Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1894-07-27

question OF free raw material does
not admit OF adjustment on any
middle ground, since their sub
lection to any rate of tariff taxation,
great or small, is alike viOlative OF
democratic principle and demo.
cratic good faith.
l hope that you Will not consider
it intrusive 1t | say something in
relation to another subject which
can hardly fnl to be troublesome
TO the conference. refer to the
adjustment of tariff taxation on
sugar.
Under our party platform, and IN
accordance with our declared party
purposes, sugar is legitimate and
logical article of revenue taxation.
Unfortunately, however, incidents
have accompanied certain stages of
the legislation which will be sub.
mitted TO the conference that have
aroused in connection with this
subject a natural democratic ami.
mostly to the methods and manipu.
latIOns of the trusts and cOmbina.
tiOns. confess to sharing in this
feeling and yet it seems to me we
ought, if possible, to sufficiently
free ourselves from prejudice to en-
able us cody to weigh the consider
atoms which in formulating tariff
legislation ought to guide our treat
ment of sugar as taxable article.
While no tenderness should be
for Trusts, and while
am decidedly opposed to grant
ing them, under the gulse of tariff
taxation, any opportunity to fur
Their their peculiar methods, | sug-
gest that weOught not to be driven
away from the democratic prlnci-
pie and policy whichlead to the taxa
ton of sugar by the fear, quite llk-
ly exaggerated, that in C rryins
ont this principle and policy We
may indirectly and inordina tely en-.
courage a combination OF sugar
refining interests. | know that IN
present conditions this IS a delicate
subject, and | appreciate the depth
and strength of the feeling which
Its treatment has aroused. | do not
believe We should do evil that good
may come, but it seems to me that
we should not forget that our aim
Is the completion of tariff bill,
and that in taxing sugar tor pro-
per purposes and Sithin reasona-
be bounds, whatever else may be
said of our action, we are in no
danger Ofrunnin g cOuutertO demo
C ratio principle. With all there is
at stake there must be IN the treat
ment Of this article some ground
upon which wcare willing to stand,
where federation and cancellation
may be allo ged to solve the prob.
lem without demanding the entire
surrender Of fixed and conscIen
tl0us convictions.
| ought not to prOlong this let
ter. Ifwhat l have written is
beg you to believe IN
my good intentions.
In the conclusion Of the confer.
ence touching the numerous items
which will be considered, the peo'
pie are not afraid that their inter
ests will be neglected. They know
that the general result so far as
they are concerned will be to place
home necessaries and comforts
more easily within theirreAcb, and
to insure better and snrer compen
sation to those who toll.
We all know that a tariff law
all the varied interests
and conditions OF a country as vast
as ours must of necessity be large
" the result of honorable adjnst'
ment and compromise.
Iexpect very few of us can say,
when our measure is perfect, d,
that all its features ar, entli ely as
we would prefer. You know how
much depreca'e the incor pcra-
ton IN the proposed bill of the in
come tax feature. In matters of
this kind, however, which do not
violate a fixed and recognize d DEM
ocratic doctrine, we are wlllin G to
defer to the judgment of mnjorl.
ty of our democratic brethren. |
think there is a general agreement
that this is party duty.
TLl5 Is more ptlpably apparent
when we realize that the business
Of our country tlmldly stands and
watches for the result of our eff Jrts
to perfect tariff legislation, that a
gnick and certain return of pros p
nerity waits upon a visa adjust
mpnt, and that a con6ding people
still trust 10 our hands their pros
perlty and well being.
The democracy OF the land plead
o,ost aarnaaflv fur tha RDpedV com E.