White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1858-09-30
The Tariff Question.

Nothing is more certain than that our
Government is approaching a crisis at
which it will have practically to choose
between high tariff and direct taxation.
The remarkable talent for spending mon
ey, evinced BY the present Administration,
is tending to bring this question to a
speedy issue. We cannot forever live on
credit. A debt of one or two hundred
millions, which viii be the parting legacy
of the present dynasty, without an imme-
diate change in our revenue system, will
compel their immediate successOrs-un-
less previous remedy is found-to resort
to some practicable method of paying off
old scores and sustaining the government
on prompt paying basis.
This result is so clearly foreseen By all
who have given thought to the subject,
that many leading Democrats are already
urging an increase of the tariff, as the
readiest and safest expedient. They know
the unpopularity which attends the i1iea Of
direct taxation. They rightly perceive
that it would be the ruin of any party
which adopts tor, if more sanguine as
to the vitality of their party than they
have reason to be, they at least understand
that it must be Frustrated for years, by
such transition from one system to the
other.
The old Protectionist Democrats, see
ing what is coming, are already, as we
have intimated, on the alert. Democratic
agitators of the Tariff question are spring
ing up, and we shall not be surprised to
find good number Of Democratic Con-
gressional candidates Of the North East
mounting Tariff Platform, and endeav-
oring to make capital out of that issue
The old Wing party having been aban-
doned. that part of their ancient political
capital is heing appropriated by the De-
mocracy. Besides, in the changes Of
politics, number of the leading men in
the Democratic ranks, at present, are
Wing Protectionists of the old school.
AT the same time, many of the leading
Republicans are of the old Free Trade
Democratic stamp. Itwould be singular,
indeed, if, in the course of a few brief
years, the party now calling itself Demo-
cratic, should make Protection a leading
hobby in certain sections, { the South
might possibly consent to so much, on
condition of being allowed to take their
property" any where, in spite Of local
law and the Opposition party declare
for Free Trade. This. ofcourse, is hardly
a supposable thing. But the Democracy,
in some quarters, arc already clamoring
for Protective Tariff.
As an instance, we will only refer, now,
to the action of the Democratic Congress
sional Convention in the Sixth District
of Maine. One of the resolutions adop-
ted by that Convention-which of course
nominated a man ready to carry out its
wishes-declares that Gin performing the
delicate and difficult task of the adjust
ment of the revenue tariff to meet the in
creasing necessities and decreasing reve-
nues of the Government, it is the duty of
Congress to regard with equal favor each
section of the country and all its great
industrial pursuits, and that the people of
Maine have right to demand that her
agricultural, commercial, ship building,
and numbering interests shall not be over
looked or sacrificed" And, in another
resolution, they assert that in view Of
''the important interests involved in the
revision of our tariff, it is the imperative
duty of the people of this District, to
unite in elevating to the next Congress
man who has the will and the ability to
maintain their interests and assert their
rights"
That will do for a beginning. The
same indications appear elsewhere. In
due time, the harmonious Democracy"
will have this additional apple of discord
thrown into the very midst of their camp.
GIN. Gaz.