, 1870-08-25
Revenue Reform as q Party Ques-
ff0ns

tton.
From H1rpsr's Week,y.
It ia proud fact that during the year and
half Of General Grants administration the
decrease Of the put Lie debt has been s156, 1885,
7si.M. Meanwhile, also, Congress hiss some-
what reduced taxation. But is the admins
tIation stronger, is the continued ascendency
OF the party surer for those facts And ii
not, what is the reason ?. Is it not that tile
policy Of reduction is not believed to be gen.
era1 and acknowledged party policy? The de-
bates upon the tariff, the action upon income
tc1, the declaration Of leading Republican
journals that the burden ought to be tempor-
ari1y borne. showed plainly enough that the
reduction was rather chance than policy.
Now, upon such subject at tlls time, no
party can hope to 9ucceed il it has not dis
tinct and declared principle. It cannot shuttle
and erade. Shutting is confuE,on. Evasion
opposition will, for a reduction OF taxes or
against it. -.
It is further desirable that this bo done,
because, after the action Of Congress upon
tho Presidents proposition to buy foreign
ships, every candidate for tho House must
satisfy his constituents as to his views OF
have two opinions npon that subject, " len
that sub bject is Of immediate and commanding
Importance. 1t is useless to say that tho
Democratic party also has no nnanimity upon
that point, because We ought not to depend
upon the folly OF tho enemy. Their action
tho immense advantage Of protesting only !;
they cannot be tried, as re are. by practice.
Every faithful Republican wishes to be
juet to the general patriotic purpose Of the
late House Of Representatives. But every
Republican member Of that House, looking
calmly at the proceedings and result of tho
last session, must doubt whether, upon the
whole, its action Was an advantage to the
party. 1t is conceded on every side that the
Democratic party Will largely increase its
force in tho next House. And what was the
reason Of tho discord Of this last session, and
Of the party dissatisfaction with it's resultss
Il is very. p1ain. It is that the House was
dealing with questions for the consideration
OF which it was not elected Conseaucntly its
| last act was the extraordinary ono to which
We go recently alluded rs so significant. II
| refused to approve the Recommendation ol
the President to enable the country to take 3
proper advantage Of the opportunity opened
| By the war in Europe.
Now, tho Republican majority in the mex
House will be smaller, and il, upon 30 vital d!
subject as the general financial policy Of tht
country, it has no opinion, OF has two yer,
positive opinions, the Democratic majorit!
| will control legislation, and the Republican
expect, il that will be the case, that tho coun
not know what it thinks upon the grayess pub
lie questions. It does not seem to us poasibl,
to avoid the necessity Of plain speech in th
Ealty platforms. It certainly will DO 1mpos
sible for Congressional candidates who hop
to be elected. And the party leaders shoul'
have learned that Of I'LL policies tinidity an,
obscurity are the worst When the rebellion
was laundering at the government aud coun
try, tho Republican party did not fa1ter. I
called ] rebel, rebel; and d copperhead, cop
fperhead. It laid heavy taxes; it decreed
DRIFT; it abolished slavery. No party eve
did a greater work moro gloriously-
All this is not to be forgotten, On the con
trnry, it is to be psrpetually remembered 10
instruction and inspiration. The party tn
umphed because it had paramount purpose
to which every member WAS unsWeryingly dc
voted. That purpose was plainly declare
and fearlcssly pursued. It is the secret G
political success. But are We not becoulin
tinid, and therefore feeble? In the appre
honsion Of losing tho support OF this interes
or of that, are VIC not compromising the G:
eenlial conditions of vietorye The want Of
unanimous policy apparent in the action c
Congress las placed Us somewhat at disat
vantage. But an appeal to our old Giorie
immortal aa they are, will not restore then
We were the men for that day. Are we til
mon for this? Let us prove it By shown
the same vigor, the sAme sagacity, the san:
devotion. The past il never enough Eve
Marathon could not save Mittiades.