The west Tennessee star. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1888, 1888-09-21

while unduly enrfching the few that combine,
rob the body Of our citizens by depriving them,
as purchasers, of the benefits of natural com.
petition" Such combinations have always
been condemned by the Democratic party.
The declaration OF its National convention is
sincerely made, and no member OF our party
viii be found excusing the existence or belit-
ting the pernicious results Of those devices to
wrong the people. Under various names they
have been punished by the common law for
hundreds of years; and they have lost none OF
their hateful features because they have as
sumed the name OF trusts instead OF conspirar
cies. We believe that these trusts are the nat
ural offspring of market artifcially restrict
ed; that an inordinately high tariff, besideT
furnishing the temptation for their existence,
enlarges the limit within which they may oper-
ate 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
reform.
While we can not avoid partisan misrepre-
sentation, our position upon 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 predicated
upon the utmost care for established industries
and enterprises, a jealous regard for the inter
ests Of American labor and a 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 repeatedly 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 applicable to this subject must origin
ate, the Democratic majority were attempting
with extreme moderation to redeem the pledge
common to both parties, they were net by de-
termlned opposition and obstruction; and the
minority refusing to cooperate in the House of
Representatives, or propose another remedy.
have remitted 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 fippantly
declare in their party platform that our con-
servative and careful effort to relieve the situ-
alton is destructive to, the American system of
protection. Nor will the people be misled by
the appeal to prejudice contained in the absurd
allegation that we serve the interests of Eu-
rope, while they will support the interests OF
America. They propose in their platform to
thus support the interests of our country by re-
moving the internal revenue tax from tobacct
ana from spirits used in the arts and for me-
/ chanical purposes. They declare, also that
there should be such revision of our tariff laws
as shall tend to check the Importation OF
/ such articles are produced here. Thus in
/ proposing to increase the duties upon such art
/ icles to nearly or quite prohibitory point,
! they confess themselves willing to travel back
| ward 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 sem
blance, at least, of an interchange Of business,
! while they abandon our consumers to the un-
restrained oppression of the domestic trusts
and combinations which in the same plat
| form perfunctorily condemned. They propose
| further to release entirely from import duties
| all articles of foreign production except luxu-
| ries, 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
/ min 1ad a m
where their interests are regarded in this prop
osition. They need in their homes cheaper
| domestic necessaries; and this seems to be en-
| tirely unprovided for in this proposed scheme
/ to serve the country. Small compensation TO
this neglected need is found In the further pur
pose here announced and covered by the dec
laration that If after the changes alread.
mentioned there still remains q larger revenue
than is required for the wants Of the Govern
| ment the entire internal taxation should be re
pealed ''rather than surrender any part OF on
/ protective system"
4 Our people ask relief from the undue and un
necessary burden of tariff taxation now resting
upon them. They are offered, instead, free to
bacco and free whisky. They ask for bread
and they are given a stone. The implication
contained in this party declaration that des
perate measures are justified or necessary t.
save from destruction or surrender what 4
termed our protective system, should confus
no ona. The existence of such a system is en-
tirely consistent with the regulation OF the eX
tent to which it should be applied and the cor
reotion Of its abuses.
OF course, IN a country great as ours, witt
such wonderful variety of interests, oftel
leading in entirely different directions, it is dii
fcult, If not impossible, to settle upon pei
feet tariff plan; but in accomplishing the re
form have entered upon, the necessity c
! which Is so obvious, I believe we should not b
content with a reduction Of revenue involvfn
the prohibition of importations, and the re
moval OF the internal tax upon whisky. I
| can be better and more safely done With
the lines of granting actual relief to the peopl
in their means Of living, and at the same tim
giving an impetus to our domestic enterprise
and furthering our National welfare.
If misrepresentation of our purposes an
motives are to gain credence and defeat ou
present efforts in this direction, there seems
be no reason why every endeavor in the futur
to accomplish revenue reform should not b
likewise attacked and with like result. An
| yet no thoughtful man can fail to see in th
, continuance Of the present burdens of the PEI
pie, and the abstraction by the Government
! the currency Of the country, inevitable distreS
and disaster All danger Will be averted b
. timely action. The dificulty Of applying tt
remedy will never be less, and the blaH
should not be laid at the door of the Dem
. cratic party if it is applied too late.
1 with firm faith IN the intelligence and patI
otism of our counJrymen, and relying upon Il
} conviction that Misrepresentation will not i
D | huence them; that prejudice will not eloU
: their understanding, and that menace will n
. intimidate them, let US urge the peoples inte
8 est and public duty for the vindication Of o.
: attempt to inaugurate righteous and bene
{ cent reform GROVER CLEVELAND.