Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-11-01
EXPIRES. CLEVELAND
Speaks to a Whole List Of People at
Morristown, N. j.

Morristown, N. j., Oct. 31.-Formcr
President Cleveland spoke here, to-
night. to a political meeting held in
Lyceum hall. Special trains brought
hundreds of people from other cities
and towns in the vicinity and Mr..
Cleveland was given an ovation. Fol-
lowing the meeting was non partisan
reception to Mr.. Cleveland
Mr.. Cleveland gave his attention to tar
iff reform and by way of showing what
past and what methods had been employ
ed in combating the protective tariff,
quoted literally from an executive mess
age to Congress in 1887. which declared
that that the amount of money exacted
through the operation of present laws
from the industries and necessities of the
people, largely exceeds the sum neces-
sary to meet the expenses of the govern
ment
''Of course custom duties must con-
tinue to be the source of government
maintenance until another plan is de-
vised," he said. But a tariff, construct
ed for the purpose of protection as its
chief object, is at all times and in every
feature of it, an unjust and unfair bur
den upon the masses of our people; but
the bold and arrogant developments of Its
unfairncss and injustice in recent years,
ana the new ulTttIloIlS tnty nave tdheD,
ought to especially arrest the attention
and apprehension of every thoughtful,
sober minded citizen.
1T was not long ago that the Demo-
cratic party advocated the reduction OF
tariff taxation to the revenue needs of
the government. But the eXactions from
the people on account of protection were
made in such a stealthy and unobserved
manner, by adding them to their daily
purchases. that it was difficult to inn
press upon the consumers of the land the
extent of these eXactions. While this
process wa0 going on. imported articles
not produced in this country were
charged with such high rates of duty as.
not only to greatly enhance their cost 10
the purchasing consumer, but to create 4
surplus revenue beyond its needs in the
government treasury. This surplus rep
resented clearly and definitely a small
portion of the unnecessary added expense
of the living of our people on account of
high protection and its aggregate was as
certainable, but the amount of the eXac-
ton dues represented in significant as
compared with the amount which protec-
ton permitted our own manufacturers to
pocket from the consumer"
Continuing he said: II believe the las:
exploit of the so-called friends of the
tariff in its revision. should amply salts
~ any thoughtful citizen unbiased ny in
tcrosi. th:t The spirit Of high protective
tarft grows by Indulgence aud mo'k$
what il feeds upon: aud thar its proctes-
Svc greed and ruthleSsnesS ~ becoming
more and more a, menace to the welfare
and happiness of our people. How long
has it been thought decent or even safe
to cheat the consumers of coal by put
ting it on the free list. but dishonesty
providing for its custom taxation in an
other cunningly constructed provision of
the law? How recently have the friends
of the tariff had the holiness to perpet-
rate such a trick and take the chances
of facing the people, when in the painful
stress OF threatened coal famine it
should he exposed?
When the friends of the tariff last
took up the work of its reconstruction,
the trusts and combinations increased by
the hundreds The consequence of their
operation could not fail to be under
stood.
Mr. Cleveland said that there was moth
ing to warrant belief in the Republican
promises to readiust the tariff. How
can we believe it," he said. when we
still parade up and down before our
sight. the hoary-headed. bloated and
malodorous old fraud and pretence that
the tariff should be revised by Its
friends? What have these friends of the
tariff done that they should again be
trusted? They have quieted the peoples
fears and profssd solicitude for their
welfare and promised te lead them TO
pleasa MT places. and now that shoals and
rocks have been struck. they seek by an
other promise to mend the wnole analr
and retain the confidence ana trust OF
those they have deluded.'