The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1870-04-21
SPEECH ON sorx.ssE0B 8 sTEPHEN-
- s0N az y 5fft. 4; 1;45sTFK.

Second Ohio District in the Federal
House of Representatives, on the 18th
and 18th of last month, gave the Pro-
tetcionists qnite an oratorical shaking
up. He is Republican of the most
orthodox kind touching the Negro,
but favors Greenbacks, opposes high
Protective Tariff, wants a reduction
of taxation, and does not believe Ben.
Butler the embodiment of all the
manly virtues. From his speech on
the Tariff, we make the following ex-
tract and commend it specially to the
attention of our Republican readers:
ssI propose to address myself di-
rectly to the question which interests
my constituents and the people at
large the reduction of taxation.
That is the practical object. And we
represent practical people-a people
who now need and demand and i'm
lperatively require at the hands of
their Representative large and lib
eral reduction of the burdens of tax
alton. And why should not the peo-
pie have a reduction of these burdens !?
Did any people pay such enormous
revenues for the salvation and suste-
nance of q Government as the people
of the United States of America have
paid within the last ten years? Our
i admirable Treasurer, in bis report of
last year, gives us, on page s, the sum
of the payments from the Treasury of
the United States for the years 1861,
1862, 1868, 1864, 1866, 1866, 1867, 1868,
and 1869, and the grand total amounts
to S8,6s5, ,767,779 Sc.
/ at is true the, whole of this vast
sum has not been paid in taxes direct
ly by the people. We are to deduct
the amount of the increase of the debt
from 1861 to 1869 but after deducting
this amount there remains, as the sum
representing the payment of taxes'by
the people in that decade, more than
six billions 9of money, more than
\ twice the outstanding debt. Thus this
patient and patriotic people have in
ten years expended of their treasure
over six billions of money, and in
addition poured out their life-blood
on the field, sacrificed their bravest
and their best for the nation, for pos
terity, for the race. And now ask,
if after they have done all of this it is
not time to give them some surcease
!, from their burdens?
"But where and how shall we re-
lieve them of the tariff? may be
singular in the position I assume to
occupy, that of a neutral between two
clashing sections of our parties; but
representing my constituents as con-
sumers, representing the people as
consumers of the articles embraced in
this bill, ask that we begin our re
duction with the necessaries of life
and raw material of manufacture.
And first, tea, coffee, sugar, those ar
ticles which cheer the spirit, strength
en- the frame, and crafty the palate OF
the masses of the people. They
enter beneath every mans roof, from
the marble palace to the thatched cabin
from the mansion of the millionaire
: to the freedman's humble home. Let
. us relieve the people by making tea
and coffee free. 1 am glad that the
Committee of Ways and Means ap-
preciate the feelings of the people and
begin with tea and coffee but they dc
not go far enough. These articles
should be free. The duties upon them
! are taxes upon the necessaries of life
They are taxes about equally levied
upon the rich and the poor and thai
is inequality. These taxes touch the
poor mans penny and the widows
mite. Remove them.
3 "I had thought that we might af
= ford also to have sugar free; but al
the revenue from that article is 81
large, and as Cuba appears to be com
ing under the flag, and when shC
e comes will solve that question for us
/, aim willing to relax somewhat m!
8 views on this question in favor of m,
It amiable friend from Louisiana. An(
It next we want coal free. AS we ar
/ told over and over again by the elo
e quent Representatives of the nobl
a State of Pennsylvania, coal is one o
n the prime necessities of life. Civil
> zation can no longer do without it. l
d is necessity for fuel. It is the sourc
r. of the power that drives machinery
% which represents more labor than tn
/. men who use it.
If eve are told that the duty on Goa
+ is not needed by its producers; tha
If Pennsylvania is at last able to do with
e out protection on her coal. lam gla,
to hear it. But may be asked, VIII
d shall we not let the tariff remain, t
Y, make our own producers the master
d of the market !? 1 answer, because W
le want no masters of the market. LIZ
" the barriers be broken down and le
r whoever come in with coal enough
a perhaps, to prevent anybody monop
If olizing the market. Perhaps they ca
d bring only that much, but that'will b
,e sufficient for a good purpose.
" "Then want salt free. 1t is wit
sr pain touch upon this subject, be
IL cause sit so near neighbor to m
j. estimable and amiable friend fror
IS New York, [Mr. McCarthy.l who's
1T heart seems to be preserved in sail
l. [Laughter.] 1 lam willing, however
to compromise with him and let hin
s. keep his protection on teasels, as
d bounty on their discovery by his en-
Is ferprising constituent; but entrea
- hin, To COT salt frea I NAV hp so,ne