Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-03-20
LIE REPUBLICAN FISCAL POLICY.

tax on fermented liquors is not clear. The
natural presumption is that it comprehends
the latter, but if it does not the omission
viii make a difference of from ten &c
twelve millions Outside of the taxes on
spirits, tobacco and fermeuted liquors, the
internal revenue does not exceed twelve
millions, and is chiefly derived from the
stamp and the banking taxes, all of which
can now be removed with profit to the
public. This action Of the Republican
caucus, however, must be regarded as in
dicating determination to seek radical re-
duction in the national taxation by other
methods, and as the revision of the tariff
is the only other way by which this object
can be attained, it would seem that the
Republican Congressman had at last made
up their minds to do something serious in
that direction. This would be COED news
but fol the fact that the disposition of the
| Republicans to NEEDLE with the tariff has
hitherto been exceedingly dubious, and
that if only Tariff Commission is ap-
pointed il is clear the revenue for the next
fiscal year will have to be collected under
the existing laws. Iu fact Congress can
not effect any present changes in the tariff
unless it has resolved upon Immediate
legislation, and though the caucus resolu-
ton against the reduction of internal
revenue taxes opens the way for the ex-
tension of the free list to the amount Of
at least $50, 900 900, and possibly $55 co.,
600, no such reduction in customs duties
can be made through the slow action of a
Commission.
It is possible that the Republicans in
Congress have become convinced that the
sentiment in favor of tariff revision is toe
strong to be ignored any longer, but it by
no means follows that they are prepared to
concede anything like the amount of re-
lief which would be justified by the cir
cumstances. The Protectionist feeling and
lobby are both very strong at Washington,
and politicians are proverbially slow to
comprehend radical changes in the current
of public opinion. In the course Of years
questions Of policy often come to be re-
garded by the people in new aspects, while
all the time the politicians continue to be-
lieve that public opinion on these questions
is fixed and unalterable. The tariff has
been submitted to SO long, moreover, that
g generation has grown up which has no
knowledge of any other condition Of things,
and which has had, therefore, to be edu-
Gated with initiate trouble up to the point
of intelligence on the subject. The eco
nomical effects Of the Protectionist system
upon the farmers of the great West, how
ever, have during the past four Of five
years been of nature to enforce appre
hension Of the truth and the political ele-
ment which is now coming to the front full
of new ideas on this issue is so energetic
and persistent a force that it is sure to
make itself felt as soon as it has decided
upon the specific character of its demands.
1t is probable that some OF the Western
Congressman have been able at last to con-
vince their Eastern colleagues that it
would not be safe to leave this tariff ques-
ton altogether to the Democracy. The
latter party has, it is true, been recreant
to its early doctrines on this head, and has
sought only to initiate the principles of its
opponents but it would be much binder
than it can be supposed if it ignored the
palpable fact that a strong anti-tariff party
is rising in the West, and that, in TIE
absence of other weighty issues tending 10
preserve the old party lines, it is quite
likely to prove a solvent of them, to the
great injury, if not to the ruin, of the
Republican party. If the Republican
Congressman have perceived this danger,
and have determined to be beforehand
VITA their opponents In advocating tariff
revision, they may avoid defeat by con-
vincing the people that they are in earnest,
but they cannot effect their purpose by a
mere make believe, because the public of
the West are very seriously determined
not to tolerate the present tariff any
longer. No doubt there is yet time to
effect considerable tariff reduction,
though if it is undertaken merely as a
partisan measure, and without regard to
the important commercial interests at
stake, it is possible that more harm than
good may result. But mere pretense of
revision, or mere promise of future re-
duction, will not prevent the Democrats
from making capital out of the Western
sentiment, and if their Congressman are
shrewd enough to propose radical legisla-
ton during the present session, and it is
defeated by their antagonists, they will
have very strong case before the people.
At present it is no. possible to compre
bend the ultimate Republican policy. The
party, were it wisely led, could without
inconsistency advocate and carry out rad
ical amendments to the tariff. 1t is GER
tainly no more strongly committed to the
Protective policy than Sir Robert Peel was
to the Corn Laws, and yet that statesman
found it possible to abandon his old prin-
ciples without dishonor, and in fact to his
lasting credit, when the state of the nation
proved that those principles were errone-
GUS. Indeed parties never can stop the
progress of reforms when the demand for
those reforms comes originally from the
people. For these are the real issues of all
times. Politicians may meet in conven-
tions and may adopt platforms filed with
sounding phrases, but unless those phrases
represent popular beliefs they will neither
attract nor retain voters. At present the
old shibboleth OF % Protection to home in
dustry" is being repudiated more and
more generally, because intelligent men are
coming to understand that it is a delu-
sion and sham, that the system does
not protect" that it robs the
producers as a class, that it fails
to maintain higher standard of wages,
and that speaking generally it is class