The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1893-12-14
of providing revenue to meet government
expenditures, and yet reducing the peo-
pies burden of federal taxation.
THE NEW TARIFF BILL.

THE NEW TARIFF BILL.
After 4 hard struggle tariff reform is
directly before us. Nothing SO important
claims our attention and nothing SO clearly
presents itself as both an opportunity and
a duty-an oppnrtunity to deserve the graf
itude of our fellow citizens and duty i'm
posed upon us by our oft-repeated profess
sionS, and by the emphatic mandate of the
people. After full discussion our cOun-
trymen have spoken in favor of this re.
form, and they have contided the work of
its accomplishment to the hands of those
who are solemly pledged to it.
If there is anything in the theory of
representation in public places of the peO-
pie and their desires, if public officers are
really the servants of the people, and If
political promises and professions have
any binding force, our failure to give the
relief so long awaited will be sheer re-
creancy. Nothing should intervene to
distract our attention or disturb our effort
until this reform is accomplished by wise
and careful legislation.
While we should Staunchly adhere to
the principle that only the necessity of
revenue justifies the imposition of tariff
duties and other federal taxation. and that
they should be limited by strict economy,
we cannot close our eyes to the fact that
conditions have grown up among us which
in Justice and fairness call for dIScrlml-
mating care in the distribution of such du-
ties and taxation as the emergencies or
our government actually demand.
Manifestly, if we are to aid the people
directly through tariff reform, one of its
most obvious features should be a reduc-
ton in present tariff charges upon the neo-
essaries of life. The benefits of such a re-
duction would be palpable and substantial,
seen and felt by thousands who would be
better fed and better clothed and better
sheltered. These gifts should be the will
ing benefactions of government whose
HIGHEST function iS the nrDmOtIOn OF the
welfare of the people.
Not less closely related to our peoples
| prosperity and well beingsiS the removal
of restrictions upon the importation of the
raw materials necessary to our manufac-
tuSerS The world should be open to our
national Ingenuity and enterprise. This
| cannot be while federal legislation,
through the imposition of high tariff, for
| bids to American manufacturers as cheap
| materials as those used by their cOmpeti
| tors. 1t is quite obvious that the enhance
ment of our manufactured products re-
sulting from this policy not only confines
| the market for these products within our
| own borders, to the direct disadvantage of
! our manufacturers, but also incre asses their
| cost to our citizens.
| though indirectly, involved in this feature
| of our tariff system. The sharp cOmpeti-
| ton and active struggle among our manu-
| facturers to supply the limited demand
| for their goods soon fill the narrow mark ct
| to which they are confined Then follows
| a suspension of work in mills and facto-
| ries, discharge of employees and distress
| in the homes of our Orkingmen,
| Even if the often disprOved assertion
| could be made good that a lower rate of
wages would result from free raw mate
rails and low tariff duties, the Intelligence
| of our workingmen leads them quickly to
| discover that their steady employment,
| permitted by free raw materials, is the
most important factor in their relation to
| tariff legislation.
A measure has been prepared by the APP
| propriate congressional committee, en-
| bodying tariff reform on the line herein
suggested, which will be promptly SUBJ
mitted for Legislative action, 1t is the re-
suit of much patriotic and unselfsh work,
| and l believe it deals with its subject con-
sistently and as thoroughly as existing
conditions permit.
| am satisfied that the reduced tariff
| duties provided for in the proposed legis-
| lation, added to existing internal revenue
| taxation, will in the near future, though
| perhaps not Immediately, produce sutfi-
| cient revenue to meet the needs of the
government.
The committee, after full consideration,
| and to provide against temporary def
| cheney which may exist before the business
| adjusts itself to the new tariff schedules,
have wisely embraced in their plan few
| ing small tax upon incomes derived from
| certain corporate Investments.
| These new assessments are not only alb
| solutely just and easily borne, but
| they have the further merit of being such
as can be RENTED without unfay ora BILE
| business disturbance whenever the neces-
| sity of their imposition no longer exists.
| In my great desire for the success of this
| measure l can not restrain the suggestion
| that its success can only be attained by
| means of unSelfish counsel on the part of
| the friends of tariff reform and as a result
| Of their willingness to subordinate per-
| sOnal desires and ambitions to the general
| good. The local interests affected by the
| proposed reform are so numerous and SO
| varied that if all are insisted upon the
| legislation embodying the reform must
| inevitably fail.
In conclusion, my intense feeling of re-
| sponsibility impels me to invoke for the
manifold interests of generous and con-
| fiding people the most scrupulous care,
and to pledge my willing support to every
| legislative effort for the advancement of
| the greatness and prosperity OF our be-
| loved country. GROVER CLEVELAND.
Executive Mansion,
Washington, d. g., Dec. 1. 1893.