The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1870-08-16
Radical ExpOunders O0 the Tariff
--"PractiCsal Unity" with a Ven

Radical ExpOundersO On the Tariff
--"PractiCssl Unity" With a Ven-
geance.
Ii it be true that in union there is
strength it should be equally as true that
in disunion there is weakness. This be-
ing admitted the disclosures of the late
Radical Convention at Columbus made
it manifest that the Radical party in Ohio
is feeble TO llelplcssness. The President
of the Convention, Hon SAMBEL GAL,
towAY, in his address used the following
language in regard to the tariff:
Il know, as you know, there has been
a diversity of opinion expressed upon
this subject, but 1 say that the Union
party of Ohio is practically a unit upon
this subject of the revenue tariff APP
plause We do not foster the privileged
class. We struck down the monopoly
of aristocracy and all caste in striking
down slavery. [Applausel And we
are prepared to strike down every mo-
nopoly. We cannot fix burden upon
a class of people not shared by others.
The doctrine of the Republican party
is that the burdens Of the Government
ought to be distributed equally over the
country, and that all the blessings of
God. like the rain and the sunshine of
heaven, ought to fall on every man
! alike. fApplause
The platform Subsequently adopted
shows the practical unity Of the party
by adopting protective tariff platform
in the following jumbled language:
"Resolced, That a tariff for revenue
is Indispensable, and should be so ad-
justed as to be the least prejudicial to
the industrial and producing interests of
every class or section, while procuring
to The home producer fair competition
against the foreign producer"
But lest there should be some doubt
about the "practical unity" the Ohio
State Journal,- the official organ of the
Radical party in the State, thus expresses
the views of the division of the party
which it represents, upon the protective
tariff branch of its party platform:
"The third is the most extraordinary
achievement IN platform building we
have ever seen, and it is submitted as a
curiosity. 1t is protective tariff reso-
luton, with revenue tariff in its belly -
It asserts that "a tariff for revenue is in
dispensable," which is true, and good
If the resolution had then declared that
as revenIe was the object Of the tariff it
was the business Of Congress to levy a
tariff so as to collect such revenue in the
most equitable manner, so that injustice
should be done to no man in his person
or business, it would have said what all
would agree to, and would have made a
logical ending If it had even stopped
at the end of the second member Of the
reso,utiom with the declaration that the
tariff "should be so adjusted as to be
the least prejndicial to the industrial and
producing interests of every class and
section" it would have stated common
sense proposition. But the last h-ase
| is completely at variance with the rest of
the resolution. 1t states as one of the
objects of tariff, what is in no sense a
proper object of any tariff. A tariff is
a tax and its object should be the col
lection of revenue, and nothing else. 1t
has no more to do with the protection
of the home producer from competition
with the foreign than it has with the cir
culation of the Ohio State Journal. If
it is proper for government to foster
certain interests let it be done equitably
and fairly by paying them certain
amount on productions. Then all inter-
tests may share alike, under an equable
system, ,and we may know precisely what
we pay for the building up of pig iron
interest, or lumber, or salt, or what not.
And the collection Of taxes would be re
lieved from burdensome and perplex-
ing effort to do two things at once, which
are Of an incompatible nature"
The Journal then appeals from the
State convention to the district conven-
tions: but we suspect it will find itself
in a minority there, also; for thus far,
we believe, the Radicals have nominated
protective tariff candidates in every dis
tfict in which they have held conven-
tions. Among them is R. c. ScHENcK
the foremost and most ultra protection
ist in the State.
1t has surely now become apparent to
the dullest comprehension that the only
way to destroy this monstrous tariff rob-
berry is to vote the Radicals down. The
revenue tariff Republicans may remain
an impotent and despised minority in the
Radical party to the end of time, with
out accomplishing tariff reform; and
the sooner they adopt the only practica-
BILE means of bringing about that reform,
the better for themselves and for the
country.
Outrages on Negroes,