Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-06-26

In the discussion in the United States
House Of Representatives Friday, on
the question Of the reduction of internal
revenue taxation, Hon. Alexander Il.
Stephens took the position that the en-
tire internal revenue system Of the gov
eminent ought to be abolished. He
truly said internal taxes, except in time
Of war. were anti-republican, anti-demo
cratic and in opposition to the general
policy of the government. They bore
heavily on taxpayers, and that was what
legislators ought to look to. The Dro-
per way to raise revenue he commended
was by import duties
When Mr.. Stephens uttered these
sentiments, he expressed the funda.
mental principles Of the Democratic
party, namely: That the General Gov
eminent ought to be managed in the in
terests Of the many and not of the few.
The present system of popular taxation
has resulted in an overlooking treasury,
and an overlooking treasury simply
represents a large burden of unnecessary
taxation laid upon the people, for what
That schemers and jobbers Of the Robe
son Keiffer school may he able to lay
hands violently on the public funds, so
that their special friends and fsvorites
nav be enriched at the expense of the
people.
The future issue between the two par
ties OF the country is thus rapidly
crystallizing. Slavery is dead. The main
issues presented by the war are settled.
/ Sectionalism can no longer play an active
part in the politics of the country, and the
question henceforth to be presented to
the people is, what is best for our com.
mon welfareG" The Republicans main
tain that protection is the one thing
needed to encourage American indus
tries and ensure American prosperity.
The Democrats, on the other hand,
claim that protection is benef-
cial only to the few capital
lists, and that true protection of the
people is to be found, only in revenue
refOrm-that is, that under a tariff fol
revenue only the masses can be relieved
from Odious war taxes on articles Of
home manufacture, and that duties on
imports will be amply sufficient to main
tain the expenses of the government
They point TO the labor troubles now ex
isting in the North and West TO show
that protection is not conducive to the
welfare of the labOring man, and tina
the doctrine that protection protects the
wages of the American workman is only {
delusion and a snare, invented by pro
tected mOnOpolists to defraud and de-
ccive the unwary and unrefecting.
This, then, is the coming issue between
the two parties: Shall we continue, as the
Republicans desire, to levy high taxa
ton upon the masses for the benefit o.
the few, or shall we henceforth, as tn,
Democrats wish, seek to establish sYs
ten of revenue reform whereby interna
/ taxation shall be abolished altogether
and tariff for revenue be established
which will relieve the masses and still
support the government Upon thu
issue thus presented tersely by Mr.
Stephens the Democrats should taxi
their stand. The Republicans will ris,
in opposition, because not only is pro
tective tariff the creature of Radicalism
out because the few favored sons of for
tune, who have grown wealthy thereby
are ever ready to liberallg contribute t
the success of the party which ha
always arrayed itself on the side of tn,
wealthy and against the people. Blu
the controlling principle of govern
ment such as ours should be the creates
good to the greatest number, and if tn
Democrats apply this principle to tariff
reform, they must win. They must, how
ever, be bold and fearless in its advocacy
They must not, as they have done in tn,
past, hesitate to meet the issue and tenn
porize with principle. They must adop
tariff reform as their motto. They have
been defeated in past campaigns becaus,
they were afraid to act decidedly on thi
question. Hereafter they must las
Democrat in an interview with a NeV
York Herald correspondent truly says
make tariff and tax reform the leadinl
issue IN every campaign until such re
form Is achieved, and our whole tax ant
tariff system is reduced to a business
basis. when the people will pay tax t
the government and not to monopolists.
This is the old line Democratic polio,
and under this standard. as the friend o.
the people and as the exponent of tn,
true principles of the Republic. tn
Democracy will surely eventually con
quer.