The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-04-30
Revenue Reform.

-N~-ON--'
What will be the fate OF the Tariff bill is
not yet certain, but there is no doubt that
the revenue reformers in Congress believe
that the injustice of the present tariff, and
the odious attempt to make it still worse,
will give them ground enough to move on
in their battle next fall. For, though the
Schenck bill may be defeated, it's authors
will not be able to avoid in the canvass the
odium of the extortions which they have at
tempted in it.
The present Congress was, when it was
elected, or when it first met, more yehem-
emily protectionist than any of its predeces-
sors; but its members have felt the immense
and wonderful changes which have taken
place in the opinions of the country on this
question The rule of the pig-iron interest
is broken; Pennsylvania threatens where
she used to command, and Pennsylvania
threats begin to he laughed at.
The Washington correspondent of the New
York Post, writing from Republican stand
point, sketches the situation in these words:
ga meeting of leading revenue reformcrs in
Washington from all parts of the country, eX'
cept the Southern States, has shown to those
who took part in it the strength Of the revenue
reform movement, and has surprised many
among them. The persons present at this
gathering were for the most part Republicans.
To question asked OF the Western Repubu-
cans, whether they would support revenue re-
formers for the next Congress, regardless Of
party ties, the answer came, immediate and
positive, that the question was irrelevant, be-
cause in the States of Illinois, Missouri 1ndi-
ana and Iowa, the Republicans would nomi-
nate no one who was not distinctly pledged to
revenue reform.
sin the New England States the strong hope
for revenue reform rests on the feeling OF the
leading manufacturers themselves, who see
that while the market for their products has
been narrowed, the price ofthcir raw materials
has been largely increased by the monopollst
tariff; and see, moreover, the Schenck bill
threatening them with still further cXactions
and determinations. The wool manufacturers,
for instance, representing fifteen millions OF
capital. who, under the lead of Edward Harris.
have signed protest against the wool tariff,
will not full to put this question into the iall
canvass; so will the paper-makers, who see
the duty on their raw material, jute butts, in
creased by the monopolists; the boot and shoe
manufacturers, who are denied cheaper hides;
the edge tool, bolt hinge and cutlery manufac-
trrers, who see themselves robbed by in
creased duties on scrap iron and steel, have
learned that they are not safc from ruin unless
they ioin the revenue rcformers in defeating
the monopolists.
GAS for such States as New York and Ohio,
the cause Of revenue reform need not fail
there; and indeed cannot, for tho few votes
needed to turn out the monopolists, or at least
most of them, representing those States in
this Congress, are already secure.
ssObscrve that Schenck and Bingham, the
leaders of the protection robbery of the poo
pie, hold their seats by less than five hundred
votes each. A change of two hundred and
fifty votes In each of their districts will drive
them out, and put revenue retormcrs in their
places. Who that knows how opinion has be-
come enlightened among the people during
the last year on the subject, doubts that these
men arc serving their last term In Congress
If the Republicans renomlnatc them, they will
give the districts to the Democrats.
sin the twelve Ohio districts change of six
thousand five hundred votes will send revenue
reformers to the next Congress, in the place
of the protectionists who now represent them.
1t is true, If the Republicans put up protec-
tionlsts the revenue reformcrs will be Demo
Gratis; but if the Republican party becomes the
party of privilege and robbery, 1t must expect
defeat.
SIN New York eight members Of the present
Congress who are protectionists can be easily
turned out; and if the New Jersey Republicans
do not nominate revenue reformers, they will
next fall give these districts to the Democrats
who will.n