Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1870-09-08
Republicans and me Tariff.



Republican to urge what is called "reye-
nue. reform" We are as heartily as
ANYBODY for 'revenue reform" in ITS Just
and proper signifcotiou But when this
spccons cry, is made the cover for free
trade, when it is employed to conceal a
Tolicy of positive antagonism to Rcpuh~
lean principles, when it is thrown in SIS
an apple of discord to disuac, Rcpuhli>
can councils, when it is used as a wedge
to disrupt Republican forces, it must he
utterly discOuntenanced and condemned
! hv every fair minded man The Repuh-
lean party tol,ratcS the largest freedom
of opinion upon inferior and non-essen-
tial points, A unite upon the great car>
dinal principles, it allows the widest lat
itude upon those which are not vital and
fundamtn AL But the freedom Of the
mansion is not warrant for stabblng
the master Federation within the party
i not Justification for assaults more
insidious than those from without Hap
nily there are very few who are disposed
toward such graceless perfiy The
New York EUepiag Post may urge that
candidates for Congress. whose notions
do not square with its own, shall lie
hoited or stabbed But the sentiment OF
the party everywhere will condemn so
gross an abuse of party association. and
so wanton a contempt for every higher
intcres
Their is nothing in the nature of the
question itself which justIies this eXag-
Grated elevation at the expense of ey-
cry other principle. And when We
come to examine the facts, this aggrc>
waited and undue estimation appears well
nigh rdicu Gus. The necessity for a
large revenue from imports Is undlspat-
ed The most tenacious advocates OF
free trade concele it, Their pet theory
is only the visionary dream Of some i'm
aainurv state OF blies, and not practice
al policy for application to the tangible
realities of the present How would
they make it available now? They are
themselves opposed to the rapid payment
of the debt They would thus leave the
burden of interest undIminiShed, rcquir-
ine more than hundred millions from
customs annually for years to come
| They are equally strenuous in demands
ing TIE reduction OF internal taxes
How, then, are they, even upon their
| own showing, TO have free trade, or any
approach to free trade, for the present
| The contamination is an utter lmp0ssl-
bilitv. We say nothing here OF the
question Of protection as distinct from
That Of revenue. The Republican party
is in reality party OF protection, til
holds that policy sound in itself and vim
dictated Nv oar history. But for the
present argument, it is unnecessary to !
enforce it upon it's own merits. Free
trade, is a simple impossibilty. The ma
tional debt OF more than two thousand
millions, removes the doctrine OF free
trade, or any radical modification ct the
tnriA, from the region ofprlCucal debate
to tie airy realm Of abstraction.
All our experience has shown that it !
is cheaper, more popular, less oppreS'
siye, less percepdbIe to the pockets OF
/ the masses to collect revenue by the !
method Of du les upon imports than 10y |
the method Of direct taxation, 1t Is pro /
posoa. however to raise al our revenue !
IN this way. But, on the cher hand, it |
Is not tolerable that it shun oil be |
raised by internal taxation. The free, |
traders themselves, in fragrant and |
amazing disregard alike OF their oWn
/ theory and Of the actual situation, are |
clnmorous Cor the reduction OF taxes -
/ The whole of this question Of revenue |
reform resolves ITSELF thcn into the !
sinpc question Of reducing the custom
duties m the aggregate, by few MILL
1 ions. nor. or Less The crusade against
/ alledgad monopolies, means only som3 ,
4 reimbursement Of tariff duties, and no' |
their material reduction. The so-called |
revenue relormers, the iree-traders
I themselves would not dare TO strike oil |
any considerable portion OF the revenue. /,
And this little question, some men who !
pretend to be Republicans would make !
/ the whole pivot Of purity fidelity the
very turning point Of support or rcjec,
ton We do not dispute their Repub-
hcunism, but we are Warranted IN say
ius that when they make it dependent
'upon such points, it hangs by a slender
thread,
80 far ns real "relorn is concerned,
the Republican party has shown its title
to confidence and support The Repnb-
/ lican majority Of the present Congress
vas elected without any reference to this
question And yet it responded to the
rising popular demand, ike the true
representative It IS