The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1870-09-08

circulation to the destitute States o.
the West and South. 1t provided, al
50, for withdrawing twenty-five mil,
lions from the Eastern States anC
cities having a surplus, and distribu'
ting the amount thus withdrawn tC
the West and South. To take from
the banks their monopoly Of privil'
eges, and to prepare for a return tC
\ specie payments, it was provided that
banking should be free to all who
comply with the terms of the banking
laws, as soon and as long as they re-
deem their notes in coin, whenever il
is demanded. m
The bill passed the House of Repre-
sentatives by a vote of 100 to u. On
ly four Democrats voted for it. For
ty-four against it. / invite them to eX-
plain why they voted to continue this
monopoly of privilege with the East
ern banks, and to allow the New York
banks to continue to receive Interest
on their reserve. Perhaps it may
console these gentlemen 10 know that
their vote appears to have been ap-
proved by every stock gambler OF Wall
street, from the magnificent James
Fisk, Jr., to the humblest of the curb
stone brokers.
It is not necessary to detain you
with the record ofthe Democracy in
their solid opposition to the laws
passed at the late session for the en-
foreement of the 18th Amendment,
for amending the naturalization laws,
and TO prevent their violation by
fraudulent voting, aud all the similar
measures that so deeply concern the
success of that party i'm thesOuth, and
in the great cities of New York
and Brooklyn.
have now reviewed the leading
measures of the late session of Con-
gTess, and which the two parties We're
opposed, and confidently appeal to
the people for verdict as 10 the
comparative wisdom and patriotism
exhibited on each side. Now, as dur
ing the war, We see that the course of
the Democracy has been reaetiOnaFy
and obstructive, their policy negative
rather than positive, destructive Fath-
er than conservative.
e THE DEMOCRATIC PLATOON.
Turning from this view OF the
immediate past, 1 invite your atten-
ton to the doctrines put forth by the
two parties as platforms for the pres
ent campaign, / do not greatly value
party platforms either for their pOliti-
cal wisdom or truthfulness; but they
are instructive as records OF party life
and tendencies.
It may be Interestingly political an
tiquarians to observe that the two
leading paragraphs which form the
preface to the Democratic platform of
June last are copied frOm the resolu-
tiOns of the Democratic National Con-
vention of 1910, and it Is noticeable
that one of them which speaks ap-
prOYingly of the Declaration of In
dependence, is brought out again,
after a continued absence of more
than fourteen years from all conYen-
tiOns Of the Democracy. This is per-
haps the most encouraging feature of
their platform.
During the absence OF that para
graph the Declaration of Independence
was not in high favor with these
gentlemen. Perhaps its restoration
indicates that they will by and by adj
nit that its doctrines and promises
apply to all citizens, Of whatever race
or color.
The first resolution denOunces the
present tariff as a gigantic robbery OF
the labor and industry of the country
and favOrs a low tariff for revenue
which will closely approximate free
trade.
THE TARIFF;
On the tariff question neither Ofthe
great political parties is united.
Opinions vary all the way from free
trade to prohibition. 1t is also man
ifest that the question has assumed a
local rather than q party aspect.
Doubtless the majority of Democrats
are free traders, but all the Democratic
members of Congress from Pennsyl-
vania, save one, abjure free trade and
favor high protection for projections
sake. Republicans Of the Northwest,
and in the agricultural districts gen.
orally, favor a considerable reduction
of protective duties, and some are
avOwed free traders. Others, like the
Democrats of Pennsylvania, favor the
highest rates of protection for protec-
toms sake.
Now, before discussing this topic
further, I desire to make a statement
which will not be disputed. 1t is
this: For the present, we must an
nually raise by taxation for the pay
ment of interest on our public debt
about one hundred and thirty mil
lions in gold. Our expenditures for
foreign intercourse, and our payments
to Indian tribes must also be in gold.
No prudent man, therefore will say
that we can safely reduce our gold
revenues below one hundred and fifty
millions Of dollars. Our only source
of gold taxes is tariff duties, which
have produced All average of one hun
dred and seventy-five millions Of dol
lars per annum during the last five
years. By the law of July last, tariff
duties on the necessaFies of life have
been removed 80 as to reduce the an
uual receipts nearly to one hundred
and fifty millions. Now will these
Democratic statesmen tell us how
much lower they intend 10 reduce our
gold receipts? They declare for
GLOW revenue tariff" Shall it be low
at all hazards without regard TO the
necessities of the Government? Be
fore the late reduction, the receipts did
not average twenty per cent. more
than is actually needed to meet the
gold obligations Of the Government.
But, both before and after the re-
ductiOn, they denounce il as ga
gigantic robbery" 1 beg Them to in
form US how great reduction will be
needed to transform this robbery
into the Glow revenue tariff which
they promise? and to how low
point they propose to push the gold
revenue Of the Government? They
have given US but one INDIGESTION az to
their mode of reduction. They de-
mand that all the necessarieS OF life
shall be absolutely free Of duty"
VIII these gentlemen tell us what
articles they include among the
neeessaries of life? Do they iuclude
tea and coffee, and sugar? Certainly
not; for they voted almost unani-
mously against a reduction of twenty
and half millions of dollars on these
articles at thelate session. Do they in
clude boots and shoes, coal, and man
ufactures of iron and steel, cotton and
wool? Certainly not; for during the
long period of Democratic rule, before
the war, when the necessity for rev.
enue was vastly less than it now is,
the duty which they imposed on these I
articles averaged about thirty percent. /
aQ NQlOrem. lIdI WIS the GAttCt EaLe l
under the tariff Of 1916. Do they in
cInde beef, pork and fish, salt, butter
and cheese, potatoes and oats, wheat |
and flour, and breadstuffs generally, |
among the necessaries Of life? Surely I
not, for in the same tariff the rate on |
none of these articles was less than |
twenty per cent. What then are |
these "necessaries of life which they |
Will make absolutely free of duty % |
The fact is there never was in this I
country such tariffas they propose; /
and, in our present condition, there /.
never can be, if we mean to pay our
debts and support the Government. |
This utterance of the Democratic 4
party is full Of sound and fury, signi- 1
flying nothing. 1t is vulgar appeal I
to prejudice and passion, devoid alike !
of patriotism and sense.
The resolution Of the Republican I
State Convention on this subject is /
q compromise between |
two extremes of opinion, and is prob
ably not altogether satisfactory to
either. 1t recognizes the necessity of
revenue as the basis OF the tariff
demands that its details shall be 50 4
adjusted as to work the least hardship
TO industry in every form, and to
secure to every class Of producers not I