The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-10-19


gress, setting forth the condition of
affairs in Texas, under the present
administration, was presented and
read to the meeting by John l..
Hayes, Esq, which was referred to u
committee for revision, and directed
to be printed. -.
Arc There Distinct Political Prin-
ciples!
Extract from Judge Reagan's Palestine
Speech
The Independents, such as Col.
Jones and Edmund j. Davis and
Stillwell II. Russell-God save the
mark-constantly assert that there
are no political principles which DIS
tinguish political parties now, and
that, therefore, there are no political
parties. If this be so, why are these
gentlemen receiving the support OF
their old partizan associates? Why
is Col. Jones the candidate OF the
Greenbabkers, of the Republicans,
and of the Independents-the best
nominated man who ever denounced
nominations But are their asser-
tions on this subject true? Does
not every intelligent man know
them to be wholly untrue ?
We have but to read the plat
form of principles of the differ
ent political parties to see their un-
truths demonstrated. And this is
further demonstrated by the con-
stantly recurring struggles between
these parties in congress.
When congress met last December,
there was over 5000, 100000 of sur
plus revenue in the United States
treasury and there was very gen.
eral belief that the rate of taxation
might be reduced, and the present
burdens on labor and industry some
what reduced. Our exports
for the year were about
$800,OO0,O00; our imports were
about $70O,000,OO0; our taxed i'm
ports were not far from $500, 0,000, 900,
and the average rate of duties on the
taxed imports was torty-two and
three quarters per cent. If the taxed
imports were $500,000.000, with
duties at forty per cent, this would
produce gross amount of revenue
of 5000, 100000 a year. An investiga-
ton of state and federal statistics,
by some of the ablest statisticians of
the country, satisfied them that we
manufacture in the United States
not less than ten times as much as
we import. 1t the price of these
articles be increased as much as the
rate of duty on like imported articles
this would operate to transfer from
the consumers to the manufacturers
or producers of these articles, the
sum of about two billions of dollars
annually; but, to make the calcula-
ton safe, let us deduct one fourth
$500, 0,000,00O from this sum, and we
find one billion five hundred mil
lions thus transferred annually.
Now, allow that under a revenue
tariff with average rate of duties OF
% per cent, which is higher aver
age than any revenue tariff we have
had, and we shall find that the great
sum of $75O.O00, 0,0O0is annually trans
ferred, unnecessarily, and pure
ly in the interest of prOtec-
ton, from the toiling millions
to the protected few, not one
dollar of which goes into the gener-
al treasury ana thus, in part, we
may account for the colossal fortunes
which are being made by the favor
ed few at the expense of the general
public.
In view of the ;e facts, the Demo.
Gratis in congress, L mean the great
body of the party, sought to have
the tariff revised and the rate OF tax
alton lowered in the interests of the
general good. But a Republican
house and speaker and strongly
Republican committee on ways and
means would not allow this to be
done; and as a means of delaying a
revision of the tariff they proposed
a tariff commission which should be
charged with the duty of collect
| ing information and reporting to
congress. This was done on the inn
piled admission that congress was
not qualified to revise the tariff
without outside help. If this was
true the members who voted for the
bill on this account ought to have re-
signed so that the people could sup
ply their places with properly quail
fed representatives. The Democrats
in both houses of congress then
charged that the real purpose was
to delay and defeat revision, and
that the commission would be con-
stituted as partizan commits
sion in the interest of pro-
lection, would collect informa-
ton in the interest of protection,
print it at the expense of the whole
people, and send it out by the ton
under congressional franks, to in
doctrinate the people into the be-
lief that it is a great blessing to
them to be taxed nearly half their
earnings to enrich other people.
Now / submit this is political ques-
ton of the first magnitude, and the
different political parties of the
country have taken their position
on il. Let us see how they stand.
On the Goth of March, 1882, Mr..
Kelly, of Pennsylvania, moved to
suspend the rules of the house and
make the tariff commission bill a
special order for consideration. Vot-
ing far the motion, 35 Democrats,
123 Republicans, Greenbackers,
Readjusters (Mahone men). Voting
against it, Sc Democrats and 2
Greenbackers.
Pending the consideration of the
above bill Mr.. Mills, of Texas, moved
to recommit it to the committee OF
ways and means, with instructions to
report a revenue tariff bill in It's
stead. Voting for this motion,
seventy-four Democrats and one
Greenbacker. Voting against 1t
twenty-three Democrats, 123 Re
publcans aud six Greenbackers.
On the 9th of May, 1882. the tariff
commission bill passed the house
Voting for it, twenty-eight Demo
Gratis, 116 Republicans and sever
Greenbackers. Voting against it
seventy-five Democrat and eight Re
publicans.
"A baby was born in a cemetery al
Marshalltown, Iowa, the other day
and the order of things was reserved
nv CQrrvinn tho child from fha nro u 4