, 1894-08-15
LATEST SUGAR NEWS.

line lac6Bt news from w Washington Just before
We go to press shows the sugar situation in
Washington seemingly no nearer its deter
mination than some weeks ago, ard the prac-
tical certainty ahead Of US that at the earliest
no new tariff bill can be made operative be-
fore September j. The laterlthe date and the
nearer the grinding season here approaches
the more ilIequitable would seem the sudden
abrogatiOn Of the bounty law, which would
practically result in the compulsory sale of
the Louisiana crop Mt but little, if anything,
above free Tfade prices.
The letter from President Cleveland 10
Mr.. Wilson indicates the gravity of the tariff
situation and the determination of the admin
AstratiOn to induce tariff legislation at as ear
iy adate as possible. The PlLsident's friend
lY attitude towards sugar as the best igyenue
producing article now available gives assur-
ance to us that the frantic efforts Of the Ra-
dical Democrats in the House to place sugar
on the free list regardless Of the resulting
destruction to Louisiana, will not prevail.
The President in his letter to Mn. Wilson,
says concerning sugar
Under our party platform, and in accor-
dance with our declared party purposes, sugar
is IL legitimate and logical article Of revenue
taxation. Unfortunately, however, incidents
have accompanied certain stages Of the leglS.
lation which will be submitted to the con-
ference that have aroused III connection
with this subject a natural Democratic ami
mostly to the methods and manipulations OF
trusts and corporations. confess to sharing
III this feeling, and yet it seems to me Mo
ought if possible, to sufficiently free ourselves
from prejudice and to weigh the cOnsidera-
tions which in formulating tariff legislation,
ought to guide our treatment Of sugar as Il
taxable article. While no tenderness should
be entertained for trusts, and while | am de-
cidedly opposed 10 granting them under the
guise Of tariff taxation, any opportunity to
further their peculiar methods, | suggest that
we ought not to be driven way from the De
mocratic principle and policy which lead 10
the taxation of sugar by the fear, quite like
ly exaggerated, that III carrying out this prin-
Oiple and policy WI may indirectly and
inOrdinately encourage a combination Of SUI
gar refining interests. ] know that in pre-
sent conditions this is a delicate subject, and
1 appreciate the depth and strength OF the
feeling which its treatment has aroused. !
do not believe that we should do evil that
good may come, but it seems to me that we
should not forget that our aim is the COM
pletion of a tariff bill aud that in taxing sugar
for proper purposes and within reasonable
bounds, whatever else may be said Of our ac-
tion, we are in no danger Of running counter
to Dem ocratic principles. With all there is
at stake there must be i'll the treatment Of
this article some ground upon which we are
all willing to stand; where federation and
cancellation maybe allowed to solve the prob
lem without demanding the entire surrender
of fixed and conscientious convictions"
Should the administration and the House
conferrees insist Gu free coal and free iron
ore, the senators identified with those in
forests may revolt, and herein lies the posi-
bility of the defeat of all Tariff legislation.
Should this result without the participation
therein of tho Louisiana senators, it would
be a blessing to ue, as certainly the admins
tration and the Democratic majority could
not then hold Louisiana responsible for their
defeat, and any effort to repeal the bounty
law as a separate measure would then be so
obviously unjust that there ought to be
virtue in the radical House to pre-
vent it, and there certainly would be enough
in the Seuats-LOuisianG Planter, 81 July.