Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1888-09-13

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The people will hardly be deceived by
their abandonment Of the field Of legis-
lative action to meet in political conven-
tion and fiippantly declare In their party
platform that our conservative and care
full effort to relieve the situation is de-
structive to the American system Of pro-
lection. Nor will the people be misled
by the appeal to prejudice contained in
the absurd allegation that we serve the
interests of Europe, while they will sup
port 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 de-
clare also that there should be such q
revision Of our tariff laws as shall tend
to check the importation Of such articles
as are produced here. Thus in proposing
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, ut least, of
an interchange Of business, while they
abandon our consumers to the unre-
strained oppression of the domestic
trusts and combinations which are in
the same platform perfunctorily con-
demned. They propose further to re.
lease entirely from import duties all
articles of foreign production Except
luxuries) the like of which cannot 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 al
ready 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 to be entirely unprovided for
in this proposed scheme to serve the
country. Small compensation for this
neglected need is found in the further
purpose here announced and covered by
the declaration, that if after the changes
already mentioned there still remains
larger revenue than is requisite for the
wants of tho government, the entire in
ternal taxation should be repealed
'srather than surrender any part Of our
protective system.
Our people ask relief from the undue
unnecessary burden Of tariff taxation
now resting upon them. They are
offered instead free tobacco and free
whisky. They ask for bread and they are
given stone. The implication contained
in this party declaration that desperate
measures are justified or necessary to
save from destruction or surrender what
il termed our protective system, should
confuse no one. The existence of such q
system is entirely consistent with the
regulation of the extent to which 1t
should be applied and the correction Of
its abuses.
OF course in q, country as great rs
ours, with such wonderful variety OF
interests, often leading in entirely differ.
ent directions, 1t 10 difficult ii not impos-
sible to settle upon perfect tariff plan.
But in accomplishing the reform we have
entered upon, the necessity Of which is
30 obvious, believe we should not be
content with reduction Of revenue in
volving the prohibition Of importations
and the removal of the internal tax upon
whisky. It can be better and more safely
done with the lines Of granting actual re-
lief to the people in their means OF living
and at the same time giving an impetus
to our domestic enterprises and further
ing our national welfare.
II Misrepresentation of our purposes
and motives are to gain credence and de-
feat our present efforts in this direction
there seems to be no reason why every
endeavor in the future to accomplish rev.
enue reform should not be likewise at
tackled and with like result.
And yet no thoughtful man can fail to
see in the continuance OF the present bur
dens Of the people, and the abstraction by
the government of the currency
Of the country, Inevitable dis
tress and disaste. All danger will
b averted by timely action. The
.di6lculty Of applying the remedy will
never be less, and the blame should not
be laid at the door Of the Democratic
party IL IL 10 applied too late.
With firm faith In the intelligence and
patriotism OF our countrymen, and rely
ing upon the conviction that Mtsr0ess-