The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1888-09-20

WlCllH WhlCh elVy may OPOAo'S
against the people and thus increases
the extent of their power for wrong
doing.
With an unalterable hatred of all
such schemes we count the checking
Of their baleful operations among the
good results promised by revenue re-
form. While we cannot avoid parti-
san misrepresentation our position up
on the question of revenue reform
should be so plainly stated as to admit
OF no misunderstanding.
WE HAVE ENTERED UPON NO CRUSADE
OF FREE TRADE.
The reform we seek to inaugurate is
predicted upon the utmost care for es-
tablished industries and enterprises, a
jealous regard for the interests of
American labor and sincere desire to
relieve the country from the injustice
and danger of a condition which
threatens evil to all the people OF the
land.
We are dealing with no imaginary
danger. Its existence has been re-
peatedly confessed by all political par
ties, and pledges OF a remedy have
been made on all sides. Yet, when in
the legislative body, where, under the
Constitution all remedial measures APP
plicable to this subject must originate,
the democratic majority were attempt
ing, with extreme moderation, to re-
deem the pledge common to bold par
ties, they were met by determined
OPPOSITION AND OBSTRUCTION
and, the minority refusing to coop
crate in the House of Representatives,
or propose another remedy, have re-
mitted the redemption of their party
pledge to the doubtful power OF the
Senate. The people will hardly be
deceived by their abandonment of the
field OF legislative action to meet in
political convention and flippantly de-
clare in their party platform that our
conservative and careful effort to re-
lieve the situation is destructive to the
American system of protection. Nor
will the people be misled by the ap-
peal to prejudice contained in the alb
surd allegation that we serve the inter
ests of Europe, while they will support
the interests Of America.
THEY PROPOSE IN THEIR PLATFORM
to thus support the interests Of ouI
country by removing the internal rev
enue tax from tt bacco and from spirits
used in the arts and for mechanical
purposes. They declare also that
there should be such revision of oul
tariff laws as shall tend to check the
| importation of such articles as are pro
duced here. Thus in proposing to in
crease the duties upon such articles tt
nearly or quite q prohibitory point
they confess themselves willing Il
travel backward in the road of civiliza
ton and to deprive our people OF th'
markets for their goods, which can on
Ily be gained and kept by the sem
blance, at least, of an interchange O
business, while they
} ABANDON OUR CONSUMERS
to the unrestrained oppression OF tn
domestic trusts and combination
, which are in the same platform pei
. functorily condemned. They propos
: further to release entirely from impor
8 duties all articles of offoreign productio
8 Except luxuries), the like OF whic
s cannot be produced in this countr!
4 The plain people OF the land. aud th
e poor, who scarcely use articles of an
e description produced exclusivel
= abroad and not already free, will fin
u it difficult to discover where their il
J terests are regarded in this proposition
l. They need in their homes cheaper d.
n mestic necessaries and this seems
'f be entirely unprovided for in this pr
o posed scheme to serve the countr
o Small compensation for this neglecte
Ir need is found in the further purpo
e here announced and covered by IL
1t declaration that, if after the chang
1t already mentioned there still remain
IS larger revenue than is requisite f
10 the wants of the Government, the g
tire internal taxation should be repei
. ed "rather than surrender any part
10 our protective system"
=, Our people ask relief from the
UNDUE AND UNNECESSARY BURDEN
IS, of tariff taxation now resting upt
ID them. They are offered instead fir
to tobacco and free whisky. They a
ID for bread and they are given a stor
lg The implication contained in this p,
of ty declaration, that desperate mes
Ir- ures are justified or necessary to sa
n from destruction or surrender what
termed our protective system, shou
VS. confuse no one. The existence of su
.ic system is entirely consistent wi