The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1888-09-15
ous name. ,,,cv have be.n punished nv the com.

mon law for hundreds Of years; and they have
| lost none - their hateful features because they
have assumed the name Of trusts instead OF con
spiracies. We believe that these trusts are the
natural offspring OF market artihcially restrict
ed tnat an inordinately high tariff, besides fur
| nishing the temptation for their existence en-
argcs the limit within which they may operate
against the people and thus Increases the extent
of their power for wrong'doing. With an I'M
alterabe hatred for all such schemes we, count
! the checking OF their baleful operations among
| the good results promised by revenue reform.
While we can not avoid partisan misrepresenta
ton our position upon the question of revenue
reform should he so plainly stated AZ TO admit OF
/ no misunderstanding We h ve entered upon no
crusade Of free trade The reform seek To in
augurate Is predcatcd upon the utmost carr for
4 established Industries and enterprises a iealo IS
regard for the interests of American labor, aud a
sincere desire 10 relieve the country from the in
justice and danger Of condition which threatens
evil Ia all the people OF the land We are dealing
with no imaginary danger. Its existence has been
repeatedly confessed by all political parties, and
pledges Of a remedy have been made on all sides.
Yet when in the legislative body where, under
the constitution, all remedial measures applicable
10 this subject must originate the Democratic
majority were attempting with extreme moderl'
ton 10 redeem the pledge common 10 both par
ties, they were met by determined opposition and
obstruction; and the minority, refusing 10 coop
crate in the house of representatives or propose
another remedy. have RENTED the redemption Of
their party pledge to the doubtful power of the
senate
The people will ardly be deceived by their
abandonment of the field Of legislative action 10
meet in political convention and hippantly declare
In their party platform that our conservative
and careful effort to relieve the situation is de-
structive to the American system OF protection
Nor will the people be mised by the appeal 20
Al, al In, nI,a Int
we serve the interests OF Europe, while they will
support the interests OF America. They propose
In their platform to thus support the interests Of
our country by removing the internal revenue
tax from tobacco and from spirits used in the arts
and for mechanical purposes. They declare also
that there should be such O revision of our tariff
laws as shall tend check the importation OF such
articles as are produced here. Thus. In propoS
ing TO increase the duties upon such articles TO
nearly or quite 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 inter.
change Of business, while they abandon our con
sumers to the unrestrained oppression Of the
domestic trusts and combinations which are in
the same platform perfunctoriy condemned
They propose further to release entirely from
import duties all articles OF foreign production
Except luxuries) the like OF which can not 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 dis
cover where their interests are regarded In this
proposition They need in their homes cheaper
domestic necessaries; and this seems entirely un-
provided for In this proposed scheme TO serve the
country.
Shall compensation for this neglected need is
found Ia the further purpose here announced and
covered by the declaration that II, after che
changes already mentioned, there still remains a
larger revenue than Is requisite for the wants OF
the government, the entire internal revenue taxa.
ton should be repealed rather than surrender
any part Of our protective system" Our people
ask relief from the undue and unnecessary bur.
den Of tariff taxation now resting upon them.
They are offered nstead-free tobacco and free
whisky They ask for bread and they given
a stone. The implication containe in this party
declaration that desperate measures are justified
or necessary to save from destruction or surren.
der what Is termed our protective system. should
confuse no one. The existence Of such a system
is entirely consistent with the regulation OF the
extent to which 1t should be applied and the cor
rection OF it's abuses.
OF course In q country as great AZ ours, with
such wonderful variety Of interests, often lead
ing In entirely different directions, 1t Is difficult
II not impossible TO settle upon perfect tariff
plan But in accomplishing the reform we have
entered upon. the necessity Of which is so obvi- |
ous believe should not be content with a re-
duction of revenue involving the prohibition OF
mportations and the removal Ofthe inter
nal tax upon whisky. II can be better
and more safely done within the lines Of granting
actual relief to the people in their means Of liv
ing, and at the same time giving an impetus to
our domestic enterprises and furthering our ma
tional welfare.
II Misrepresentation OF our purposes and mo-
tives arc TO gain credence and d'fest our present
effort In this direction there seems to be rea-
son why every endeavor Ia the future to accom-
plsh revenue reform should not lkews, attacked
and with like result And yet no thoughtful man
can fail to see in the continuance Of the present
burdens Of the people and the abstraction by the
government OF the currency Of the country, inev-
table distress and disaster. The diff ulty Of ap-
plying the remedy will never he less and the
blame should not be laid at the door Of the Demo-
cratic party il II is applied too late.
With firm faith in the intelligence and patriot
ism of our countrymen, and relying upon the con.
viction that Misrepresentation will not influence
them, prejudice will not cloud their understand
ing, and that menace will not intimidate them,
let us urge the peoples interest and public duty
for the vindication Of our attempt to inaugurate
a righteous and benefcent reform.
GROVER CLEVELAND.
freight steamboat City Of Lawrence, Of the
Norwich & New York Transportation line,
from New York to this city, was one OF
peril and excitement. The boat carried
twenty five or thirty passengers. At Sp m.
fire was discovered in the forward part Of
the vessel among 200 bales of cotton and it