The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-09-10
TRUSTS uSEeurvocALLY DENOUNCED.

The platform adopted by the late national
| convention OF our party contains the Following
! declaration: Judged by democratic principles,
/ the interests of the people are betrayed when
! by nnne cessary taxation trusts and combina-
! tlons are permitted and fostered which, while
/ un4ulY enriching the few that combine roo the
| body Of our citizeus by deriving them as pur-
! chasers of the benefits OF natural competition. y
/ such combinations have alwaysbeen condemned
| by the Democratic party. The declaration OF
lis national convention is sincerely made and
! no member of our party will be found eXcuSing
The existence or belittlinR the pernicious results
! of these devices to wrong the people Under
various names they have been punished by
| common law for hundreds of years, and they
| have lost none of their hateful features. because
| OF conspiracies. We believe that these trusts
are the natural offspring Of market artitically
! restricted, that the inordinately high tariff,
BESIDES furnishing temptation for their exist
euce, enarges the limit within which they
may operate against the people and
ttHts increases the extent of their power Tor
wrong-dong. With unalterable hatred Of all
such schemes, count the checking of their
ban ful operations among the good results
promised by revenue reform.
NOT FREE TRADE CRUSADE.
While we cannot avoid partisan misrepre-
sentatton, our position upon the question Of
revenue reform should be 40 plainly state as TO
admit Of no misunderstanding. We have en-
tere1 upon no crusade Of free trade. The re
form we seek to inaugurate is predicated upon
tue utmost care for established iudust rles and
enterprises, jealous regard for the interests Of
American labor and a sincere desire to relieve
the country from the injustice and danger of q
condition which threatens evil to all the people
Of the land. We are dealing Nith no imaginary
danger. Its existence has been repeatedly con-
fessed by ali political parties, and pledges of
remedy have been made on all sides.
CowARpicE OF THE REPUBIIoA
Yet, when in the legislative body where under
the constitution all remedial measures appli-
cable to this subject must originate, the
democratic majority were attempting with
extreme moderation to redeem pledge com
mon to both parties they were met by
determined opposition and obstruction, and the
minority refusing TO cooperate in the House of
Representatives or propose another remedy,
have remitted the redemption of their party
pledge 10 the doubtful power of the Senate.
The people will hardly be deceived by their
abandonment of the field of legislative
action to meet in political convention aud
flippantly declare in their party platforms that
our conservative and careful effort to relieve
the situation Is destructive to the American
system of protection. Nor will the people be
msied by the appeal to prejudice contained in
the absurd allegation that we serve the interest
OF Europe, while they will support the interests
of America.
PROPOSITIONS OF THE REPUBLICANS.
They propose in their platform to thus sup
port the inter iests Of our country by removing
the internal revenue tax from tobacco and from
spirits used In the arts and for mechanical pur
poses; They declare, also, that that there
lays as shall tend to check the importation
of such articles as are produced here Thus In
proposing TO Increase the dutios upon such arti-
cles to nearly on quite the prohibitory point
they confess themselves willing to travel back
ward In the road of civilization and to deprive
our people Of 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 unrestraned
| oppression of domestic trusts and combinations
which are Ia the same platform pertunctorily
/ PfuWfh fhar 90
entirely from import duties all articles of for
| eign production except luxuries the like of
which cannot be produced In this country.
VERY ONE SIDED.
The plain people of the land and the poor,
who scarcely use articles of any description
produced exclusively abroad and not already
free will find it difficult TO discover where their
interests arc regarded in this proposition.
They need in their homes cheaper domestic
necessaries. and this seems to be entirely un-
provided for In this proposed scheme to serve
the country
Small compensation for this neglected need is
found in the further purpose here announced
and covered by the declaration, that IT, after
the changes already mentioned, there still rc-
mains a larger revenue than is requisite for the
wants of the government the entire internal
taxation should be repealed rather than sur
render any part of our protective system"
Our people ask relief from the undue and un-
necessary burden of tariff taxation now resting
upon them. They are offered instead free to-
bacoo and free whisky. They ask for bread and
they are given stone.
NOT A CRISIS.
The implication contained In this party decla-
ration, that desperate measures are justified or
necessary to save from destruction or surrender
what is termed our protective system, " should
not confuse one. The existence of such a
system is entirely consistent with tho regula-
tion Of the extent 10 which It should
be applied and correction OF its abuses
OF course Ia country as great as,ours, with
"A IyOn1arfIl a int la nffo la
ing in entirely different directions 1t is difficult
II not impossible to settle upon perfect tariff
plan. but in accomplishing the reform we have
entered upon, the necessity of which is so
obvious, believe we should not be content with
a reduction of revenue involving the prohibition
Of importations and removal Of the internal
tax upon whisky. 1t can be better and more
safely done within the lines Of granting actual
relief 20 the people in their means OF living and
at the same time giving impetus to our domestic
enterprises, and furthering our national welfare.
DISASTER OR PROSPERITY.
If the misrepresentation Of our purposes and
motives are to gain credence and defeat our
present effort in this direction, there seems to
be no reason why every endeavor In the future
IN accomplish revenue reform should not be
likewise attacked, and with like result; and yet
no thoughtful man can fail TO see in the continu-
ance OF the present burdens of the people and
distraction by the government Of the currency
of the country, inevitable distress aud disaster
All danger VIII be averted by timely action
The difficulty OF applying the remedy will never
be less and the blame should not be laid at the
door Of the Democratic party If 1t is applied too
late.
With firm faith in the intelligence and patriot
ism OF our countrymen, and relying upon the
conviction that misrepresentation will not in
huence them, and prejudice will not cloud their
understanding. and that menace will not intlni-
date them, let urge the peoples interest and
public duty for the vindicaton Of our attempt
TO inaugurate righteous and benefcent re-
form. GROVER CLEVELAND.