Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1907-04-03
TARIFF TO THE FORE
MIR. Cleveland Declares 1t The
Fundamental Issue

rHhuamentaI Issue
The New York Times published
an Interview with former Presi
dent Grover Cleveland, in which
he is quoted as saying:
"It behcove Democrats TO lose
no time in bringing TO the front
the issue of tariff reform and in
focusing the attention of the coun-
try upon it.Tariff reform is the issue
that will clarity the atmosphere.
so!idify the friends Of Democracy
ana bring victory to the party"
In these words former President
Cleveland POINTS cut his concep-
ton of the duty and the hope OF
the Democratic rarty in the next
national campaign.
TIE Sage of Princeton opposes
the impulsive denupciation of the
dsy which Is without a true con.
ception Of cause or remedy.
There 10 much CT the neture of
delirium," Mr.. Cleveland is quot
ed 0s saying, "in the popular
outcry against railroad corpora
tiore, for instance. We shall al
be athan ed cfit by end by. l dare
say | have some reason TO know of
the real iniquities OF corporations,
and | do know them, but there is
much that is not only groundless.
but wrong, in the cffhand attacks
made on the railroads by thought
less persons on all hands. What
lie well founded in them will be
cured, but the craze of denuncia.
ton will econ pass. We shall re.
feet that railroads are vitally re.
lated to our prosr Gritty, and that
to attack them needlessly 10 to at
tack ourselves. 1t is not the stock
Ct soul!ess millionaires, but the
property Of citizens, OF widows
and orphans, whose sa"ings are
invested in railroads, that is being
damaged. We shall recall what
railroads have been and are still
to be In the development of our
country, and this craze will pass.
"Of course, there must be some
form of governmental supervision,
but it should be planned in a quiet
hour, not In one of angry excite.
ment.
popular eur otions follow pecu-
liar laws. The psychology OF
craze is most interesting. The
temptation Is well-nigh irresisti. !
BILE to do what We observe our
neighbors do. If they begin to
throw stones, we hunt for missiles
ourselves.
"The railroads have had hard
time lately. Every mans hand 10
Against them. Wherever . rail !
road head 10 to be seen it lie cafe
ard amusing to hit it; its owner
has no friends, There are some
pretty big difficulties before rail.
road managers just row. Before
long We shall have a crop to move,
under psrplexities greater than
those of last year. And the In
creasing production OF the country
will increasingly embarrass the
But lave faith to be
lieve that whenever a thing must
be done Yankee wit and pluck will
hnd way in it," added Mr., Clsve-
land with u smile.
cit behooves Democrats to lose
no time in bringing to he front
the issue of tariff reform and in
focusing the attention of th' coin
try upon it. Tariff reform is the
issue that Will clarity the atmos-
phere, solidify the friends of
Democracy ara bring victory to
the party.
81 carrot believe that 1t is be.
cause the reform of tie tariff has
been { special interest Of my own
lifelong thought and conviction
that de-m i. the reforn the Dem.
ccracy must force. Nor do l L0ld
tits opinion becarse We have wen
cor victories in so large d,g.ee {
upon its merits.
"Dcubtless tie QeeFsicn which ,
he press keeps so persstently be. :
lore the public attention and in L
Thich there is indeed keen pcbic
interest are urgent and important.
They nust be nat and solved. They / {
vii be solved by common sense
md justice, ! am no friend of 8
corporations, Mr.. Cleveland {
'miled. nm afraid ] should wITe i
'ut the possibility Of the existence j
If the evil ones, but | see in the |
question us to whether railroad I
ares should be 8 cents or 2 cehts I
! mile no great principle. d
at is tine to end tie farce. ard
he conscience ana braia Of the =,
ration, now, after its century of =
Internal development, rulsing with :
realizing eense OF It's call to :.
higher life, will respcnd-depend =
Ipon ito the demand to .
brow of this barbarous supersti- :,
ion of industrial isolation ard
lady, confidently take its true :,
lace in the industrial scheme Of q ;,
vell-crdered world, !;
$50 confident am l, for one, CT :,
he success thut would follow the .
orcing TO tie front by Democrats
I the tariff reform issue that / pm
IL E. u