The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-11-05

terance of Twenty Years Ago; "The
Right of the Government to Exact
Tribute From the Citizen is Limited
by Its Actual Necessities" More
Than This is Robbery.
By the Associated Press.)
n. j., Nov. 4.-Before an
og the vast hall in which
FLOWING, ex-President
Cls> alivered his second
speech esent Presiden-
tial campal ok as his subject
the tariff ana ,rowth during the
last twenty years and the rapid null
tiplication in the number of trusts
under its fostering care. He said:
CLEVELAND'S SPEECH.
1t was twenty years ago almost tc
a day that l appeared before d New
ark audience charged with the respon-
sibihty of my partys Presidential
candi dacy. The Democratic platform
in that campaign denounced the Re-
publican party for having failed to
relieve the people from crushing war
taz es, and declared that unnecessary
taxation was unjust taxation. This
platform also promised that, if entrust-
ed with the control of the govern
nent, 1.-The Democracy would purify
the administration from corruption,
restore economy. revive respect for
law, and revise the tariff in spirit of
fairness to all interests"
II was in support of such plat
form and in obedience to the prompt
ings Of DemCcrltic impulse that l said
on that occasion:
''The right of the government to
exact tribute from the citizen is linn
lied by its actual necessities; and
every cent taken from the people be-
yond that required for their protec-
ton by the government is no better
than robbery"
How They "Reformed'' the Tariff.
We had then just been favored nitt'
a demonstration of the manner in
which The tariff was reformed by its
friends. In 1882 tariff abuses had be-
come SO apparent, and the amount
eXacted from the people by taxation
of imports was so much beyond any
necessity or justifica ton, that the Re-
publican party in Congress felt obliged
TO make a movement which would at
least appear to be in the direction Of
reducing tariff rates. A commission,
in the absolute control of Republican
prOtectionists. was thereupon consti-
tuted to manage the affair. Notwith-
standing the manner in which this
commission was constituted, its MEM
bers We're constrained by fear OF
shame or by both, to recommend a
reduction in tariff rates of from tWen-
ty TO twenty-five per cent Thereupon
certain selfish interests which had
such control of the party in power
that they had become accustomed to
demand and receive from its hands the
tremendous profits arising from inor-
dinate protection, were aroused TO the
most vIciot:S activity and made a de-
monstration of then control alike
hUmIiiat.ag to American patriotism,
a Screditing to our scheme of popular
rule. and iisgrGceful to the party
which surrendered to their dictation.
The recommendation of the comnlis-
sion were spurneI: and in the bill fl
nally passed. it is computed that the
average rate of duty on imports was
q, tualy incFeased, instead of being
diminished. That the consumers of
The land who then asked for bread
We're given d stone, is proof of the
futility of any hope for tariff refor!1a-
ton by a party tied hand and foot in
the bonds of sordidness and reckless
greed. Upon the evidence supplied by
this incident, it is incomprehensible
that the pretenSe should longer be
tolerated that none can be trusted to
justly relieve the people by tariff re-
VISION except the friends of radical
protection.
III was under the operation of this
disgraceful outcome of a delusive show
OF tarlft reformation by its friends
that the battle of 1884 was fought.
Inc average rate of duty on imports
lnen prevailing was something over
Iorty-fVe per cent: ard this rate the
people by their verdict at the polls
condemned as unnecessary and unjust
and denounced it's executions as no
better than robbery.
a Giant of Evil Today.
have ventured to remind you of
these incidents for an especial pur-
pose. desire TO direct your atten-
tlon 10 the fact that in the contest OF
twenty years ago the tariff then exist
ing was condemned because in and OF
Itself. without accomplices or vicious
associates, it was guilty of desnoiiine
our people in their homes. Trusts and
combinations did not then appear as
its confederates. If they existed at
all they were infant industries too
few and too Young TO be mentioned
in the platform of either cf the great
political parties, and too newly born
tC be the companions nf such other in
FAINT industries as though still: unwean-
ed. had actually grown gray at the
breasts of slnfully indulgent tariff pro-
lection.
The MULTIPLICATION of this new race