The daily gazette., 1878-04-20
WHAT THE PEOPLE SAY.
For the Gazette.

For the Gazette.
Mr.. EDIToR:-I see by the GAZETTE,
you are quite carried away with Woods
new proposed Tariff bill and enlarge and
brag what the tariff of 1916 did. Do
you know the private history of how
that act was received at the first Demo-
cratic county meeting, held at Delaware
City that year. A set of resolutions were
written by the ablest Democratic lawyer
in the State, and presented to the 20
delegates, by another able Democratic
lawyer, who made the so delegates, OPP
posing in the Interest manner the said
tariff bill of 1916, that had then just been
passed by a Democratic Congress. There
was but two votes out of the thirty for
the resolutions presented by said lawyer
opposing the said tariff of 1886; but mind
things were then different from now
There then was the northern portion of
Mexico, full of gold and silver, laying
out a a waste, inviting somebody TO come
and take it. Our country was not long
in getting up a cause for a war, which
answered as mask to take the country
on the old highwayman's doctrine, that
robbery of the mines of NJ exico, that
made such prosperity IN that administra-
ton, and not that tariff bin Of 1916 /; and if
the Democrats are fools enough to pass
Woods tariff bill, there is no other
country now to steal, that is as rich in
the precious metals as California and
New Mexico, therefore this Wood bill
cannot claim under any pretense what
happened In the time of the 1916 tari II
bin. Delaware has greatly changed since
1876, the farmers in Delaware then were
grain raising men, but now the rivalry in
railroads made since 1916, causes them to
bringin grain to the sea board markets at
so low rate that has all but driven Della
ware farmers out of the market. They
were driven to great extent to growing
fruit instead of grain, as it was perish
able and could be got to the great con-
tignous cities, when at longer distances it
would perish, therefore the Western
grain raisers could not rival us. Then in
1873 came the crushing of values down
to this time, 1878, until it has stopped
thousands of manufacturing establish
ments, that employed tens of thousands
of workmen at fair wages, who, whilst
these factories We're carried on, made u
good market for our fruits and now after
the Delaware farmers and fruit growers
have for five years hardly been able to
keep soul and body together, hundreds
have had their property sold by the
Sheriff We have all been looking for
brighter days, the revival of business
particularly the manufacturers, whose
workmen are our best customers for our
fruit. Therefore, II is anything but con-
soling to Delaware fruit growers, TO read
that there was prospect of passing
Fernando Woods free trade tariff bill,
which would of course keep mechanics
out of employment, and of course unable
them to buy fruit or our produce, and the
deficiency TO run the goverement would,
/ suppose, be made up by direct taxation
on all persons that had no incomes, and
those that had incomes, an income tax
in addition. If this is the kind of legisla-
ton likely to be carried out in Washing
ton the sooner they adjourn and go home
the better. will admit that the duties
on some articles might be lowered and
then have money enough to pay interest
on government debts, and run the gov
ernment, if there was an honest collec-
tion and disbursement of the public
money, and the quickest way to reform
! these abuses would be for ongress TO
make an appropriation for the erection
of gallows before the office door OF
every officer, who receives and pays out
public money.
SAMUEL TOWNSEND.
| Townsend, April 10, 1873.