The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1894-09-15
THE SUGAR NEWS BOLT


condemning the Democratic party
and joining the Republican, is, in
our opinion, very ill-advised, even
from business or financial stand
point.
The cause of the present anxiety
is due to the action of the Republi-
can party in 1890 when, it took STU
gar off the dutiable and placed it
it gave a two-cent per pound
bounty; but this was done to more
easily place high protective tariff
on the articles of the North and
East and to save the voters of the
beet sugar districts, and, if posi-
bic, to make a Republican State of
Louisiana. AS far as this bounty is
concerned, it seems to be the con-
census of opinion that the American
people have repudiated 1t. Although
not more objectionable than pro-
tective tariff, it is too direct and
palpable class legislation to be en-
Sherman frankly admitted this in his
speech on the Wilson bill, and
stated that his party had committed
an error. Such was the opinion of
the sagacious Warmoth before the
committee in charge of the McKin-
ley bill in 1890, when the Republi-
cans put sugar on the free list to
give the people what they termed
ga free breakfast table," This was
the death blow to our industry;
the price of sugar fell two cents per
pound, and the people have tasted
of cheap sugar and are naturally
averse to return to high-priced SUI
gar. In the face of this object les
son 1t took great moral courage on
the part of Mr.. Cleveland to pro-
claim in his Wilson letter that ac-
cording to Democratic principles
a duty should be placed on sugar.
The Republicans are now proclaim
ing throughout the country, the SUI
gar districts excepted, that the DEM
ocratic party is controlled by the
sugar industry and they are making
much political capital out Of the
fact that sugar was placed on the
iutiable list. /
1t is unfortunately true that con-
:rary to the views of President |
Cleveland and Secretary Carlisle,
he House passed a separate free
sugar bill; but this, in our humble
opinion, was simply a manifesta-
ion of opposition to the sugar trust,
which, like the other products of
protection, has become
1 power in the land. It is inapossi-
Ole to foretell the action of the Sen
ate on this bill next December,
out we are inclined to the belief
hat that conservative body will not
pass such an inexcusable piece of
legislation. Should it,
however, break the record of in
there is yet man in
whose political honesty, indornni-
able will and moral courage we
nay bank upon to exercise his con
prerogative of the veto.
Conceding that all this is an illu-
sion and snare, can the sugar men
lepend with any hope upon effec-
ual assistance from the Republi-
cans ? What can they do before
3o7, with Democrat in the presi-
lcntial chair? If they get major
ty in Congress and pass a law Civ
ng a bounty, it would have to be
'ver the presidents veto. Then, it
S plain that nothing could be ef-
eCted.
Should the sugar men succeed in
ending Republicans to Congress
hey will antagonize, and in all like
likelihood loose the aympathy of,
he party to which they heretofore
belonged.
The action of Congress in refusing
o pay this years bounty was an
ljustice to the sugar industry.
he opinion of men of legal train
lg is that it can be recovered. SO
lote it be. !
he Cream of Current !
Thought.
~ I