The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-01-05


str nd yet awhile, subject to certain moditi-
cations as to tobacco.
HOW CUT MIGHT BE MADE.
He suggested that the tax on cigars and
smut, producing Sl2, 100000, might be re-
ia ned, and the rest of the tax, producing
$i1 900, 900, be abolished. But this, how
ever, was feature of detail and perhaps
Il feature of compromise. The great
bulk of abatement in the present
total unnecessary taxation of the people
would have to take place in careful and pru-
dent revision of the tariff, and we would
have TO leave to the future what might seem
the best means and arrangements by which
TO attain that end As u choice between re-
ducing internal revenue or tariff taxes, he
would labor to cheaper woolenS, linens, cot
ton fabrics, salt, lumber, coal, iron, steel,
and all other staple commodities, rather
than such articles as were indIlged
in from acquired habits or luxurious
modes of living. After quoting some
| sentences from the Presidents message, Mr..
Voorhees, asked whether it was from such
! wise, conservative statements guarding the
interests of American manufacturers on
one hand, while seeking to relieve the people
on the other that charges of free trade"
were made against the message.
PREDETERMINED TO QUARREL.
Did it not seem rather that those who
cavilled with President Cleveland and de-
nounced his views were such as had pre-
determined to quarrel and those who would
not approve the declaration of Independence
if it came from his hands. Such political
leaders might have their uses, but in the
present instance it requires no gift Of
prophecy to fOresee that as ''blind leaders
of the blind they and their followers would
roll in the ditch of defeat together. A per-
sistent and violent effort was being made
by those who managed and led the opposi-
ton to the present administration to con
vince the public mind that the President
was unfriendly to labor interests and labor
organizations, and that tue reduction of taxes
which he 50 powerfully recommended would
prove hurtfui to worlIngmen and especial
| ly to wage laborers employed in manufac-
turing industries He CIR. Voorhees, might
pause to ask the meaning of the present con
dition of wage works in many of the most
extensive manufacturing regions.
WHAT CAUSES STRIKES.
Why. under the present high tariff were
| they engaged in constant strikes and severe
| struggles with their employers He (Mr.
| Voorhees, would go far toprOtect the Ameri-
can laborer in every respect and to com
fort his daily life with generous laws His
| heart was full of appreciatlve sympathy
| for the wOrlingman and his household, as
| they gathered around their troubled fire
side, often in penUry, sometimes in actual
| want, and never i'll cas- or affiuence. But
| he had never yet conceived it to be a
remedy for his priyation and anxleties to
| increase the tax on his blankets or bed
clothing or on his salt and meagre table
| ware. The President had expressed his
! solicitude for the welfare of the American
| labOrer, and had pointed out the vigiiant
| care which his interest should receive in the
treatment of the tariff. After quoting a
| sentence i'll this connection, he said he did
| 50 in order to present n complete refutation
in condensed form of the reckless and some
| times malicious misrepresentation with
! which the Presidents position had already
been assailed, and which would continue for
| at least the next ten months.
WILL STAND A TEST.
| In his judgment, however, the American
| people would have but small difficulty, as
| soon as the present improvised commOtiOn
| had subsided in determining that the Presi-
| dents premises, his arguments, and his con
clusions, were alike impregnabe and alike
| defied assault Mr.. VOORHEES, also quoted
! from the Republican platform Of 1894,
| wherein it pledged itself 10 correct the
| irregularities of the tariff and to reduce the
surplus" and he said that that was "a plain,
| clear admission, made three and q half
years ago, that the work of the
| Tariff Commission had been poorly
| done and called for correction,
and that pledge had never yet, by one word,
one vote, one step, or the lifting of one
! finger been attempted to he carried out to
this day. On the contrary, the Republican
| leaders had not only done nothing them
| selves to remedy their own confessed wrong
doing, but had with the whole weight of
their organization, hindered the efforts of
everybody else. If now, after the long
delay, the leaders of the Republican organi-
zatiOn in Congress and elsewhere, assumed
the attitude OF tariff reformers, it would
only be under compulsiop of public opinion
invoked and aroused by the powerful state
ment and appeal of President Cleveland in
his late message
WHY THEY ARE MAD.
They were chiefly incensed against the
President because he had disturbed their
policy of inaction. Their anger was kin
died because their dilatory tactics could
avail them no longer. AS had been said of
the charge of the Light Brigade at Ealak-
lava, lit is magnificent, but it is not
war; SO many thoughtful observers
of the tremendous financial power and
endurance of the American people might
exclaim, sit is glorious, but it is not states
manship" 1t was glorious to the manhood
and resources of the republic, but in giving
orders, in shaping the policy, by which the
American people had been SO strained, taxed
and bitterly tested, all the world Knew that
a bluuder, equivalent to a crime had been
committed, and had been stubbornly per-
sisted in. But the question still REQUIRED
in its homely, practical way, as TO the
disposal of the results of this blgndering
policy. He Mr.. Voorhees, turned from
the propositions for "A larger army and
navy, and costly coast defenses, as a remedy
for the Treasury surplus TO more natural
necessary and practical methods for its use.
LAUDABLE BUT INSUFFICIENT.
The generous pension roll, with AL aIrear-
ages paio, liberal appropriations for the i'm
provement OF rivers and harbors, the con
struction Of public buildings wherever
ne ded for public service, We're all laudable
/ objects and should be attained, but
they would fall far short of
restoring the immense surplus to
circulation and of affordng the relief
needed As further remedy and indeed
as the greatest and most potent, the Aineri-
can people would be best pleased to see the
public debt diminished, and il authority
TO purchase bonds not yet due was not to be
| found in the existing law, Congress should
promptly supply the defect. There was no
| bondage so cruel as that of debt, and
when tho last government bond was
| paid and the last vestige of the national
| debt wiped out, there would be a jubilee
year beside whose glories all other jubilees
and centennial years would grow pale and
! insignificant He had faith in it's coming
| because the administration had at last besn
| placed upon sound principles and was being