Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1888-09-15
0ARD- MEANWHILE TENNESSEE SATURDAY. SEPT IS 1888


in arts and for mechanical purposes.
They declare also that there should
be such revision of 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
prohibitory prices, they confess them
selves willing to travel backward in
the road OF civilization and to deprive
our people of 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 I'M
restrained oppression of domestic
trusts and combinations which are in
the same platform perfunctorily con-
demned.
They propose further to release
entirely from import duties all
articles of foreign production, except
luxuries, 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 descrip-
ton produced exclusively abroad and
not already free, will find it difficult
to discover where their interests are
regarded in this proposition. They
need in their homes cheaper domestic
necessaries; and this seems to be
entirely unprovided for in this
proposed scheme to serve the country.
Small compensation for this neglected
need is found in the further purpose
here announced and covered by
declarations that if, after changes
already mentioned, there still remain
larger revenues than are requisite for
the wants of the government, the
entire internal taxation should be
repealed rather than surrender any
: part of the protective system. Our
people ask relief from under an un-
necessary burden of tariff taxation
now resting upon them. They are
offered instead free tobacco and free
whisky. They ask for bread and are
given stone.
{ The implication contained in this
party declaration that desperate
measures are justified or necessary to
save from destruction or surrender,
what is termed our protective system
should confuse noone. The existence
, of such system is entirely consistent
F with the regulation of the extent to
. which it should be applied and its
abuses corrected. OF course, in a
, country as great as ours, with such a
wonderful variety of interests often
, leading to entirely different direc-
tons, it is difficult, if not impossible,
, to settle upon a perfect tariffplan, but
in accomplishing the reform we have
, entered upon the necessity of which
is so obvious, / believe we should
not be content with a reduction of
, revenue involving the prohibition of
, importations and the removal of the
: internal tax I .oon whisky. 1t can be
better and more safely done within
the lines of granting actual relief to
the people in their means of living,
and at the same time giving an
impetus to our domestic enterprises
and furthering our national welfare.
If Misrepresentation of our pur-
poses and motives are to gain credence
and defeat our present effort 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 results, and yet no thoughtful
, man can fail to see in the continuance
. of the present burdens of the people
and abstraction by the government
of the currency of the country,
inevitable distress and disaster. All
,, danger will be averted by timely
action. The difficulty of applying
the remedy will never be less, and
the blame should not be laid at the
j door of the democratic party if it is
4 applied too late.
Q With firm faith in the intelligence
a and patriotism of our countrymen,
and relying upon the conviction that
Misrepresentation will not influence
; them, and prejudice will not cloud
: their understanding, and that menace
e will not intimidate them, let us urge
n the peoples interest and public duty
, for the vindication of our attempt to
i, inaugurate righteous and beneticent
d reform.
e [Signed] GROVER CLEVELAND.