The weekly Panola star. [volume] (Panola, Miss.) 1857-1881, 1870-07-02

II is becoming q matter of grave doubt,
whether the present Congress will afford
the country any substantial and adequate
relief from the exactions Of the Ubiquitous
tariff, under which all our commercial and
industrial interests are groaning. The
condition Of public sentiment or the tariff
question is so well understood, however,
that it is probable there will be something
of an effort to satisfy 1t, by the passage OF
some one Of the short bills which are now
pending, and which will effect q large re-
duction in the duties of q few leading ar
| ticles, and somewhat enlarge the free list.
This will be q sort Of tub thrown TO the
whale but we very much mistake the
sentiment of the country, il 1t will be sat-
isfed with anything less than a complete
revision of the whole tariff, a liberal re-
duction of all duties, and a proper adjust
ment of the tariff on all dutiable articles,
in order that all interests may be made to
bear their proper proportion Of the Gus
toms. Congress has nov been in session
six months and has literally accomplished
nothing, and cannot with any propriety
adjourn until II has placed tariff, taxa
tion, and finance matters generally, upon
a satisfactory basis There is a partial d.
vision of sentiment among Republicans
on the tariff question, and consid-
cradle wrangling among them as
to the meaning Of the resolutions
on tsriff matters, passed by their national
conventions. We will not undertake to
interpret their platform for them, but if
there is any justice in considering the &C.
ton of a political party for the purpose Of
!, discovering its true position on any
question, the fact that the Republi-
{ can party is a high tariff party, and
| that, when forced TO a plain and une-
, quivocal declaration Of its position, II
I will SO avow itself, Is scarcely open to
: dispute. For the present tariff, with all
! its odious and oppressive provisions, and
/, al its demorslizing and paralyzing effects
: upon the commerce and industry of the
!, country, Is the work of the Republican
party. In its support Of a high tariff, II
= has gone TO greater lengths, and pushed
( duties 10 a further extreme, than the old
Wing party ever dared to dream of. The
history of the Republican party In favor
Of the most extreme rates Of duty, is writ
9 ten in indelible characters. II that party
ever succeeds in closing the eyes Of the
n public to its past record On the tariff
question, which has been so conspicuous
IS and decided, 1t will only be by reforms o
d q more general and sweeping character
than any 1t at present seems likely to In
q augurate.
4 The Republican party cannot plead
i lack Of information as an excuse for no
q completing a revision of the tariff, for TIL
! report of Special Commissioner Wells
and the investigation of the House Com
. mittee on Commerce and Shipping, hay,
r given full information on the subject o
q the unequal and oppressive operation o
- the tariff laws, and the extent to which
!, they have embarrassed and crippled com
If merce and industry. 0fthe twenty thou
sand skilled workmen employed in AM
!. around New York q few years ago in tn
9 construction and fitting out of ships, no
one thousand are nov employed, and o
" the two thousand apprentices, not on
- hundred remain. Our iron trade is s
- crippled that the iron. masters Of Pennsyl
Is vania are seriously considering the ex
y pediency Of closing their blast furnaces
- The chief carpet manufactures of tn
" wholecountry have fallen into the hands @
y some five men only. The duties on tn
y materials which enter into the manufss
~ ture Of clothing are such as to rende
= high wsges--a mockery to the working
man. And the American flag, which use
Us to be SO prominent In New York, hs
r. given way TO the British cross, the re
n and gold Of Germany, and even the tr
Az colors of France and Italy. And yet thel
"a appears to be sn inclination to put Ii
country off with some halfway measur
and but for the Democratic minority
VS. Congress, II Is doubtful II the COUNT
OF could look forward to any relief whs
ever.-CRieace Dcaecrct JaRx s.
as -