The National tribune., 1890-03-27

VIII naruly take this view OF the matter. |
Have we SO much more work than we can |
do that we want to give employment to the
pauper myriads of Europe and Asia? The
laboring men of this country, organized for
their own protection, will answer you en-
phatically in the negative.
1t is believed that large portion of this
reduction will come from o diminution Of
the duties on sugar. II is very catchy" to
talk about giving the poor man free
breakfast table," but like most catchy
things, this it is delusion. We adopted it to
our hurt in the case Of coffee. The moment
we took the duty off coffee Brazil put an
export duty of the same amount on it, and
built navy with the proceeds Of our folly.
The poor mans breakfast table is no freer
than il ever was. The only difference is
that instead of his contribution going into the
treasury Of his own country, whence it would
comes back to him in some shape or another,
il goes TO n foreign government, and is perma
nently lost II will be the same with sugar.
Taking off millions of dollars of duties will
not cheaper any poor mans cup of coffee,
or lessen the cost of the cake his children
eat. 1t will simply put that much more
money into the pockets of the Spanish
grandees who bleed Cuba. The price of
sugar will remain the same. The only diff
ference will be that the cent q pound which
il is proposed TO take off will go into the
Golfers of the corrupt court ring at Madrid,
instead of into the United States Treasury.
The poor negroes who raise the sugar will
not even get any better wages. They will
have to continue to work ms they always
have been forced TO work for no more than
will barely keep body and soul together.
The rapaeious, insolent and infinitely cor
rupt Madrid grandees will be the sole bene
ficiaries of our folly.
These are some of the economic objections
TO the proposed reduction. There are others
even stronger One year from next Septem-
Der $l16477,250 of A. per cent. bonds be-
come due. Where is the money coming
from to pay them, if the reduction takes
place? In 1907, S61s. 4i3,o5O of per cents.
become due What provision is being made
to meet them?
We have reserved the strongest objection
till the last There is due the men who
saved this Nation, and to their widows and
orphans, a vast debt, much more sacred and
binding than that due the men who lent
money TO the Government. The full pay
ment OF this debt has'been as firmly pledged
by the people as IL WAS possible TO make a
| pledge. It's immediate payment was the
main issue of the last election. You, as
well as the President and the majority in
the House, which placed you in Your present
responsible position, were elected on that
issue. Justice to the veterans and nc
tinkering with the protective system were
the sole questions before the people. This
payment must be made now, IL ever, befor,
death removes the veteran creditors beyond
reach of earthly justice Therefore, tht
veterans who have grown old and gray
waiting for justice, their countless friends
who have burned with shame at tin
national dishonor involved in their treat
ment, and the millions more of on
citizens whose prosperity - whose dali.
bread events concerned in the mainten
ance of our present protective policy, be
that you will forbear from any attempt a
reducing the revenues. II will not b
necessary, so far as the soldiers are con
} cerned, TO maintain the National income q
t the present figures for more than few year.
The pension roll will soon begin TO decreas
, very rapidly. THE country can certainl
wait that time for them, who have waite
so patiently quarter of century for i
In the name Of those men, and Of the 0tht
classes we have named, we earnestly as