The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1880-06-03
sENAToR DAv1s,s LETTER.

The admirable letter which we gave
in last weeks DEMOCRAT from Senator
David Davis, expressing in brief his
views on important questions, is worthy
of filing away for future reference. This
letter is worthy of more than one read
ing.
Senator Davis first touched on Peace
in the Union" saying that permanent
prosperity and fraternal fellowship are
only to be attained by St1enctag section
al strife"
The next topic is GENERALIZATION"
which he considers at this time danger
Gus to the liberty of the people. The
only safety is in each department of
government, as well as the National and
state governments, adhering strictly to
the Constitution, each within its proper
sphere. "The demand made by the ad-
herents Of one of the great parties for
strong government, means substantially
centralized government, destructive of
home rule in the states, and the very re-
verse of what Mr.. Lincoln well describ-
ed as a government of the people, for
the people, and by the people,"
On third term Mr.. Davis is short but
strong, saying it is "the way to a self
perpetuating Presidency and will lead
to the use and abuse Of an enormous
public patronage" Of course, this sys
tenn also NEAR an oppressed. taxridden
and enslaved people
Great corporations and civil service"
receive worthy and commendable
words. He speaks of the rapid growth
of corporate power" and their "malign
influence upon the National and state
Legislatures !" and says IAN honest Ex>
e%Cutive, bent on real and not stimulated
reform, has abundant authority to reform
and improve the civil service" No one
can claim, truthfully, that Grant or
Hayes sought to reform the service, and
the records of Congress show that Dem
ocratic efforts have been opposed by
Republicans in Congress as we'll as the
Executive.
Senator Davis says; Experience has
demonstrated that subsidies in any form
are sources Of corruption and ought to
be forbidden" He follows this by speak
ing Of Public Lands, and that more
than a hundred and fifty millions of
dollars, with interest, have been voted
by Congress to railroad corporations.
This subsidy business is monttrous in
every respect, and should Grant become
President, would again be a subsidy Elk
ecutive
On the tariff Mr.. Davis is sound and
expresses himself we'll, concluding thus:
$50 long as those duties are levied, man
ufacturers will be benefited according
to the degree or mode in which these
duties may be distributed, The exist
ing tariff is regarded as a confused mass
of incongruities and monopolies, Great
ed by special Legislation and open to
constant fraud on the revenue. 1t taxes
the consumer heavily on those articles
especially that are most needed by the
masses. 1t taxes every newspa-
per, every school book, every Bible and
the salt of the working men, with gross
injustice, because the poor pretense of
revenue does not exist to cover the
wrong. A revision, therefore, which at
once shall be searching and fair, is de-
handed and should be promptly and
efficiently made"
Mr.. Davis favors paying the public
iebt rapidly, so as to cut down the
'ne hundred millions a year interest,
wipe out the debt, and do away with a
preferred class who live on incomes and
ire free from paying taxes.
He says the Executive should co>op.
rate with Congress to reduce the pub
ic expenditures many millions annus
lily, which might be done, RetrenchS
nent is needed, for this would reform
he civil service.
Mr.. Davis's last topic is Elections
md his words are strong. "The cleo
ions ought to be exempt from the press
,nce Of any menacing force, and to be
rec from the contamination of corrupt
'eturning boards. No party deserves
confidence that seeks ascendency by
down honest voting, either by
he use Of troops, by fraud, Or by intimi>
1a4;on ~ 1