The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1893-04-29
CLEVELAND ON THE TARIFF.
A Strong Denuncintion OF Vicious Pro-
lection Le1ialation.

, Strong Denuncintion OF Vicious Pro-
lection Legislation.
OF President Cleveland's fealty to the
platform upon which he received the
support of the people of the United
States there can be no doubt after his
inaugural address is perused. There is
no equivocation or indirection in his
words. He says:
"1hey (the peoplc) have thus determined in
favor OF a more just and equitable system of
federal taxation. The agents they have chosen
promises not less than by the command OF their
masters to devote themselves unrenlitt!nsly to
this service. While there should be no surren-
der Of principle, our task must be undertaken
wisely and without vindic tiveness Our mis-
sion is not punishment, but the rectifcation OF
wrongs If in lifting burdens from the daily
life OF our people we reduce ncrdinate and I'M
equal adva ntagcs too long enjoyed. this Is but q
necessary incident OF our return to right and
justice.
IF We exact from unwilling minds acqui-
esccnce in the theory of an honest distribntion
OF the fund OF governmental bencdcence treas
urcd up for all, we but insist upon prime iple
which undcriics our free Institutions When
we tear aside the Gelusions and mscon captions
which have blinded countrymen to their
condition under vicious tariff laws, we but
show them how far they have been led away
from the paths OF contentment and sperity.
When We proclaim that the necessity for rev
only justification for taxing the people, we an
nouncc Il truth SO plain that its denial would
seem to indicate the cx tent to which judgment
may be inf uenced by familiarity with the per-
versions OF the taxing power: and when
seek to reinsta to the self-conf1dence and bust
ness enterprise OF our citizens by discrcditing
abjcct dependence upon governmental favor,
we strive to stimulate those elements OF Amer
lean charact ter which support the hope OF Amer
lean actlevcmcnt.'
The recognition in these words of
the right Of the people to command and
the duty of their serv ants to obey is
plain and unhesit ating. 1t is a recog-
milton of the fundamental principle of
denoc-acy--of Il truth that cannot be
nj "a
;:ting tariff laws has been made ap-
parent to those who have long been the
dupeS of the nlonopolists, and n vast ma
jority of the electors have decided
that the tariff tax must go. If there
has heretofore existed any fear that
there might be lack Of cooperation on
the part of the executive will, the pur-
pose declared at the polls, that d;strust
has been removed. With harmony ana
a common aim between the people,
their representatives in both houses of
congress and in the white house, there
can be no excuse for da'lying with an
issue Of such paramount Importance.
Protection has had a. fair trial. has
been convicted of cndeavoring to sub
vert the theory of popular government
and condemned to death. 1t only re-
mains for the executicners to do their
work. Congress is called upon to
formulate the decree. President Cleve-
land will not hesitate to perform his
part and administer the coup dc 81 acc
to the Ubiquitous system which has for
SO many years corrupted our 1egisla-
ton. intimitlatcd our executive officers
and robbed the worlingmen of the
just fruits of thci, labor. A now era
in industrial conditions has already
dawned, for the slavery of the people
Of the United States to the protective
tariff opprcssorS has practically
ended. Chicago Herald.