The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1892-06-28
z0{ tariff reform. bee

3. - LIZ gateway to genuine Demo-
Convention boasted that he does not know
what tariff reform is. Whoever said that,
let us hope, with that charity which en-
dureth all things and believeth all things,
himself to be-. Unfortunately the people
are not so ignorant of the meaning Of pro-
lection, of pi Otectlon which Is dealt to them
in the bill that bears his name. We see
that meaning written large" to-day in
prostrated agriculture. In shackiea &c .sa COM COM
pulsory idleness Of labor, in law-made
wealth, In the discomfort Of workingmen
and the despair of the farmer. They know
by hard experience that protection as a
system of taxation Is but an old crafty
scheme by which the rich compel the poor
They know by hard experience that pro.
| lection as system Of tribute Is but an old
crafty scheme by which the powers OF tax
alton Of the people is made the private
form means to readjust this system Of tax
alton and to purge away this system OF tri-
butte. 1t means that we have not reached
| the goal OF perfect freedom so long as any
citizen is forced by law to pay tribute to
any other, and until our taxes are proper
toned to the ability and duty Of the tax
payer rather than to his ignorance, his
weakness and his patience. Governor Nc
Kinley charges that the Democratic party
believes in taxing ourselves. L am afraid,
gentlemen, we must admit this charge.
| What right or eXcu ,e have we for taxing
anybody else with continent for acountry,
with freedom and intelligence as the instru-
ments for its developments? We stand dis
graced in the eyes Of mankind IL we cannot
and If we do not support cur own Govern
J ment. We can throw that support on
other people only by beggary or by force.
| xua ~ nation. III
| we use the other, we arc pirate nation.
, The Democratic party does not intend that
we should be either. No more does 1t in
tend that they shall falsely call 1t taxing
other people to transfer our taxes from the
, possession Of those who own the property
of the coDntry to those who do the work of
the country. 1t believes that frugality is
an essential virtue of free government.
believes that these taxes should be limited
: to public needs and be levied by plain
rule Of practice and economy.
:, But, gentlemen. we arc confronted with
i q new cry In this campaign. The RepuDn
can party, saws Governor Mckinley, nov
h stands for protection and reciprocity. He
@ was for protection alone when he framed
d his bill In the House. or rather permitted
!. his beneficiaries to frame 1t for him, and
firmly resisted all efforts Of tho Statesman
/, from Maine to annex reciprocity TO 1t. NJ
. wonder that he favors reciprocity added b,
u the Senate. You may explore the pages o
70 burlesQue literature for more supremel.
le ludicrous exhibition than the so.called re
Q. ciprocity of the Mckinley bill. 1t Isl
c. reciprocity ut all. 1t Is retaliation, an.
To worst of all, retaliation on our people.
a. Furnishes American citizens for the recess
1T ties or follies Of other people. 1t says TO
id few small countries south OF u.s. II yo
,e are forced by your necessities or led
~ your follies to make bread higher an
IN scarcer to your people, we Will make shoe
a. a. and sugar higher and scareer to our pee
at pie" And now we are told that reciprt
ls, city Is TO be their battle cry. Already W
o. are RECALLED with pictures Of Benz. Harr
y son clad In armer and going forth to ba
ld tie for reciprocity on plumed stee'
es Simple Simon fishing for whales In n
.e- mothers rain barrel, and in great trump
sc capturing an occasional wiggle-wa9gle
the only true realistic picture Of the reel
,er rocity Of the Mckinley bill. We are II
% protection, that protects and for Iecipro(
o." o.. ty that reciprocates. We are IN favor
as protecting every man In the enjoyment
the fruit OF his labor. diminished only
dy his proper contribution TO the support
DiS the Government, and we are Tor that re
IN. reciprocity, not through dickering dep
ed by the laws of Congress that removes
sle unnecessary obstacles between lhe Anne
ON can producer and the markets heis oblig
to seek for his products.
80 But, gentlemen, must not keep y
'io, from the work that Is before you. Let
lce take up the work as brothers., as patti0
cy. as Democrats. In go large convention
as this, larger In number than any previo
Dry gathering OF our party, and representing
3d. larger constituency than ever before asse
,as ] bled In any convention, 1t would be stranl