Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-05-24
THE EVENING STAR.
MONOAY....--.... May ~. 1850.


Letter from Senator David Davis.
HE DEFINES HIS POLITICAL POSITION.
Senator David Davis. Of Illinois, has written
the follow ing letter to Hon. o. IL. Browning of
the same state, in reply TO a set of inquiries en-
pubic questions:
washington, May IA. ISsO-My Dear Sir:
nave had the pleasure TO receive your letter OF
an honored citizen Of Illinois, you have a per
rect Tight 10 ask for my views on public QueS-
tlcns, and have no hesitation In expressing
scented.
peace in The Jnion.-Permanent prosperity
and fraternal fellowship are only TO be attained
ny sliencfng sectional strife. A faithful adhe-
lelce to the constitution and all the amend
ments. strict observance OF the laws In con-
Iorlhlly herewith, and equal rights and equal
protection for every citizen In every part OF the
republic, Will soon end the discords that have
700 long yeXed the country and injured its ma.
terlal welfare. The people are weary OF agita-
northumberland constitution wisely de
nnes the respective limits OF the federal and
state governments under a happy and harmo-
NOUS system wherein each is fndenendpnf in
Its appropriate sphere, and both operate con-
currently TO protect the integrity and stability
OF The Union. Any encroachment OF one on the
distinctive domain OF the other necessarily dis
locates the machinery OF the constitution, and
inv Olives danger TO the whole body polite In
I; ct, every departure from the great charter OF
liberty and law Is attended with peril. The
Cemand made by adherentS OF one OF the great
par les fer strong government means sub
siantially centralized government, destruc-
tive Of home rule In the states, and the very
reverse OF what Mr.. Lincoln We'll described as
government OF the people py the people and
for the people. Carried to its logical conclu-
sion, such change would finally overthrow
t e republic.
g. Tie Third T17R.-An innovation upon the
saI ctltled traditions OF the presidency FIRST es
tablshed by the example OF Washington IS
urgently demanded by powerful interest in
terms, heretofore universally accepted be de-
stroyed, the wa TO a Self-perpetuating presi-
depcy will be opened by the use and the abuse
OF the enormous public patronage. Break down
this barrier and an end OF the experiment OF
republican government looms up darlly as the
cost OF fatal concession.
'GleGt CtrpoiuttOnS.-The rapid growth OF
corporate power and the malign influence which
1t eXerts by combinations on the national and
state legislatures is well-grounded cause OF
alarm. struggle is impending In the near fu-
ture between this oyergrOwn power with its
vast qualifications all over the Union and hard
grip on much OF the political machinery, on the
one band, and the peol IL in an unorganized con.
ditfon en- the other for control OF the govern
menf lt VIII be watched by every patriot with
intense anxiety.
"Crn Seretce.-Neither laws nor commissions
created under them Will effectually reform the
many and glaring abuses OF the civil service.
The former have been constantly eVaded and
The latter are powerless for good. An honest
executive, bent on real and not simulated re
form, has abundant authority TO make Ii effect
i've every where II he has the capacity to see his
duty and the courage to perform IL.
Observation-Disclosures has demonstrated
that SUBSIDIES in any form are sources or cor.
ruption, and ought to be forbidden. Private
enterprises that depend for success upon legis.
lation procured by Venal agencies do not de-
serve public favor.
"PibItc LGIsds.-More than a hundred and
fifty millions OF acres OF valuable lands and
more than hundred millions OF dollars prin-
cipal and interest, have been voted by Congress
to railroad corporations. The remaining lands
should be Sacredly reserved for cultfvators OF
the soil, SO that the laooring man shall have a
Glance to Improve his condition, and TO open up
future for his children away from the seduc-
lions OF the great cities.
"Rerision Of NE Tn'if:-Tarin practically
| means taxation, and all taxation not equitably
adjusted Is odiouS. While the interest on an
| oppressive public debt, the pensions earned
with the blood of soldiers and sailors who fought
| ry1ng Oh the government are to De met, duties
| on imports must continue to furnish one of the
| sources OF revenue. SO long as those duties are
levied manufacturers will be benefited accord
ing to the degree or the mode In which the
| duties may be distributed. The existing tariff
| is regarded as confused mass OF incongruitieS
and monopolies, created by special legislation,
and open to constant fraud on the revenue It
| taxes the consumer heavily, on those articles
| especially that are most needed by the toiling
masses IttaxeseVery newspaper, every school
| book, every Bible, and the salt of the working
| man With gross Injustice, because the poor pre-
| tense OF revenue does not exist TO cover the
wrong. revision, therefore, which shall be at
| once searching and fair is demanded and Should
| be promptly and efficiently made.
| "The Public Debt.-The debt of the United
states, In round numbers, is two thousand mil
| lions, deducting the boarded coin in the
| treasury. The interest upon it last year was
over one hundred millions. These are appalling
| figures. The rap extinction of this debt Is 10
| be desired, first, because it would diminish
| present burdens. and for the additional reason
] that one of the effects of a national debt is to
| create preferred class to live on incomes free
| from taxes under our laws. Having the protec
| ton OF the government at home and abroad
| they would contribute nothing to its support
| "EcOnoiy.-It is practicable by cooperation
| between the Executive and Congress to reduce
| the pubic expenditures many millions annu
ally. without tmpairing the efficiency OF tne
reduction OF taxes, but it is also needed because
! properly administered, II would become potent
factor in reforming the civil service.
| EjectfOns.- The ballot-boX should be the
| safeguard OF the republic. for 1t is intended &c
| express the free will OF free people. Therefore
elections ought to be exempt from the preSenct
OF any menacing force and to be free from the
| contamination OF corrupt returning boards. NJ
| party deserves confidence that seeks ascend
! ancy by striking down honest suffrage, either
| by the use OF troops, by fraud, or by fntimida
any opinion upon measures pending or pro
posed In Congress. My votes Will speak fol-
themselves at the fitting time.
Having thus freely answered your INQUIRIES
! may add, In conclusion, that my support viii
re cheerfully given TO any candidate for Presi
dent who, in good faith, viii strive to carry ou
this general line of policy, which, In my judg
ment, is of far more Importance than the am
bition OF any man, or even than the success o
~ sS SI.s DAVIS,
"Roa. o. II. Browning, Quincy. lis
Stormy Session Of the Methods
General Conference.
session f1rac