Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1880-12-16
THE DEMOCRACY.



reform the tariff abuses that have
grown up under the past twenty
years practice of the Republican par
ty of imposing such taxes for other
purposes than defraying the necessa-
ry and unavoidable expenses of the
general government.
Tariff reform is complex question,
involving many conflicting interests
of producer, manufacturer and con-
sumer, and there exist in both the
parties into which the country is di-
vided, advocates of extreme and op-
posite measures. As far as revenue
is concerned, the tariff and its refor-
matien are national questions; but
when it comes to protection, the is
sue is mainly local Most manufac-
lures are necessarily sectional, and
some products largely protected, as
sugar, rice, salt and iron ore, are
confined to limited territories. 1t is
only when protectionists combine
that their policies assume the appear
ance of national issues.
Heretofore it has been the prac.
tice Of the Democratic party to legis-
late on each import separately, but
during the late session of Congress 3
bill including many articles was sub
mitted to the House by its committee
on Ways and Means not receiving q
two-thirds vote, this bill could not be
taken out of its order from the Speak
er's table where it lies subject to the
action of the House. Now, public
opinion in regard to this bill is
equally divided. There is wide
spread sentiment that the great pros
perity of American manufactures is
due largely, if not altogether, to con-
gressional subsidies and the boun-
ties arising out of the existing tariff,
and another equally prevalent that
this prosperity is due not to the tar
if, but to the ability conferred on
farmers to buy and consume fabrics
by foreign demand for their pro-
ducts Which is the correct view ?
Upon the result of such an inquiry
depends the relevancy of the bill SUBJ
mitted to the House.
/ Of TWO things the country can be
certain, the present tariff was in o.
Grafton in 1873 and did not prevent
either manufacturers or their work.
men from being overtaken by as hard
times as have been seen in this coun-
try. 1t also existed without i'm
parting prosperity TO industry unit.
cur exports exceeded our imports.
From this 1t would appear that even
under the protection afforded man
ufacturers by the present tariff, there
can be no industrial success apart
from agricultural prosperity. II
what has been stated be true, and
and there can be little or no doubt oi
1t, the main thing to be considered
in tariff reform, apart from revenue,
is what will most benefit agriculture.
When once the operatives in factor
les are convinced that whatever in
jures farmers will prove detrimental
to them, the work of tariff reform
will be easily and speedily accom-
plished; convince them also, that ir
the present condition of industry and
: protection, capitalists divide theil
a earnings with them unfairly, anG
> they will not be hereafter as easily
? bulldozed, and desire for true men
/, who feel they have rights and dar'
maintain them, will not be SO gener
ally expressed by National Green
D back organs.
!, The bill submitted to the Hous
indicates also what a considerabl
u portion of the democracy in Con
gress regard as a tariff for revenue
g but even this bill, the best that coul
e be agreed on, is not wholly satisfac
= tory. If passed it will expose som
of the agricultural products of Dem
j. ocratic States to foreign competition
:. and therefore 1t did not receiv
y the support of their representatives
y bot for this, 1t would have been sus
h tanned by two-thirds and have bt
: come law last spring. Whether
d will be amended and passed, {
ia whether il will be unaltered and los
3, or sustained, if adopted at all throug
Republican assistance, remains to
seen.
N It is to be hoped that some SUI
!, cesstul tariff reform measure will |
<. agreed on by the Democracy tn
c. winter, since if that is not done, Il
Of Republicans will probably propo'
: :. some project in the next Congre
q that may not do full justice to agr
culture and yet be accepted by Il
country. In no event, under reve'
ue laws passed by either Democra
=. :, or Republicans, can the manufactu
.. ing interest suffer for want Of biz
Id imposts. We have, and shall ha,
or for an indefinite period, an emo
90 nous debt which, according to Der
=, ~ ocratic policy, ought to be pai
:. with its accruing interest, by meal
derived from impost duties. F
it, this purpose any direct system
lel direct taxation that could be d
e; vised would be out of question !; Pc
er pie would not stand it, and the pa
af tv alta mY,finc to havp recna,rae tn