The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-10-31
ONLY ONE ISSUE
Grover Cleveland Says That Tariff
Reform Now as in 1887 Is
80. the Only Thing.
He Shows How the Trusts Have
Grown Arrogant Under the
Tariff Law.

Morristown, N. j., Oct. 31.---Former
President Cleveland spoke here last night.
Special trains brought hundreds Of people
from other cities and towns in this vicin-
ity, and Mr.. Cleveland was given an ova-
ton. He said:
II am especially pleased to learn that
tariff reform has been made the principal
issue in the canvass you have In hand.
Never within my experience has there
been a time when this should be more
earnestly. persistently and honestly
pressed upon the attention Of our country
mon than now. or course, customs duties
must continue to be the source of govern
ment maintenance until another plan Is
devised, but tariff constructed for the
purpose Of protection its chief object
is at all times and in every feature Of it
an unjust and unfair burden upon the
masses OF our people; but the bold and ar
rogant developments Of its unfairness and
Injustice in recent years. and the new di
rections they have taken. ought to espe-
cially arrest the attention and apprehen-
sion Of every thoughtful sOber-minded
citizen.
1T was not long ago that the democrat
&c party, in advocating the reduction of
tariff taxation to the revenue needs Of the
government, based its insistence largely
upon the right and justice of cheapening
for the masses Of our people the prices Of
the necessities Of life and withdrawing so
much protection from a favored few man
ufaoturers as allowed them abnormal
profits at the expense Of the great body of
consumers. But the exactions from the
people on account Of protection were made
in such a stealthy and unobserved man
ner, by adding them to their daily purcha-
ses, that it was difficult to impress upon
the consumers of the land the extent of
these eXactiOns.
while this process was going on, i'm |
ported articles not produced in this coun- |
try were charged with such high rates Of
duty as not only to greatly enhance their
cost to the purchasing consumer, but to |
create surplus revenue beyond its needs |
in the government treasury. This surplus
represented clearly and definitely small
proportion Of the unnecessary added ex-
pense Of the living of our people on ac-
count OF high protection; and it's aggre- |
gate was ascertainable, but the amount |
of the exaction thus represented was in
significant rs compared with the amount
which protection permitted our own man |
Ufacturers TO pocket from the consumer" |
The ex-president then related his Of |
forts beginning in 1887, to reduce the tar
If taxes to a more reasonable level and
the failure to accomplish this The pres |
ident continued:
II not here to speak of democratic |
misfortune or miscarriage, but to call at
tention to the unyielding tenacity Of high
tariff rapacity and arrogance and to the
manner in which they grow and develop
whenever they have an opportunity.
Sooner than they had the least reason
to expect, the friends Of the tariff or, In
other words, those who sought to grow
rich with government help at the expense
of the people, with their aiders and abet-
tors, had turned over to them the work of
again adjusting tariff rates. How did
they approach the task? Was it with a
patriotic intention to really benefit the
masses Of our people and make their bur-
dens lighter? This they would hardly de-
d clare without sly wink. Was 1t even
with the fear Of the people before their
eyes? Surely nothing indicates It,
ION the contrary they exultantly relied
upon their ability to delude the people;
they had not even yet learned to fear
them Their work was undertaken as
they would have entered upon privilege
to make the most of it. have heard it
said upon excellent authority that expect
ant benehciaries under the existing tariff
laws--made by It's friends-were actually
allowed to construct the schedule by which
they expected to profit. This was quite
in keeping with the color and complexion
Of the entire scheme.
II believe this last exploit of the So
called friends Of the tariff In it's revision,
should amply satisfy any thoughtful citi-
zen unbiased by interest that the spirit
OF O. high protective tariff grows by in
diligence and mocks what 1t feeds upon
and that it's progressive greed and ruth
leSSneSS are becoming more ana more q
menace to the welfare and happiness Of
our people. How long has 1t been thought
decent or even safe to cheat the consum-
ers Of coal by putting 1t on the free list,
but dishonesty providing for its custom
taxation In another cunningly constructed
provision Of the law?
1T was as plain then as now that high
protective tariff defends trusts against
foreign competition, and that by agreed
association and confederacy In production
and price they defend themselves against
competition at home. It was perfectly
apparent that under the broad wings of
high protection and fattened by unearned
accumulation they could compla cently
close their ears to the troublesome cry for
easier living from the everyday consum-
err. Is 1t not true then, that the en-
croachments Of the doctrine of high pro-
lection have been constantly progressive?
Is II not true that the heedlessness Of its
expectant benefcaries and their disregard
for the welfare Of the great mass of con-
sumers Is more and more impudently ex-.
hibited. and is it not true that to all other
reasons for a reform Of tariff laws
there Is added the birth and growth OF
their cruel and unmerciful progeny Of
trusts and combinations which stand
guard against all attempts to seek relief
In the field OF free competition?
Il need hardly refer to the prevalence
Just at this time among the supporters Of
nigh protection or declarations and pro-
LESSONS In favor of tariff readjustment.
We hear it on every side. What does it
mean? 1t means that they see the hand
writing on the wall as they have never
seen 1t before. Does 1t mean that they
are sincerely willing to do something for
the people against old comrades who
have heretofore paid well for the neglect
of the people?
How can we believe this when we see
still paraded up and down before our
sight the hoary headed, bloated and mall
odorous old fraud and pretense that the
tariff should be revised by It's friends?
What have these friends of the tariff done
that they should again be trusted?"