Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-01-05
THEOROCK ]


Our comtry's welfare IL our first concern
And who promotes that best best proves his
duty.
@The home missionary Is the best missions
airy; the light OF our example we give to Tor
eign nations; duty We owe to our own.
What higher duty can there be than to be
watchful Of the interests, and to protect and
foster and diversity the industries OF the
American peopleP
rho speech was closely attended TO by the
senator's, and Voorhees, MADE brief reply,
the points of which was the allegation that
the Republicans were using the message to
help them at the next election, but they
would fail The criticisms were unfair and
unjust, insincere and misleading and full OF
Rroas misrepresentationA The message
would bear discussion and would prove to be
no attack ON American labor. but a states
manlike. courageous and sound document.
Coming down to the practical question OF
tAxation, voorhees, said he was aware that
there were many objections to Internal
taxes, but on ground far different from
desire to perpetuate enormous ana un1usu
tariff taxes on the necessaries OF life he
appreciated the fact that for many years and
especially in several states, the whole system
had been used as a powerful instrument OF
partisan political warfare, and had been rem
dered odious to every free minded citizen.
He was also often reminded that 1t was q
war tax. and that it should pass away in
time of peace. All these opinions had their
weight with him. But while heavy taxes,
which had been laid by a war tariff on every
article entering into the wants and necessi-
ties of the people, were not reduced at all,
he submitted that the work OF reform ana
reduction should be pursued in that Held,
and the internal revenue system lett 70
stand yet awhile, subject to certain modifi-
cations. As to tobacco, he suggested thatthe
tax on cigars and snuff producing $l2, 500, :
OOO) might be retained, and the rest OF the
tax (producing $17, 600, 0OO) abolished. This,
however, was feature OF detail-and per-
hans a feature of compromise.
The great bulk of abatement in the present
total unnecessary taxation of the people
people would have to take place in careful
and prudent 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 choice
between reducing internal revenue or tariff
taxes, he would labor to cheaper woolens,
linens, cotton fabrics, salt, lumber, coal,
iron, steel, and all other staple commodities,
rather than such articles as were INDUCED in
from acquired habits or luxurious modes OF
living.
After quoting some sentences from the
presidents message, voorhees, asked whether
it was from such wise and conservative state
ments guarding the interests OF American
manufacturers on the one hand, while seek
ing to relieve the people on the other that
the charges of ''free trade" were made
against the message Did it not rather seem, he
asked, that those who caviled with Mr.. Cleve-
land and denounced his views were such as
had predetermined quarrel, and who would
not approve the Declaration OF Independence
IL it came from his handsf Such political
leaders might have their uses, but in the
present instance it required no gift of praph-
ecv to foresee that, as "blind leaders OF the
| blindn they and their followers would roll IN
the ditch of defeat together.
| A persistent and violent effort was beng
| made by those who managed and led the op
position to the present administration to CON
vince the public mind that the president was
unfriendly to labor interests and labor or
CARNATIONS, and that the reduction OF taxe'
would be so powerfully enforced as to prove
hurtful to the workingmen, and especially to
wage laborers employed in manufacturing
'rTid,styies. He might /badse tG1asR the'naan
ing of the present condition OF the wage
workers in many of the most extensive man
ufacturing regions. and why under tn
present high tariff were they Ell
gagged in constant strikes an
severe struggles with their employer
His heart was full of appreciativ
sympathy for the working man and hi
household, as they gathered around thei
troubled firesde, often in penury, sometime
in actual want, and never in ease or Aft
ence. But he had never yet conceived it
be a remedy for his privations aud anxietie
to increase the tax on his blankets and bee
clothing, OF on his salt and meager table
ware. The president had expressed his solic
tude for the welfare of the American laborei
and had pointed out the vigilant care whic
his interests should receive in the treatmer
of the tariff.
Petitions were handed in against the pul
pose of the fisheries commission, and indorsin
the Interstate law and government tell
graph. Brown offered resolution favorin
tariff for revenue and repeal of the INTERIM
revenue laws, and said he would speak on
next Monday. Sherman moved to refer ID
message to the finance committee, but will
out action, the senate heidi short excel
tive session, and adjourned.