"Is it not possible to apply that general plan as follows: Divide, say,
all of the articles now upon the tariff list into three classes.
"(_a_) All such as are usually found in the typical American
homes--I mean the homes of those admirably called by Grover Cleveland
the 'plain people,' who are just the same class, I believe, as those
indicated by Abraham Lincoln, when he said, 'God must greatly love the
common people, for he made so many of them'--and put that list of
articles on a free list or a severely tariff-for-revenue-only list.
"(_b_) Create a second division composed of all the articles of
luxury. Put upon them the very highest tariff they will stand and yet
come into the country, except in the case of articles of antique art.
These latter should be admitted free.
"(_c_) Keep upon all other articles now in the tariff list the
actual duties for the period of one year, but after that period and the
actual imposition of the proposed new tariff I am discussing shall have
begun, put all the articles involved in Class _c_ upon a
tariff-for-revenue-only basis, so constructed as not to break down the
standard of the American workingman's living."