Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1871-02-16
POLITICAL HOROSCOPE OF ~

POLITICAL HOROSCOPE OF ~
1t is evident t. those who take close cog
nizancc of the signs Of the times, that
there will be a political revolution, pend
ing the next Presidential campaign. Re-
construction having become an accomplish
ed fact before that time, and that "a bone
of contention among politicians having
been disposed of, they will trump up some
other questions of national policy to keep
themselves in occupation. Finance and
the Tariff. the most tender and sensitive
nerves in eur political organization, will
claim, it is most reasonable to suppose,
the grave attention of u people. The
West, being almost exclusively an agricul-
tural people, will naturally fall in with
the idea of free trade, whilst the East, de-
pending, to a great extent. upon her man
ufactories. will demand the protection of
her industries against foreign productions.
The interests of the West will tend to
unite her people, regardless of past afili-
atoms. whilst the same result in the East
may be expected. In these two sections,
lies the strength of the nation both as to
population and wealth. Should the Re
publican party make a plank in their plat
form for 1872, in favor of the protection
of American productions, her gains in the
East, from the Democracy, will amply
make up her losses in the West.
The Democratic party having had to re-
linquish, by the memorable logic of events,
all their latter-day theories and principles,
have resurrected from the notification
grave of SO, the South Carolina heresy of
free trade. 1t is now the ghost of its
| chance in the next national campaign, the
spectral hope of its reinstatement in pow
err. 1t is highly probable that both of the
candidates for the next Presidency will be
taken from the West, and this will give
the Tariff candidate additional strength,
in that quarter, whilst accessions to his
support will be recruited elsewhere, on
account of self-interest. Free trade ne
cessitates direct taxation, which falls alike
upon all, whilst under the operation of the
Tariff, the consumer alone supplies the
e~xchequer of the Government. He who
rolls in luxury, and clothes himself with
purple and fine %linen," should bear the
burden of such needless extravaganza, and
not cast a share of the burden upon the
laborer, whose hard tolls bring but a mea-
gre livelihood, much less afford this con-
tinual ''feast of fat things"
Republicans need nave no fears in re-
gard to the tariff question. 1t has been
in successful operation for so long a time,
its workings so unnoticcable and unoppres-
sive, and at the same time, direct taxation
being the horror of horrors. the great mass
of the people will not desire any change
in the manner of raising the revenue
The most satisfactory method of support
ing a government is that which reaches its
subjects indirectly. or makes it a matter
of v~olition whether a man contributes to
its support. This fact has mainly given
to our own nation its stability, strength
and solidity. Heavy assessments and RI
gid collections have been the folly and ruin
of many a nation. Their people have only
liquidated these exactlons from fear ofthe
bayonet. A standing army have been as
necessary to the enforcement of the law as
rulers and legislators to make them.
Such has not been the course and policy
of our own government, and the politician
who dare, in the face of the people and all
the plain teachings of history and expert
ence, to advocate such measures, will be
deservedly condemned by a popular YER
dict. We believe the Republican party
will enter the lex contest as the exponent
of a Protective Tariff, and a success awaits
it that will be a glorious addition to its
former achievements.