The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1872-07-12
The Question of the Tariff in our
National Canvass.

The Chicago Tnrs. the New Yorl
Evening Posi-. and some other of IN,
Radical free trade papers of the country
find il difficult to reconcile thcmsclve,
: To the idea ot seeing 4 President will
The pronounced views OF Mr. Greeley
ON 'hc question Of projection, clectc d
upon the principle laid down in the Gin.
cinnati platform To their mind il il
essential TO the future prosperity of the
country that the platform OF the parry
OF reform should contain an emphatic
declaration iu favor of free trade. and
that the pariys candidate Tor President
should bc an nncquivoca tree trader
The party represented hy these ultra
papers. though cminently respected i'm
character, is very small in numbers, and
never likely To rise to the dignity of n
serious disturbing element in our poll
ties. This condition of affairs is iiost
fortunate for the future well-bcinu of
the country. A party based upon the
central idea Of free trade, or protection.
or making either principle the leading
idea. must, of necessity, speedily resolve
itself into party of class interests
Men are governed in their political atfi-
liations, rs in all other matters, largely
by sclf-intcrest. The principle of free
trade, as it has heretofore entered into
our politics, has been considered rather
rs revenue question and few people
have given it that consideration and
careful study which is necessary 10 n
thorough understanding Of what it's adj
option as principle of our Govern
ment would result in. 1t has been Gus
tomary for Democratic Conventions to
declare, In general terms, against tar
Ill Tor revenue, thus cOnceding that the
raising ofrevenuc through tariff is al
most n ucccssity.
But now that parties arc, to u great
extent, being recognized :. old issues
having been left behind by the march of
events and the progressive spirit of the
age, and new ones springing up To claim
the public attention - this question OIL
tariff or 10 tariff thrusts itself forward
and demands at the hands Of the pcoplc
prompt decision as to what shall be-
done with it.
To our mind the ntterance of the Gin
clnnati Convention on this question has |
more the spirit of an inspiration than
the simple declaration OF opinion Of a
lew honest, earnest, patriot mon. 1t is |
in these words:
considering that there In our midst honest but
rreconcilabe differences Of opinion with regard 10 the
respective systems Of protection and free trade We
nit the discussion Of The subject TO the people In
their Congressional Districts. and the decision ~ Con
gress thereon wholly tree from Executive
or dictai lon"
by this declaration tho vcxcd and ycx-
ing question is removed from the ma
tional canvass, and all temptation to
make 1t an issue in q national elect ion is
and the whole matter is de-
ferrcd directly 10 the people in the cleo
ton Of Congressman. 1t is the province
OF Congress, the law-making power, to
determine all revenue question TINT re-
quircs careful consideration to wisely
determine and adjust. And it is u qucs-
ton that had better be deferred to the
legislative body, whose province it is TO
and determine it, rather than
attempt to settle it by au appeal to the
popular judgment.