The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1892-07-02
Tariff Reform.

There was an insideous effort
make to straddle, the tariff question
by the committee on resolutions at
the national Democratic conven-
tion, and to the Hon. Larry L
Neal, more than to any one else
must be accorded the honor of de-
feating the effort, and saving the
honor of the Democracy.
Mr.. Neal wrote and presented
the ringing tariff resolution which
is found in the platform and in con-
nection with Hon. Henry Waiter
son urged its substitution instead
of the incomperhensible slush of
the majority report.
Mr.. Neal has proved himself not
only true Democrat, but vigor-
Gus wide-awake statesman, and
we'll worthy of any honor that can
be conferred on him by his party.
Were it not for the positive de-
clination of Mr.. Neal to permit his
anne to be used as a candidate
for congress, in this district, no
power could prevent his nomina-
ton.
In urging the adoption of his
minority report, Mr.. Neal spoke as
follows:
Gentlemen of the Convention:
The history of our country demon
strates the fact that the American
people will consider and determine
but one great public question at Il
time. Many questions in govern.
ment like ours, with it's varied in
terests, will necessarially attract
some share of public attention a.
lone and at the same time; but it
is none the less true that some one
question will overshadow all others
in importance and command for
itself the highest place in the
thoughts of the people. Such a
question we now have in the Fed
eral system of protective taxation.
Tariff reform has been the lead
ing political issue in this country
since the Democrats commenced
to battle for revision of the tariff
taxation more than four years ago.
1t must continue to be such until it
shall be as firmly established as
any fundamental principle can be,
that the Federal Government has
no constitutional power to impose
and collect tariff duties except for
revenue alone. (The announce
ment of this doctrine was greeted
with loud cheers.) And that even
then the collection of such taxes
shall be limited to the necessities
of the Government when honestly
and economically administered.
A protective tariff is robbery
of the great majority of the people
for the benefit of the few. We be-
lieve it to be so, and we ought to
have the courage of our convic'
tions. loud shouts from the gal
lery.) We should not delay in the
enunciation of it. The fact that
its insidious purpose under the
: forms of law is called taxation
: renders it none the less robbery
(cries were heard from variou.
parts of the hall, "That is right")
and the claim that it is accomplish
ed under the guise of law is al
. great a crime, and aggravate
/ rather than lessons the enormity
= of the offense.
Republican protection is a
hostile 10 our form of governmen
as was the principle of taxation
without representation applause
for which our fathers rebelled ant
. fought and achieved independence
8 So long as we heed the cry of pro
7 lection so long will we consent L
!. the degradation of the masses il
' the interest of the classes and t.
: change the form and character Of
;. our Government itself by convert
ing it from democracy, a govern
ment of the people, to an aristoc
racy of wealth. (Applause)
] The rapid concentration of tn
: wealth of the country under tn
1 fostering care of protection fore
: shadows this present change. TIL
ownership of more than one-hal
s of the property of this great countr,
I by seventeen thousand persons
3 and the still more astounding fac
}, that two hundred and fifty Of ou
: sixty-three millions of people owl
: absolutely own-one-twelfth of al
the property ofour country, prove
D with striking force the necessit
4 of this change. (Cries of "Time
! time.")
: Then, my friends, let US go for
!, ward in this great battle which w