The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-09-29
THE POLITICAL OUTLOOK.
From the Baltimore san.


THE POLITICAL OUTLOOK.
From the Baltimore Sun.
With the approach of the State and Con-
gressional elections this fall it is interesting
to note the attitude assumed by the two great
parties in different portions of the country
in reference to what are now fast becoming
the leading if not the only political questions
of the day-taxation and revenue reform.
There are marked symptoms in various
quarters of a determination to make the
popular voice heard upon these subjects,
which will not be put off or satisfied with the
cant phrases and empty platitudes with
which it has been the fashion hitherto with
professional politicians an platform makers
to stuff the party professions of faith. The
old catohwords are beginning to lose their
charm. The debates in Congress last
winter. if they bore little fruit that was good
and useful in action, were attended with
this advantage, as we pointed out at the
time, that they tended to diffuse infor-
nation nmopg the people in regard to
the manJer in which the finances of the
country were bungled and mismanaged. The
discussion of Mr.. Schencks tariff bill in par
ticular did much to open peoples eyes to the
designs of the monopolists and the extent of
the abuses which were being perpetrated under
the specious name of protection to Ameri-
can industry" Accordingly we now find in
the party platforms new ''planks introduced
in favor of revenue reform and q general
reduction of taxes. The movement is not
confined to one party. The resolutions upon
the subject adopted by the recent State con-
vention of the Democracy in Iowa find almost
their literal counterpart in those of the
Republican State Convention in illinois,
Among those adopted by the latter we find
one expressly declaring that Congress has no
rightto impose taxes Except for the mainte-
nance of the Government, the payment of
its debts and the promotion of the general
welfare, and that it is especially wrongful
and oppressive to senact revenue laws for
the special advantage of one branch of bus-
ness at the expense of another" In the State
of New York both the Republican and Demo-
cratic conventions adopted resolutions in
favor of revenue reform. In Missouri where
the contest turns chiefly upon local issues,
and where the Republican party is divided
upon the question of removing the political
disabilities by which large class of citi-
zens have been oppressed since 1865, the
liberal and progressive wing of the party
represented by Senator Schurz, and which
has nominated ex-senator B. Gratz
Brown for Governor, in opposition to the
'proscriptionist" candidate, Governor Nc
Clurg, has also adopted resolutions in favor
of tariff framed SO as to produce such
revenue as will enable the Government to
deal equitably with the public creditor, and
at the same time admit of O reduction of
taxes. 1t is true that this wing of the party
does not enjoy the support of the adminis-
tration. It's views in regard to the tariff aud
taxation may not suit Secretary Boutwell,,
who is in favor of large monthly surplus
of revenue and likes to keep big pile locked
up in the treasury vaults. letter has also
been published, purportingt to befrom General
Grant to an Office holder in st. Louis, in which
N1oD Dxac, ,In,,I Inlna kCal., .
with the bad men who, by abolishing test
oaths and disabling laws in Virginia and Ten
nessee, threw those Statessinto the hands of
the conservatives-really, we may say, into
the hands of their own people. In spite,
however, of the cold shoulder of the admin
istration, Senator Schurz confidently avows
his expectation of carrying Missouri in favor
| of enfranchisement and reform by twenty
thousand majority, and has challenged his
| colleague, Senator Drake, to a Joint discus
| sion throughout the State of the issues in
volved in the canvass
| These are all favorable indications of the
| growth of a healthier tone of political feeling
and an increasing disposition on the part Of
| people generally to substitute for the old
| backneyed, worn-out issues of former con-
tests, the living practical questions of the
hour. 1t is natural, too, that the signs of
this popular awakening should be most
| growing, agricultural West has suffered
peculiarly from the fetters imposed upon her
energies and interests by the sort of two
penny legislation in financial matters which
has been in vogue at Washington. The only
marvel is that she should have borne the
burden SO long.
To Judge from the present outlook, it
would appear therefore that the class of
''revenue reformers" will be far more nume-
rous in the next Congress than in the present
one. Even the New York Tribune and other
avowedly 'protectionist" journals admit this.
Some sanguine ''reformers" even count upon
a majority. 1t is only to be hoped that, in
any event, those who have assumed this name
will not destroy the prestige which attaches
to it and ruin good cause by rushing wildly
into the opposite extreme of the wholly theo-
retical and impracticable crotchets of the
free-traders. The middle path will be found
here, as in many other things, the safest, and
| the policy which aims to reform, not to sub
vert, will be that which will secure the largest
measure of popular support, and the only one
which will bear satisfactory fruit in the end.
These are indications, we repeat, of popular
movement in favor of such policy which is
not confined to either party, but has found
expression and representatives in both.