Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1888-09-20
NO. g..

support the interests of our country by re.
moving the internal revenue tax from to-
, bacco and from spirits used in the arts and
: for mechanical purposes. They declare
also that there should be such revision of
: our tariff laws as shall tend to check the
importation Of such articles as are produced
here. Thus, in proposing to increase the
duties upon such articles to nearly or quite
a prohibitory point, they confess themselves
willing to travel backward in the road of
civilization and to deprive our people of
the 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 unre-
strained oppression of the domestic trusts
and combinations which are in the same
platform perfunctorily condemned.
ENTIRELY UNPRovIDED FOR.
They propose further to release entirely
from import duties all articles Of foreign
production Except luxuriesl the like of
which cannot be produced in this country.
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 are regarded in this PROPOSE
ton. They need in their homes cheaper
domestic necessaries and this seems TO be
entirely unprovided for in this proposed
scheme to serve the country.
ASKED FOR BREAD AND GIVEN A STONE.
Small compensation for this neglected
need is found in the further purpose here
announced and covered by the declaration
that if after the changes already mentioned
there still remains larger revenue than is
requisite for the wants of the government,
the entire internal taxation should be re-
pealed "rather than surrender any part Of
our protective system"
Our people asked relief from the undue
and unnecessary burden of tariff taxation
now resting upon them. They are offered
free tobacco and free whiskey.
They ask for bread, and they are given
stone.
The implication contained in this party
declaration that desperate measures are JUS
titled or necessary to save from destruction
or surrender what is termed our protective
system should confuse no one. The exist
ence of such system is entirely consistent
with the regulation of the extent to which
it should be applied and the correction of
its abuses.
THE SAFEST PLAN.
OF course in country as great as ours,
with such a wonderful variety of interests,
often leading in entirely different directions,
it is difficult if not impossible TO settle upon
a perfect tariff plan. But in accomplishing
the reform we have entered npon, the neces-
sity of which is so obvious. / believe We
should not be content with a reduction OF
revenue involving the prohibition Of impor-
tations and the removal Of the internal tax
upon whiskey. 1t can be better and more
safely done within the lines Of granting ac-
tual relief to the people in their means Of
living, and at the same time giving an i'm
petus to our domestic enterprises and fur
thering our national welfare.
If misrepresentation Of our purposes
and motives are to gain credence and defeat
our present efforts in this direction, there
seems to be no reason why every endeavor
in the future to accomplish revenue reform
should not be likewise attacked and with
like result.
DISTRESS AND DISASTER FOREsEEN.
And yet no thoughtful man can fail to
see in the continuance Of the present bur-
dens of the peopele and the abstraction by
the government Of the currency Of the
country inevitable distress aud disaster.
All danger will be ayerted by timely action.
The difficulty Of applying the remedy will
never be less, and the blame should not bo
laid at the door Of the Democratic party if
it is applied too late.
FAITH IN THE PEOPLES INTELLIGENCE.
With firm faith in the intelligence and
patriotism Of our countrpmeD, and relying
upon the conviction that Misrepresentation
will not influence them, prejudice will not
cloud their understanding, and that menace
will not influence them, let US urge the peo-
pies interest and public duty for the yindi-
cation Of our attempt to inaugurate right
eous and benefcent reform.
GROVER CLEVELAND.