The country is clearly opposed to any needless additions to the subject
of internal taxation, and is committed by its latest popular utterance
to the system of tariff taxation. There can be no misunderstanding,
either, about the principle upon which this tariff taxation shall be
levied. Nothing has ever been made plainer at a general election than
that the controlling principle in the raising of revenue from duties on
imports is zealous care for American interests and American labor. The
people have declared that such legislation should be had as will give
ample protection and encouragement to the industries and the
development of our country. It is, therefore, earnestly hoped and
expected that Congress will, at the earliest practicable moment, enact
revenue legislation that shall be fair, reasonable, conservative, and
just, and which, while supplying sufficient revenue for public
purposes, will still be signally beneficial and helpful to every
section and every enterprise of the people. To this policy we are all,
of whatever party, firmly bound by the voice of the people - a power
vastly more potential than the expression of any political platform.
The paramount duty of Congress is to stop deficiencies by the
restoration of that protective legislation which has always been the
firmest prop of the Treasury. The passage of such a law or laws would
strengthen the credit of the Government both at home and abroad, and go
far toward stopping the drain upon the gold reserve held for the
redemption of our currency, which has been heavy and well-nigh constant
for several years.

In the revision of the tariff especial attention should be given to the
re-enactment and extension of the reciprocity principle of the law of
1890, under which so great a stimulus was given to our foreign trade in
new and advantageous markets for our surplus agricultural and
manufactured products. The brief trial given this legislation amply