The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1888-09-29
FOR REVENUE REFORM.

senator whiting OF Illinois, Announces
His Determination to Support MIR. Cleve-
land - The President Representing a
Great Principle-views of Lifelong
Republican.
men do not make enduring political parties.
To earn and retain the confidence Of the voters
OF this country q party must hold principle
higher than men," Lorenzo d. Whiting was
the speaker. He saw Chicago in 1888; he came
to Tiskilwa fifty years ago; he was the trusted
ally OF Owen Lovejoy, the abolitionist; again
and again through eighteen years he was re-
turned to the State Senate by Republican
votes. In 1869 in the Illinois Constitutional
convention Senator Whiting was the first to
introduce measure looking to the control OF
corporations by legislative enactment. man
OF pronounced ability and rugged honesty, he
Is rounding his three-score years and ten rich
In the respect Of those who know him best.
Six months ago the Herald presented at some
length the views of Tiskilwa's farmer states
men on the tariff quest on He said then that
the issue OF tar.n reform would dwarf all other
issues in the campaign Of 1888 and expressed
hope that the Republican party would array
itself on the side of the people in the surely
impending conflict Senator Whiting has been
disappointed in the sctfon of the Chicago con-
vention. but he will not eat crow. He says
that the Republican masses Of the country
were not ia rly represented by the body over
there are hundreds Of thousands of Republic
ans who will not surrender principles at the
dictation Of a class interest. II do not like to
take my Repubicanism from B. f. JONES'" he
said. "for it is unlike the doctrine which
Abraham Lincoln advocated. William Walter
Phelps IL not an acceptable substitute for
Wendell Phillips No protected lumber barons
can interpret to me the Republicanism which
was taught by the lips OF Owen Lovejoy. In
the old days the Republican party was not run
In the interest of factory and mine owners,
and railroad man controlling t300, 600 600 of
cap tai was not supreme dictator"
The object Of the correspondent IN visiting
Tiskilwa was to obtain Senator Writings
views on the platforms adopted at St. Louis
and Chicago.
~ have continued Senator Whiting
studied the two platforms chiefly in reference
to the tariff planks. The tariff issue now be-
fore the country is the most important ques-
ton we have been called upon to consider since
slavery was abolished. The Republican party.
through Its last convention, transformed itself
into high tariff and monopoly party. can
not think of the convention that nominated
Harrison as Republican convention. 1t was
q high tariff and monopoly assemblage 1t
took an entirely new departure on the tariff,
leaving all the grounds 1t has formerly occu-
pied. When the present war tariff was levied
as compensation for the direct tax which was
lad on manufactured goods, IL was conceded
by IFS authors and all supporters that the two
coming in together. would 60 out together
But when the direct taxes were removed from
manufactured goods the protectionists man
aged to retain the high tariff. The country
submitted. on the ground that the money, so
far as 1t went to the Treasury, was applied to
pay Oh the war debt; but all parties conceded
that the time was near at hand when it
would be improper to continue this high war
tarin. Strong protectionists then said its
continuance would be unjust to other
interests. But now what do we sect These
protected interests, having long enjoyed its
advantages, have joined in a combin alton Of
fensive and defensive, to make q war tariff o
permaaency. Their first oracles To breach
their scheme were Messrs. Randall and Kelley,
who, something more than o year ago, openly
advocated that the National revenue should
be reduced by the removal OF the tax on spirits
and tobacco. This proposition was then
deemed by the people generally to be too alb
surd for serious consideration. Massachusetts,
and the East generally where the protected
interests dominate in public affairs). through
State conventions and the press. gave IL their
Endorsement The nearly unanimous public
sentiment OF the West was for retaining the
tax on spirits and tobacco and removing it
from lumber, coal, salt, and reducing it on the
other necessaries Of life. The former. through
their grangers' alliances and farmers insti-
tutes, were unanimous In demanding such
tarn reduction but the politicians who Sc
cured the representative post ons in the State
and National conventions were passive and al
lowed the combined protected interests to
shape the revenue plank in the platform.
Il regard the action OF the Chicago conven-
ton as new departure, dictated by powerful
interests for perpetuating an unjust advantage
which the exigency OF the war had given them.
consider 1t q robbery OF the West to enrich
the East think it is drawing the life blood
rom western agriculture to give large bounties
to class interest. The programme of the pro-
tectionists is to confine their operations to the
home market and, as the mills, their employees
and appendages are ample to manufacture for
continent they contemplate, through COM
oinations and trusts, to stop production by run
ming on half time and other devices and vet OBJ
tain prices for their goods which will give them
their desired profits. This tariff or revenue
plank aims to secure this state OF things, an.l
the election Of the high tariff candidates is to
obtain the Endorsement of the country of this
programme. believe the time has come when
the manufacturers of the United States should
contemplate In the near future competition
at home and abroad for the trade Of the world
This country affords SO many advantages for
such an enterprise that by running on full time
ana with economies which are now in many
coSCS Viehckorucu. tnctr prOutS Will not De re-
duced and the wages of their employees will be
greater because OF the increased demand. In
the early days Of the Republic COM
merce was counted as one OF the
great elements Of our prosperity. Com
merce is civilizer and enrcher Of
nations. II is contrary to the genius of
our institutions and instincts OF our people
TO adopt the Chinese plan proposed by the late
high tariff convention. Though / would not
suddenly make radical changes in the tariff the
protected interests should prepare for the ap-
plication OF that sound principle that business
or interest which can not sustain itself IL not
worth sustaining by others. The American
people are rapidly learning that to protect
one interest Is to do 1t at some other ones ex-
pense.
would retain the internal revenue taxes
on spirits and tobacco as one OF the permanent
sources OF revenue fully indorse Mr. Blaine
when ne said, not long ago that he would tax
,lcrry rs tboxo ~.~wrxt~