The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1888-06-22


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New York L<4tes, June Il
In 1854 Joseph O'Conner. nov edft-
o. II The Rochester fy- " Rcsf-Ex-
prszs. wss . staunrh Supporter Of
Cleveland for president He had also
supported him for mayor Of Buffalo
ami for governor OF the state o. Seu
York Nov he Is out against him ~
strongly ~ be wAs for him NJ
|OGonnor gives his reasons In iive
column article in the New York Ssn.
explaining first that - be Is not . po-
IitscsI asrffanf and had never asked or
expected public place - Z reward
for his political services, his change OF
sentiment cannot be attributed to
soFeheadism- summed up. his rea-
sons arr that Cleveland has proven =
complete failure and has ruthlessiy
broken every promise he has ever
made. These statements Ar. 0'Con-
nor proves IT length by strong but I'M
in RESIGNED argument. Thai pars re-
Iatfug 90 cleveIand's tariff pretenses
and practices i here given.
The declaration OF principles made
BY the national Democratic conven-
ton of lss4 was very cautiously word
ed. In 50 far ax il dealt with the reform
OF the tariff, as IL was the opinion OF
politicians generally that the brief de
maud for "a tariff for revenue only
made in 1880, had led TO the defeat OF
the Democratic candidate of that
wear. General Hancock. Mr.. Cieve-
land carefully avoided any allusion to
the subject in his letter of acceptance:
and there was q great anxiety
throughout the canvass 70 keep Demo
cratic speakers and editors from dis
cussinR Ii. In some quarters the tarin
terror vas s,ifiable. In the inaugural
address Mr.. Cleveland merely men
toned the tariff, demanding that our
system Of revenue shall be 50 adjusted
as 10 relieve the people from unneces-
sary taxation, having due regard to
the interests OF capital invested and
workingmen employed in American
industries, and preventing the ac-
eum.lation of q surplus in the treas
ury to temptextravagance and waste. =
The stanchest protectionist could
not quarrel with this statement In
his first message Mr.. Cleveland said OF
revenue reduction
"The proposition with which We
have to deal il the reduction of the
revenue received by the government
and indirectly paid by the people from
customs duties. The question Of free
trade is not involved, nor IS there now
any occasion for the general discussion
of the wisdom or expectancy Of q pro-
tectiye system
Justice and fairness dictate that in
any modification Of our present laws
relating 10 revenue the industries and
interests which have been encouraged
by such laws and in which our citizens
have large investments, should not be
ruthlessiy injured or destroyed. We
should also deal with the subject in
such a manner as 10 protect the inter-
ests OF American labor, which Is the
capital OF our workingmen; its stabili-
ty and proper remuneration furnish
the most justifiable pretext for pro-
tective policy"
A brief statement that there should
be some reduction on import duties
within these limitations, and that the
reduction should be on the necessaries
of life, followed. Evidently from the
admission that \ protective system
keeps ND wages. and that without it
certain great industries and interests
would be destroyed, the political evolu-
ton of the president was proceeding
very slowly. He was careful beyond
the verge OF caution. In the second
annual message. more space was
given To the subject, but, although
there was marked progress in the di-
reetiou of traditional Democracy. it
was discussed with the same timidity,
not TO say equivocation. Recommend
ing revenue reduction, he threw out,
to use the phrase of another famous
political sailor, IAN anchor to wind
ward"
..The relation of the workingman to
the revenue laws of the country, and
the manner in which il palpably in
tiuences the question Of wages, should
not be forgotten in the jnstifiable
prominence given to the proper MAIN
tenar,ce of the supply and protection
OF well paid labor; and these consider
atoms suggest such an arrangement
of government revenues as shall re-
auce the expense OF living while II
does not curfail the opportunity for
work, nor reduce the compensation of
American labor and unfavorably affect
its condition and the dignified place II
holds in the estimation of our people. y
The third annual message was &evo-
ted altogether TO tariff reform, and
shaped the issue for the canvass of
1888. 1t is an elaborate and powerful
argument for revenue reduction on
free trade lines; and yet at intervals
the old terror of offending protected
manufacturers and laborers manifests
itself. As in various other papers by
Nt. Cleveland, there are signs of a
struggle between two minds-a shift
ing from side to side, rs il one man
were trying to say something bold and
another were constantly interfering
with provisos and notifications. For
instance:
"Our progress toward a wise con-
clusion will not be improved by dwell
ing on the themes of protection and
free trade. This savors too mach of
bandying epithets. 1t is condition
that confronts us, not a theory. Re-
lief from the condition may involve
a slight reduction in the advantage we
award our home productions. but the
entire withdrawal of such advan-
tages should not be contemplated.
The question of free trade is absolutely
irrevelant, and the persistent claim
made in certain quarters that all efforts
To relieve our people from unjust tax
alton are schemes of the so-called free
traders. is mischievous and far re-
moved from any consideration OF the
public good.
OF course this wavering affords 10
the weaker brethren some comfort.
1T is a condition which confronts
us, not theory" is taking
phrase. which Democrats without
the courage of their convictions
are fond OF quoting; but it is
merely rhetorical subterfuge- The
theory lies behind the condition, and
il makes all the difference in the world
whether the free trader or the protec-
ZIONIST cuts down the revenue from
import duties. So vital is the question
Of theory in the matter that the one
might increase the revenue by reduc-
ing tariff rates, and the other reduce
il by increasing them. Ii il were only
a condition which contronts Us, the
simplest and best remedy would be 10
-