Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1893-12-02
MISLEADING REPUBLICANS.


Misrepresentation Concerning Tariff Re-
form Made by Protectionists.
In the course Of an interview touch
ing the political reversals OF this off
| year, ex-President Harrison says: 81
can readily see how a man can advo-
cate free trade without any impeach-
ment of his intelligence or motives, but
cannot see how men of intelligence
can teach that we may pass from such
policy as Is embodied in the McKin-
| ley law to such one as was foreshad-
owed in the Chicago platform without
the greatest disaster and hardship"
! Many democrats of clear insight in
business affairs, of earnest purpose to
bring tariff legislation to thoroughly
revenue oasis, have long been of the
| opinion which Mr.. Harrison expresses
Any sudden, radical change from sys-
tenn long existing, though that system
itself is built upon false foundation,
cannot but be attended with more or
less loss and confusion. Mr.. McKin-
ley's opponent in Ohio was the author
of the radical tariff plank of the
Chicago convention 1t was not the
purpose Of the committee on reso-
lutions to bring in so pronounced
a doolaraiion. and IL was upon the floor
| that the words which Neal proposed
were incorporated in the platform by
the convention itself. Giving those
words the Interpretation of radical
free-trade purpose upon the part of the
democratic party Mr. Neal led the dem
ocratic columns in Ohio and was signal
| ly defeated.
The Neal portion of the platform
read: I'VE denounce republican pro-
lection as fraud--a robbery of the
great majority of the American people
for the benefit of the few We declare
1t to he fundamental principle of the
democratic party that the federal gov
ernment has no constitutional power
to impose and collect tariff dues, except
for the purpose of revenue only, and
we demand that the collection of such
taxes shall be limited to the necessities
Of the government when honestly and
economically administered.
If the committee on ways and means
of the house had reported bill before
the Ohio election occurred. and that
bill showed, as undoubtedly it will
show when at the regular session it
reaches the house, that there Is no pur-
pose upon the part of the democratic
party suddenly to derange the whole tar
iff system in order to reach the extreme
point proclaimed by Neal-a point log
ically sound, but to be attained as cir
cumstances are by gradatons, not at a
single jump-it is not probable that
Mr. Neal would have been saved in
Ohio, but his defeat would not have
been as signal as it was.
Grover Clevelands message of 1857
presented the practical view of the
question, and had proper Legislation
followed upon this recommendation
the country would have been in far
better condition to-day. The sugges-
ton was to increase the free list as re
lated to raw materials. an act in itself
which is promotive of manufactures
and to reduce the schedules upon other
articles subject to taxation as rule,
but not in single bill could 1t be
enacted to wipe out system which had
existed since the foundation OF the gov
ernment.
In this celebrated message the presi-
tirely relieve the country OF tits taxa;
ton. 1t must be extensively contin-
ed as the source OF the governments
income, and in Il readjustment of ou-
tariff the interests OF American labor
engaged in manufacture should be
carefully considered, as well as the
preservation of our manufacturers. 1t
may be called protector or by any 9TH
er name, but relief from the hardships
aud dangers of our present tariff flaws
should be devised with especial precau-
lion against imperiling the existence of
our manufacturing interests. But this
existence should not mean Il condition
which, without regard 10 the public
welfare or a national eXigency, must
| always insure the realization Of inn
mense profits instead of moderately
profitable returns, As the volume and
diversity of our national activities in
crease new recruits are added to those
who desire continuation of the ad-
vantages which they conceive the pres
ent system of tariff taxation directly
| affords them. So stubbornly have all
efforts to reform the present condi-
| tion of affairs been resisted by those of
our fellow citizens thus engaged that
they can hardly complain of5the suspi-
cion entertained to a certain extent
that there exists an organized combine
ton all along the line to maintain
their advantage"
When bill from the democratic COM
mittee on ways and means is submit.
| ted to democratic congress and re-
ceives the signature of Grover Cleve-
land it will be bill which. making in
the direction of tariff for revenue
only. will set at rest all apprehension
as to democratic policy regarding the
tariff and will relieve the party il the
| elections OF next yea, from the specious
Misrepresentation made by Mckinley
ties IN Ohio for tn. purpose of advan>-
ing the political interests of their lead
| Ia; fr;,,au