor
and capital thus involved. The process Of the
reform must be subject in the execution to this
plain dictate OF justiee-all taxation shall be
limited 10 the requirements OF economical gov
eminent The necessary reduction In taxation
can and must be effected without depriving
American labor Of the ability TO compete sue
eessfully with foreign labor, and without i'm
posing lower rates OF duty than viii be ample to
cover any increased cost Of production which
may exist in consequence Of the higher rates Of
wages prevailing In this country. Sufficient rev.
enue to pay all the expenses of the Federal GOV
eminent economically administered, including
pensions, interest and principal Of the public
debt, can he got under our present system OF Gus
tom house taxes on ftwer imported articles
bearing heaviest on articles of luxury, and bear
ing lightest on articles of necessity. We, there
fore denounce the abuses of the existing tariff:
and subject to the preceding limitations we de-
mand that federal taxation shall be exclusively
for public purposes, and shall not exceed the
needs ofthe government economically admins
tered.
II is proper to dwell now for moment
on that pledge, because in every line and
letter of its many provisions the bill which
has Just passed conforms to the promise.
The MILLS bill recognizes the popular de-
mand for reduction in tariff taxes, and
far from being in advance ofpublic opinion
it is eonserystiyely responsive thereto. We
assert that the bill most thoroughly reeog-
nizss protection and the reduction Of taxes
it proposes, rather lees than seven per cent.
on tariff averaging forty-seven per cent.
does not contest that idea. The fact
is recognized that certain indus
tries shave come to rely on leg
islation" and that reliance is not dis
turbsd. More than ample provision is
made for the difference in wages between
American and foreign labor and, as has
been shown, in the instance Of the great
industries the MILLS bill
imposes taxes on foreign foods more than
equivalent to the full amount Of wages
paid for similar domestic goods. Taxes IN
articles of necessity have been reduced, and
taxes on articles Of luxury retained. The
effort has been made to reduce the revenue
to the needs OF government economically
Fulfllment now takes the place OF
promise. With the passage of the MILLS
bill the tariff plank of 1884 passes into his
tory, and the battle is now to he fought
over the performance, not the pledge.