Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1882-12-09
ARTHUR LOOKING OVER THEfRH0E

ulaiion. In 1882 the tariff was talke'
about, written about, thought about
and the democrats everywhere advo
Gated tariff reform. and we're Oppoa
ed by the msss of the republican
orators and nswspapers. The conse
qusncs of this full and free discussion
was an unprecedented democratic
victory. Though the tariff discussion
was not the sole AUS of the victory
1t was the principal and most gsuer
81 one, and following upon the heel
Of it comes the republican president
message, In which the logic Of EVENT.
compile him 10 say. SIT 10 plain. there
fore, that large reductions from tb'
customs revenue r entirely feast
bio. While recommending thil
reduction l am far from advising the
abandonment OF the policy Of 80 dis.
eliminating In the adjustment Of
details as to Afford aid aud protection
10 domestic labor. but the presen,
eySseAu SuOui0 10 ~ I0vlbSu - ~
equalize the public burden among all
classes aud occupations, aud bring i,
into closer harmony with the present
needs Of Industry. Without entering
Into minute details, which, under
present circumstances, 10 quite un-
necessary, I recommend au enlarge
meut Of the free list 90 - to include
within 1t tho numerous articles
which yield au uncomfortable reve-
nue.. q simplidsation Of the complex
aud Inconsistent schedule Of duties
upon certain manufactures, particu.
larry those Of cotton, iron aud steel,
and q substantial reduction Of the
duties upon those articles aud upon
sugar, molsssss. silk, wool and WOOL
en- goods. Ifsgsuersl revision Of the
tariff shall BE- found to be impracti-
cable At this session. I express the
hope that at least some Of the more
conspicuous Inequalities Of the pres
ant law may be corrected before your
fnal adjournment" IS 3
Six months ago the admissions
made in this paragraph would have
been received by the bulk of the re-
Publican press with q howl Of indig.
nation. It 10 well known that Presi-
dent Arthur 10 not en- rapport with
republican legislation ON this subject.
but before the elections be would
have been much more ciary in declar-
Ing 1t. As it 10, his message will
arouse the hostility of the eastern
cotton. aud oil the iron aud steel
manufacturers. We say "eastern cot
ton manufacturers" because the
southern manufacturers of cotton do
not ask for protection.
Mr.. Arthur evidently leans
toward tho democratic position Of a
tariff for revenue, with incidental
though he does not say 80
for il his recommendation
Are literally taken, though Of course
made with the eserve which 10 nat
ursl in tho leader Of q high protective
tariff party. they would lead very
nearly to the accomplishment Of the
mest.to.be desired ends. He says,
II recommend IN enlargement of the
free list 90 a. to include within it the
articles which yield an in.
considerable revenue" Let US SEQ
what these are.
According to the statistiss furuish-
ed BY the department,o of the S19s ,OOO..
300 collected from customs during the
year ending June so. 1882. elss.bsO,-
347 was collected on six glasses of
articles. sugar aud nolasses. wool
and wooden goods. iron and steel aud
manufacturer therefrom, silk, cotton
fAx and linens. There are .
few more than 1000 articles on the
list, end there are 1894 dutiable arti-
;les which only yielded csc, 0O0. 900 of
reveuue-that 10. these 1894 articles
yield particularly or collectively Can
ncnnsiderable revenue" Indeed
hey are net taxed for revenue, but
protection. aud for every dollar
hay bring the government they put
ive or six Into the pockets of the man.
u%facturers. Mr. Arthur says, place
Them on the free list, 30 say we.
with the exception Of few which
are articles Of luxury, and which
should be taxed at the highest reve.
nue. rate.
Then MI. Arthur goes en- to advo.
eate. - simplifcatien Of the complex
aud inconsistent schedules of duties
upon certain manufactures. particu-
those on cotton, iron and steel,
and a substantial reduction Of the
upon those articles, and upon
sugar. molasses, silk, wosl and WOOL
en- goods" That 10 tho doctrine that
the democratic party IL teaching.
unless, it maybe, as to silk, which 10
not . necessary Of life. Indeed the
sounds as though 1t might
have been taken from q democratic
politicsi platform.
Tho democasts do not advocate 80
they are In some quarters crsdited
with dong. an abrogatlon Of the tariff;
nor would they il they had the power
destroy or eve cripple the Industries
Of the country. Their idea is to lay
The tariff primarily for revenue-in-
deed there ia 10 warrant in the CON.
stitution to lay taxes for any other
purpose. This done equally and just
ly would necessarily afford some pro.
lection. That much protection may
be borne with patience, but when
taxes are laid upou yer 1900 articles
primarily for the purposes OF protec-
tiou-taking the money out Of the
pockets of the farmers 10 place it In
the pockets of the manufacturer,
with no compensation for tho injus-
tica by corresponding benefits to the
laboriug class. with 10 sort of com.
pensatlon to those who pay the ell.
HANGED prices, patience ceases to be a
virtue. We r sorry that Mr..
Arthur is not altogether right upon
tho tariff, but are thankful that he IA