Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1888-11-02
Reforms Never Go Backward,


Whatever the Issue of this campaign
may be, the cause oil tariff reform will not
cease until the policy OF low taxes-fair
play, no special favors, full and complete
trade portnnities-becomes the fixed
principles Of the government OF this re-
public, The advocacy Of this policy is
now urged by tho people through the
medium Of the Democratic party. 1t is a
peoples movement, a reform commenced
years ago, md like all genuine reforms II
cannot be oircuniscribed by party lines,
though the direction thereof may be
through the agency Of particular party.
As the abolition of slavery, originally op
posed by both Wings and Democrats,
finally became Republican policy, 30 tax
reform, ngitated by the people, hns now
become party doctrine only for the pur-
pose OF more certain accomplishment. In
1876, 1880 and 1884 the two leading polit-
ical parties declared for tariff reform, and
for severnl years 1t was question Of poll
tics which party would adopt the peoples
~
and force the fight upon that line. Every
Republican Of prominence within the past
fifteen years has been more or less tariff
reformer, some TO the extent OF declaring
the principle OF protection. Democrats
have not been alone in this reform move
ment, though il may be true that the
majority OF reformers in the rank and file
of voters have been identified with the
Democratic party.
For the first time in third uf CEN
tury is the tax issue the central figure of
politics, and now il ID made thus piomi-
nent because the President OF the United
States has, with a remarkable display oil
wisdom and Statesnanship, IN n message
at once clear and logical, warned the peo-
pie against the continuance of the policy
which taxes the many TO support the lew,
which has imposed excessive and unneces-
sary burdens, which has accumulated a
large surplus in the treasury TO be squand-
| cred by reckless congtessmen, which has
destroyed American shipping and which
has been un-American in everything which
standard OF controlling the trade OF the
whole world. The location of our coun-
try, its resources, the climate-everything
combines TO make the United States the
most powerful trading country OF modern.
centuries, and such is its proud destiny
No land-locked policy shall hamper it's
possibilities This republic is too great
and too intelligent TO be circnmscrIbed by
the limits ot home trade. Oar people and
our machinery and our shops aud factor.
les have outgrown snch ends and notions
Tax reform meanssgreater possibilities oi
trade, more business, more employment
the equality of burdens, the beiterment OF
labor and wages the elevation of all classes
The reform movement has taken deep root.
II will not die There cannot be drouths
severe enough to blast its life, or cyclones
of opposition strong enough to tear 1t NJ
and scatter II over high taxed deserts o.
trade. 1t is the reform OF the day anC
generation which shall close the 10Th cen
tury with prosperity, peace and happiness
As this republic has outsiripped monar.
ches because of its free-born principles, 81
the trade Of this republic will outstrip the
whole world when given it's unhumperet
freedom, its glorious right to-peneirate bay
and seas and oceans wheresoever the :fad
winds Of profit listeth. Tax reform was no
born to die, and whatever the issue of thi
campaign the cause will live, and its ban
ner will never trail. 1t will advance stel
by step until prejudice, politics and othe
opposition completely vanishes and hav'
ing scored complete victory II will flourisl
forever more.