The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1896-02-07

Can Cooperate.
BY command of the people customs
revenue system designed for the protec-
tion and benefit of favored classes al
the expense of the great mass of our
countrymen, and which, while ineffi.
cient for the purpose of revenue, curtail.
ed our trade relations and impeded our
entrance to the markets of the world,
has been superseded by tariff policy
which in principle is based upon de-
NAL of the right of the government to
obstruct the avenues to our people &
cheap living or lessen their comfort and
contentment for the sake of according
| special advantages to favorites, and
which, while encouraging our inter
course and trade with other nations,
recognizes the fact that American self
reliance, thrift and ingenuity can build
up our country's industries anu develop
its resources more surely than enervat
ing paternalism. President Cleveland g
Message.
Whether the president is woefully ig-
norant or deliberately misrepresentation
it is not our business to inquire. But he
must be either one or the other when he
speaks Of protective tariff being Gin
efficient for the purpose of revenue"
and as having "curtailed our trade re-
lations and impeded our entrance to the
markets Of the world" He has but to
consult the trade and revenue statistics
of the United States to learn that such
statements are false in every particular.
Hoping that some congressman will
publicly present the facts so that they
may be published in The Congressional
Record, we turn to what we deem to be
the policy of the friends of protection in
the Fifty-fourth congress.
The idea of creating renewed activ-
ity and enterprise in all business cir
cles" by an increase of our bonded
debt is so absurd that it has suggested
questions as to the presidents sanity.
Of course such proposition will not re-
ceive a moments serious consideration,
but the friends of protection should set
themselves to work to devise means for
increasing the revenue so as TO meet our
expenditures. The Republicans have al
ways done this heretofore, and they will
not hesitate again. Their duty is too
plain. Revenue must be furnished, and
the president offered his cooperation in
the following closing words of his mes
sage:
Il desire, however, to assure the con-
gress that / am prepared to cooperate
with them in perfecting any other meas
ure (than the increase of our bonded
debit, promising thorough and prac-
tical relief, and that / will gladly labor
with them in every patriotic endeavor
to further the interests and guard the
welfare of our countrymen whom in our
respective places of duty we have under
taken to serve.
There can be no more patriotic en-
deavor to further their interests and
guard the welfare Of our countrymen"
than by the re- enactment of protect
i've tariff policy. The complexion of the
senate, however, prevents this being
done at once. Meantime there need be
no further necessity for a deficient rev.
enue such as we have experienced under
the German tariff. The protectionists
must prepare bill for revenue purposes.
To do this will require the exercise of
much care and Judgment. But there are
members of the house of representatives
who are fully equal to the occasion, and
it is the prime duty of the house Of rep
resentatives to furnish revenue sufficient
for the needs of the government. The
existing law does not do this 1t should
either be repealed or amended. 1t is i'm
possible to repeal it at present. That
will come later. But we believe that it
can be amended.
A tariff upon wool and a change from
ad valorem TO specific rates of duty ON
woolens should add at least $40, 600, 900
TO the revenue. The restoration of the
Mckinley tariff lumber duties would
add, approximately, 81 900, 600. A duty
of 8 cents pound on foreign cotton
would furnish $5,000,000 if imports
continued as at present. Flax, hemp,
jute and their manufactures, now ad-
mitted free of duty, would contribute to
the revenue. Earthenware, pottery,
hides and skins, glass and glassware,
fruits, manufactures of iron and steel,
provisions, tin plate and many other ar
ticles have all afforded more revenue I'M
der protective tariff than they now do.
To check the large imports of such goods
as we are now receiving would also
stimulate THAT American self reliance,
thrift and ingenuity" which, as Mr..
Cleveland truly says, 'can build up our
country's industries and develop its re-
sources. In such patriotic endeav-
or" the president Twill gladly labor. " 1t
would further the interests and guard
the welfare of our countrymen. More
over, it would supply a sufficiency, not
a deficiency, of revenue. This is what is
needed.
The president still adheres to his free
wool theories. When referring to some
tariff concessions made to the United
States by the Argentine Republic, he
said:
1T is pleasing to note that the efforts
we have made to enlarge the exchanges
of trade ON sound basis Of mutual bene-
fit are in this instance appreciated by