The Butler weekly times., 1888-09-19

thus increase 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
results promised by the revenue re-
form.
While we cannot avoid partisan
misrepresentation. our position upon
the question of revenue reform
should be so plainly stated as to ad-
NIT Of no misunderstanding. We
have entered upon no crusade of free
trade, The reform we seek to IL
augurate is predieated upon the ut
most care for established industries
and enterprises, a jealous regard for
the interests of American labor and
a sincere desire to relieve the coun-
try from the injustice and damages
OF a condition which threatens evil to
all the people of the land.
REPUBLICANS AS OBsTRUCTIONIsTS.
We are dealing with no imaginary
danger. It's existence has been re-
peatedly confessed by all political
parties, and pledges of remedy
have been made on all sides. Yet,
when in the Legislative body, where,
under the constitution, all remedial
measures applicable to this subject
must originate, the democratic ma
jority were attempting, with extreme
moderation, to redeem the pledge
! common to both parties, they were
met by determined opposition and
obstruction, and the minority refus-
ing to cooperate in the house of
representatives, or propose another
remedy, have remitted the redemp-
ton 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 fiippantly declare in
their party platform that our con-
servative and careful effort to relieve
the situation is destructive to the
American system of protection. Nol
will the people be mislead by the ap-
peal to the prejudice contained in
the absurd allegation that we serve
the interests of Europe, while they
will support the interests of Ameri-
! ca.
They propose in their platform tc
thus support the interests Of oul
country by removing the internal
revenue tax from tobacco and spirits
| used in the arts and for mechanical
purposes. They declare also that
| there should be such a revision ot
our tariff laws as shall tend to CHECK
the importation of such articles as
are produced here.
Thus in proposing to INCREASE tht
duties upon such articles to nearl.
or quite a prohibitory point, the.
confess themselves willing to trave
! backward in the road of civilization
and to deprive our people OF tn
markets for their goods, which Cal
only be gained and kept by the sem
blance, at least, of an interchange Q
business, while they abandon ou
consumers to the unrestrained OF
( preston of the domestic trusts an
combinations which are in the sam
platform profunctorily condemned
FOR THE POOR TO PONDER OVER.
They propose further, to releas
entirely from import duties all art
cles of foreign production (exceI
luxuries) the like of which cannot /
produced in this country. IL
plain people of the land and the poo
. who scarcely use articles of any d
scription produced exclusivel
abroad and not already free, will fin
, it difficult to discover where the
, interests are regarded in this prop
sition. They need III their home
q cheaper domestic necessaries, an
this seems to be entirel Y unprovide
5 for in this proposed scheme to ser'
c the country.
Small comnan nSation for this ne,