The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1888-09-11

AMERICAS GREATEST 1yDrsrpv
FdctS that Interest Honest Producers and
Ecery Consumer of Doiry Prod,1ce.
The farmers of the United States have
peculiarly important special interest in
the defeat Of the Republican party at the
approaching election. With reference to
internal taxation, that platform saws :
we favor the entire repeal of all inter.
nal revenue taxes rather than the snrrcn-
der OF any part Of our protective sys-
tenn"
This plank declares not merely for the
repeal of the whiskey tax in preference to
interference with tariff taxes, but for the
abolition Of all internal revenue taxes. in
cluding that on oeomargarine. The law
tor tax on oleomargarine or bogus but
ter was enacted in 1886, and approved by
President Cleveland on August 2d of that
year.
a BENEFICENT TAX OF PEACE.
1t is, therefore, not war tax, but a
peace tax The declared purpose of the
law was to protect the farmers of the
United States against the fraudulent
competition of bogus butter sold under
the brands of genuine dairy produce.
The act was passed on the urgent recon-
mendation of the & agricultural associations
of the country, and the President filed
with the copy of the new law, signed by
him, the following memorandum
PRESIDENT CLEvELAND's REASONS.
81 has been urged as an objection to
this measure that, while purportng to be
legislating for revenue, its real purpose is
TO destroy by the use of the taxing pow
ers, one industry of our people for the ben
eft and protection of another If enti-
tied to indulge in such a suspicion as a
basis of official action in this case, and if
entirely satisfied that the consequences
indicated would ensue, | should doubtless
feel constrained to interpose Executive
dissent But do not feel called upon to
interpret the motives Of Congress other
wise than by the apparent character of
the bill which has been presented to me,
and am convinced that the taxes which
it creates cannot possibly destroy the
open and legitimate manufacture and sale
of the thing upon which it is levied. If
this article has the merit which its friends
claim for it, and if the people Of the land,
with full knowledge of it's real character,
desire to purchase and use it, the taxes
exacted by this bill will permit a fair
profit to both manufacturer and seller.
If the ecistence Of the commodity tured
and the poofts Of its ma,uttctvre and
sale depend upon diposing ctH to tie peo-
Dle for sO,aethiny else which 1T DECEITFUL-
FRAUD AND NOT AN INDUSTRY, and If 1t
canrot endure the exhibition of its real
character, which will be affected by the
inspection, supervision and stamping
which this bill directs, the sooner it is
DESTROYED the better, in the interest of
fair dealing.
"Such a result would not furnish the
first instance in the history Of legislation
in which revenue bill produced bene-
fit which was merely incidental to its
main purpose There is certainly no in
dustry better entitled to the incidental
advantages which may follow this legis-
lation than our farming and dairy inter
ests, and to none Of our people should
they be less begrudged than our farmers
and dairymen. The present depression
of their occupations, the hard, steady
and often unremuneratlve toll which such
occupations exact, and the burdens of
taxation which our agriculturists necessa-
rily bear, entitle them to every Legitimate
consideration.
"Nor should there be opposition to the
incidental effect of this legislation on the
part of those who profess to be engaged
honestly and fairly in the manufacture
and sale of wholesome and valuable ar
ticle of food, which, by its provisions,
NAV be subject to taxation. AS long as
their business is carried on under cover
and by false pretenses, such men have bad
comnani0ns in those whose manufactures,
however vile and hurtful, take their place
without challenge with the better sort i'll
a common crusade Of deceit against the
public. But if this occupation and its
method are forced into the light, and all
these manufactures must either stand
upon their merits or fall, the good and
bad must soon part company, and the
fittest only will survive"
FAVORED by THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRI
CULTURE.
The Commissioner of Agriculture
united earnestly in request for the pas
sage of the bill, and stated the necessity
for it as a measure of protection, and the
farming interests in communication
which included the following passages
REpopr OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.
"There are from four to five millions
American citizens engaged in the dairy
business, and they must all abandon it
and be driven into some other already
overworked branch of industry, unless
thew can be relieved from the present
ruinous competition with cheap limitations
rL,..or ord choesa This legislation If