The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-07-15


protectionist organization, and that as
now constituted, it is not only not willing
to reduce taxation, or to impose it for pub
lie purposes only in a legislative BODY
where 1t has the undisputed power to do
so, but that, on the contrary its influence
will be effectively used TO increase the
rates Of duty for the exclusive benefit of
private individuals and CORPORATIONS and to
raise still higher the barriers which OH
struct the free access for farmers and 9th
er producers to the most profitable mar
kets in the world. The purpose of the de-
hberate betrayal of the cause of tariff re-
form at Chicago by the Intentional omis-
sion of real democratic declaration on
that subject from the platform Is now fully
disclosed; IL was the price demanded bv
republican and populist protectionists for
their support of the ticket and the very
men whose support was thus secured are
directly responsible for the iniduitous bill
now about to became a law. In adhering
20 the policy of a tariff for Drotection
the advocates of free coinage at the ratio
OF 10 to l are perfectly logical and con.
slstent. A Chinese monetary system to
eXpel gold from the country and give a
netitious value to silver for the benefit
or mine owners, and a Chinese wall to
exclude competition and give fictitious
value to the products of other favored
classes, depend for their justification upon
precisely the same economic faIlacies and
precisely the same paternal theory of row
eminent. The theory is, that our people
should be separated, financially and com
mercially, from the rest of the civilized
world, and that they can all be made
rich and prosperous by an act Of con-
gfess. 1t IS true that the government can
increase the prices of certain commodities
by preventing competition and creating
monopolies, but IL can add nothing what
ever to their intrinsic value. If prices are
increased by the free and unlimited coin
age OF silver, 1t is simply because the
money In which the prices are paid is
not worth as much as the money previous
ly in use, and when prices are increased
by tariffs, it is not because the commodi-
ties are really worth more than they were
before, but simply because the purchaser
is compelled by law to contribute to the
seller certain sum In excess of the real
value Of the article. The government can
by perversion of its taxing power
take from one man and give 10 another.
but this adds nothing whatever to the
aggregate of national and individual
wealth. SO the government can, by an i'm
proper exercise Of Its power to coin money
and enact legal tender laws, deprive its
citizens of their property by compelling
them to accept In satisfaction of their
lawful contracts something OF less value
than the contracts call for; but this. too.
IS spoliation of one man for the benefit
OF another. and Is class legislation of the
most unjustifiable character. Property in
contracts is as sacred as property ia
lands or houses or goods, and a polldcal
party that attacks one will Inevitably.
sooner or later attack the other. The
right OF the citizen to demand the per-
formance of a contract lawfully made is
as perfect as In his right to demand the
possession and enjoyment of the proceeds
of his own labor. Protective tariff taxa
ton robs him of a part OF his earnings,
ana free coinage legislation would rob
MIN or large part Of his property IN the
proceeds OF every contract he holds for
the payment of money Protection and
free coinage are twin heresies. and the
man who believes In one is logically bound
to believe in the other.
When the ancient democratic faith shall
have been re-establshed. as Il will be, n
our free Institutions are to be preserved,
when the protection of individual liberty,
the establishment Of justice and equality
and the preservation Of law and order are
recognized by our people as the primary
objects Of all just government. these her
es!es viii be heard Of no more.
The democratic party is not responsible
for any Of the bad legislation complain
ed OF by the people; II has never
enacted laws to favor one class of clti-
no monopolies in trade or Industry; II
has taxed no man for the benefit OF an
other man; Il has violated no right OF
person or property. by debasing the cur
rency or otherwise. nor has H. from the
beginning Of It's organization down TO the
present hour. ever attempted to deprive
the people or any part OF the people OF
any civil, political or religious right Sc
cured 10 them by the constitution. II has
never justified or excused violations OF
the law by individuals, or by r.otous com
binatons. nor has II ever attempted 10
weaken the authority OF the courts OF
justice by assaiiing their Integrity or
threatening to destroy their Independence
Why should such "A party desert IFS Old
standard. or repudlate all It's past history.
and enter into n conspiracy with lts Oil
enemies to break down public and private
credit at home and abroad. 20 repudiate
contracts already made. 70 convert the
government into a sociaiistic despotlsm by
giving n n monopoly OF an the great IN
struments Of production ana transporta-
ton, and TO make life and property lnse.
cure by substituting the rule OF the mob
for the law Of the land. A single victory
won by such a coalition would have been
more disastrous TO the party ana the coun-
try than thousand defeats IN a struggle
FOR correct principles and they are the
real friends OF democracy. who adhere
resolutcly 10 the old standard and refuse
10 support or countonauco these now and
dangerous policies
We, who arc assomblcd here
to-day may be wrong, but. n