Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1888-09-20


neglect Nhcr4rav interests that are involved
for them. The assault upon our protective
system is open and defiant. Protection IS
sailed unconstitutional In law or as vicious
In principle. and those who hid such views
sincerely, can not stop short OF an absolute
elimination from our tar.G laws OF the princi-
pie OF protection The Mills bill is ouly step,
but Il Is toward an object that the leaders OF
Democratic thought and legislation have clear
ly in mind. The important question is not so
much the length Of the step as the direction OF
# Judged by the Executive message OF Do
ccmber last; by the Mills bill, by the debates
in Congress. and by the 81. Lou platform, the
Democratic party WILL II supported by the
country, place the tariff laws upon - purely
revenue basis This is practical free
trade-free-trade IN the English sense.
The legend upon the banner may
not be Free Trade"-it may be the
more obscure motto, Tariff Reform" but
neither the banner nor the inscription Is
conclusive. or, indeed. very important. The
assault itself is the important fact. Those
who teach that the import duty upon foreign
goods sold in our market IS paid by the CON
sumer, and that the price OF the domestic
competing article Is enhanced to the amount Of
the duty on the imported article. that every
million OF dollars collected for customs duties
represents many millions more winch do not
reach the treasury, but are paid by oar citizens
as the increased cost or comes &c TFaQugffO
resulting from the tariff laws, may not intend
10 discredit in the minds Of Others our system
OF levying dnt e on competing frr-
eign products. hut it Is clearly al.
ready discred.ted tn their own We
can not doubt, without tIupu rniug their
integrity that, Il free TO act upon their eanvic-
tons, they would so revise our laws as 70 Law
the burdens o. the customs revenue upon artt-
Giles that are not produced ln thls country. and
Ea ffzf ali
| products. do not stop 10 rsfute This theory
| as to the effect OF our tarii dut Is Those who
| advance II are students OF maxins and not OF
| the markets They may be safely allowed 10
call their project Tariff Reform n the people
| understand that IN the end the argument com
pels free trade in all competing products.
| This end may not be reached abruptly, and is
| approach mgy be accompanied with some ex-
pressions OF sympathy for Cur protected IN ius-
| tries and our working people. but 10 VIII GER
| tainly come, II these early steps do not arouse
the people 70 effective resistance
The Repuhi lean party holds that 4 protective
tarir Is constitutional, wholesome and neces
sary. We do not offer a fixed schedule but
| principle. We Will revise the schedule, tnoii-
| fy rates but always with an intelligent provi-
sion as TO the effect upon domestic product on
and the wages OF our working people. We be-
| leve II to be one Of the worthy objects OF tariff
| legislation to preserve the American market
for American produ ers and to maintain the
| American scale Of wages by adequate dtScriu,-
mating duties upon foreign competing prod
1 ucts. The effect Of lower rates and larger i'm
| portations upon the public revenue Is eoutir.
| gent and doubtful; but not 50 the effect i.uon
| American production and American wages.
| less work ana lower wages must be- accent ed
| As The inevitable result OF the increased offer
| ing or foreign goods N our market BY way OF
/ recompeuse FOR this reduction N bis wages and
/ Of he arf,s9 e
| ed that the diU nishei WAGES Of the working.
| man viii have an undiminished Purchasing
| power. and that be viii be abie 10 make an Tor
| the loss OF the E0we market by an enlarged
foreign market
Our workingmen have the settlement OF the
question in their own hands. They now OBJ
| taiE higher wages aud live more comforts IN,
than those OF any other country. They will
| make choice between the SUBSTANTIAL alvan-
ages they have in hand and the decep,fve
| promises and forecasts Of these taeoriz.f#, re.
| formers. They will decide Tor themselves and
| for the country whether til protective ,vzteul
| shall be continued or destroyed. The ftet on IA
| treasury surplus. the amount OF which IS va
| rously stated, has directed public att on u
consideration OF tho methods bv which tie
| National income may best be reduced 10 tae
| level OF q wise and necessary expenditure
| This condition has been seized uron IT. those
who are hos lie TO protective customs latI-5 as
an advantageous base OF attack upon orr tar. z
! Avs Tis.,s hare sf===a55s-f ---sas s-.
surplus. which they affect 10 drrrerate.. sesl.-
| ingiy Tor the purpose ~ ex1vsefatirt ras. evil
In order 90 reconcile tile people 10 tae extreme
| ~ they propose. a proper reIuct5aa OF
| ne revenues Does rot Ucress tate ANA s-..,ffI
| not suggest, the abandonment o. lrrr- Pc
| nent of TIE protective system. The methods
suggested by our conveatlo1 VIII ROT need 10
be exhausted Ia order % effect .ha ucces4a-,,