Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1859-02-23
e.. ID. MURRAY, Editor.
ID. G.. ZAERGl, Publisher.
WEDNESDAY. FEBRUARY %. 1859.
TIE OPPOSITION AND THE TARIFF


The Opposition press in this State are con
etantly proclaiming their party to the world as !
the advocate of !. high Protective Tariff They
evidently wish to create the impression that tlle
"hiSh tariff doctrine is a plank OF their pat
form. and that the members of their party IN
every State of the Union endorse the doctrine :
But this is all clap trap. intended TO deceive the
voters of Pennsylvania. The Republican and
Know Nothing parties never have been and
probably never vii! be the advocates Of a high
protective tariff and man may be member III
good standing'' Ct either organization, and All
vocate the abolition Of the tariff, and recommend
8 resort to direct taxation in order to procure
sufficient revenue to support tbdb general govern
rent. We need only instaHco David Wilmot,
one Of the apostles of Black RopubicanisEn, who
Il the advocate, nay, one of the ori8lnators, OF
the free trade doctrine. y. P. Banks, another
prominent Opposition leader, while Speaker OF
the House of representatives; ;-adTocated the 1@T-
II in force at the present time-a portion Of
which is SO Justly odious 10 the people OF Penn
svlvania. In order to lay some further proofs
before our readers of the two Glced' position Of
sae Opposition with regard to this question, we
clip the following article from the Harrisburg
Patriot s. Union
As far as the Republican representatives Of
Pennsylvania i'll Congress are concerned, we DO
not question their sincere desire to procure
modification of the tariff at this session. But II
is manifest that other portions OF the Republican
party would rather the question would remain
open that the finances and the Administration
may be embarrassed, and some little capital laid
by for the next campaign. Look at the position
of the Republican party IN. New York, the great
centre ana bulwarK Of their power, The leading
organ of unadulterated Republicauism, the New
York Erening Post, is openly and bitterly oppo-
sed to modification of,the tariff, the rather
favoripg progress in the other direction towards
absolute free trade. The New York Times,
another leading Republican organ, whose columns
are daily overtlowng with tie most malignant
personal attacks upon the President, Is doing all
in its power to thwart modification Of the tar
if in accordance with the Presidents recOIuInen-
dation. That paper regards 1t as ''eZtremely
satisfactory to find that the country is not TO be
subjected TO sudden and transient change in its
commercial regulations, for the sake OF covering
the financial deluquencies and incapacltY OF the
Government" This Congratulation simply means
that, if no change is made in the tardf, the imam
eaal embarassmenLs OF the country can be set
down to the account Of the Administration. and
used to overthrow the Democratic party. The
Times even thinks that it would be better to run
IL deht-that IS, better for the Opposition-than
TO alter the present tariff. 1t says:
at is infinitely better that these expenditures
should be met by appeals to Congress, in the face
of the nation for such loans, than that they shod
be betrayed, even in part, by conspicuous al
teraton in the rules to which our commerce has
gradually conformed itself, and which cannot be
oyerthrown IN tie present feeble and tentative
condition Of commerce, without serious emOarass-
Inent to the mercantile world. While the Gov
eminent is forced to borrow, II viii also be for
ced to explain the reason Of its borrowing, and
il must not be allowed to help itself out Of diff
culties of its own making by hindering everybody
else, and disturbing the currents Of private en-
terprise
Here we have direct evidence that at least two
Of the leading Republican organs Of New York
city are using all their power and influence tc
prevent any alteration in the revenue laws; anc
yet Republicans would pursuade us that thei
party is a unit in favor OF an increased revenue
and incidental protection. That the Domocrah
party is divided upon this question. we hav
daily evidence, but it is equally true that di
versity ofspinion exists among members Of th
Opposition, which would be more cOrspicuou
than it is if that party was in tie majority, an
forced to shoulder the responsibility Of any alter
stions made in the tariff