The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1894-07-28
ON SUGAR.

conference Will DC Ofuefeu between Tic
two houses of Congress for the purpose
of adjusting differences on the subject
of tariff legislation, makes it also GER
tain that you will be again called upon
to do hard service in the cause of tariff
reform. My public life has been SO
closely related to the subject, I have
SO longed for it's accomplishment and
l have so often promised it's realization
to my fellOw-cOuntrymen as q result OF
their trust and contidencein the demo-
cratic party that l hope in this crisis
You will strenously insist upon party
honesty and good faith and a sturdy
adherence to Democratic principles. I
believe these are absolutely necessary
conditions to Democratic existence. I
cannot rid myself of the feeling that
this conference will present the best, if
not the only hope, OF true Democracy.
There is no Reuse for mistaking OF
misapprehending the feeling and the
temper of the rank and file of the
Democracy. They are downcast under
the assertion that their party fails in
ability to manage the government and
they are apprehensive that efforts to
bring about tariff reform may fail; but
they are much more downcast and ap-
prehensiVe in their fear that Demo-
cratic principles may be surrendered.
Every true Democrat and every sin
cere tariff reformer knows that this
bill, in its present form and as it will
be submitted to the conference, falls
far short of the contamination for
which we have suffered defeat without
discOuragement; which in its anticipa-
ton gave us a rallying cry in our day
OF triumph and which in its promise
OF accomplishment is so interviewer
with Democratic pledges and Demo
cratic success that our abandonment
OF the cause or the principles upon
which it rests, means party perfdy and
party dishonor.
One topic will be submitted to the
conference which embodies Democrat
ic principle SO directly that it cannot
be compromised. We have in u
platforms and in every way possible
decided on the free importation of raw
materials. We have again and again
promised that this should be accorded
to u people and our manufacturers
as 0 O as the Democratic party was.
invested with the power to determine
the tariff policy of the country. The
party now has that power. It must be
admitted that no tariff measure a ac-
cord with Democratic principles and
promises or bear a genuine Democratic
badge that does not
PROVIDE FOR FREE RAW MATERIAL.
In these circumstances it may well
excite wonder that Democrats are
willing to depart from this, the most
Democratic of ali tariff principles, and
that the inconsistent absurdity of such
a proposed departure should be en-
phasized by the suggestion that the
wool OF the farmer be put on the free
list and the protection of tariff taxation
be placed around the iron ore and coaf
of corporations and capitalists. How
can we face the people after indulging
IN such outrageous determinations and
violations of principles.
/ hope that you will not consider it
intrusive if / say something in relation
to another subject which can hardly
fail to be troublesome to the confer
ence. refer to the adjustment of tariff
taxation on sugar.
SUGAR A LEGITIMATE ARTICLE
OF REVENUE.
Under our party platform and in &C.
cordance with u declared party pur-
poses sugar is a legitimate and logical
article OF revenue taxation. Unfortu-
nately, however, incidents have accom-
panied certain stages of the legislation
which will be submitted to the confer
ence which have aroused in connection
with this subject a natural Democratic
anlmOsity to the methods and mani
pulatlons OF trusts and corporations. /
confess to sharing in this feeling, and
yet it seem to me we ought, if possible,
to sufficiently free ourselves from
prejudice and to weigh the ~considera-
tions which, in formulating tariff legis-
lation, ought to guide our treatment of
sugar as a taxable article. While no
tenderness should be entertained for
trusts, and while / am decidedly opposed
to granting them, under the guise of
tariff taxation, any opportunity to fur
Their their peculiar methods. / suggest
that We ought not to be driven away
from the Democratic principle and
policy which lead to the taxation of
sugar by the fear, quite likely exag-
gerated, that in carrying out this prin-
ciple and policy We may indirectly and
mordlnately encourage a combination
of sugar refining interests.
/ know that in the present condi- |
tons this is a delicate subject, and l
appreciate the depth and strength of
the feeling which it's treatment has
aroused. | do not believe we should