The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-04-10

Clear Note.
The letter of Senator Caffery Of Louis
lana to the president Of the New Orleans
Board of Trade in response 10 that body s
communication to him, in which he was
asked to support the Dingley bill be-
cause of its protection TO local interests,
sounds a clear, true and refreshing note
Of democracy. The board OF trade had
held the tariff to be a commercial ques-
ton, and urged that the Dinsley bill be
given support on the ground that it would
promote local commercial prosperity. The
board had in view the tariff on sugar
when it urged the senator to give the bill
the weight of his influence. Senator CAT
fiery is himself a sugar planter, and
may have been thought that this fact
would have had some influence in bring
ing him into line for the bill.
But Senator Caffery is a rock-ribbed
democrat, and pontedly and firmly de-
clines to be stirred from his position of
holding that the tariff should be levied
for the purpose Of raising necessary rev.
onues, and for that purpose only. He de-
clines to accept the view that the tariff
it is a political question of the greatest
moment; except, perhaps, in so far as the
Dingley bill may be the result of traffic
or bargain between powerful corpora
tons and protected interests on one side.
and republican lawmakers on the other.
The republican party received the sup
port of the corporations and protected in
terests, and the consideration paid is to
be the levying of tariff rates in accordance
with the wishes of the protected inter-
ests. Every man, woman and child in
the United States is placed under tribute
to corporate greed and private rapacity
by the provisions of the BILL" says the
senator.
The sugar interests of Louisiana, the
senator asserts. are prosperous. "You
have fair tariff under the Wilson law"
he says. Under it sugar fiourishes as
well as any agricultural interest in the
United States that know of. -" But
neither you nor our people have any
right TO demand more tariff to build up
your and their individual prosperity when
you already enjoy a reasonable amount
Inc 4JlHSley blll carries rates 10
10 per cent higher than the Mckinley bill
1t is in my opinion, indefensible from
any standpoint of protection or tariff for
revenue. Il will blight the budding prom
Use of increased export of American man
ufactures. 1t will cripple the export of
our cereals. fiber, fuel and raw materials.
1t will add enormously to the burden of
the toiling masses of our people. /"
1t will create greater discomfort where
discomfort is already threatening the
peace and stability of society. And it vi
olates the cardinal, essential, cherished
principles of democracy. will
not vote for it. I will vigorously oppose
it,"
1t is invigorating to read such strong.
clean-cut language upon the tariff and
the iniquities of McKinleyism and Ding
leyism There is all too little of such
plain and forceful words in support of
time-honored democratic policy There
has been rather disposition, in some
quarters lately, to handle the tariff with
the softest gloves, or to 'let the tariff
wait until we settle the money question. >"
In other quarters there has been dis
position to engage in a scramble for pro-
lection pie" Senator Ca4fery's letter
should serve as a bugle call to democrats
to get together under their old banner
and tight their ancient and greedy enemy