The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1883-06-02
TALK ON THE TARIFF.
Two Presidential Candidates Are
Drawn Out.
Bayard, Of Delaware, and Mcdonald, of
Indiana, Naturally" Favor Some
thing Judlclous.
New York world.l
WILMINGTON, DEL, May %, 1888.

WILMINGTON, DEL, May %. 1888.
JOSEPH PULITZER, ESQ, NEW YORK.
The more important the question the
greater the necessity in dealing with 1t
gTaVely and wOrthily, and anything like
lnesse or the appearance of hnesse or
trick in dealing with such an Issue as
tariff for revenue or tariff for the pro-
lection OF certain classes OF our citizens
will greatly weaken the party resOrting
to it.
Quite independent of the economy to
the treasury and incidental benefit to
American producers and manufacturers
which are TO be affected by higher or
lower rate of tariff taxation, Is the more
profound question of political right and
power to lay any public burdens upon
the entire people for the benefit, profit
or protection" OF private individuals.
If this claim be admitted as one of
right, then privileged classes DO exist In
this country, and although titles may
not be allowed by the constitution, yet
all the advantages aud privileges OF rank
will be obtained without the name.
know of no position more impregna-
BILE, and upon which 1t Is more import
ant for the Democratic party to form its
lines, than that public property cannot
be taken for private use under any pre-
text.
The constitution OF the United States
and of every one Of the States so
united-prOVides for the taking OF pri-
vate property for public use only upon
the rendition OF "just compensation" to
the Owner-but nowhere in this conn-
try and nowhere where free institutions
have recognition can the sovereign
power take public property for private
use or the private property of to be be-
slowed upon b with or without compen-
satiOn.
The only ground upon which any in
diVidual can be deprived of his property
is to benefit the community, and when
ever such an eXigency arises he must
(under our guarantees), be first justly
compensated.
The form of the exactiOn is immater-
ial-as much so as the place-and tax
collected in the interior, or at mans
residence, or at the seaport OF entry,
and under tariff law-an excise or a
direct tax law-it is all the same, and
to be justified must be in the name and
for the use of the Government Of the
United States.
With this principle once laid down,
the rate of taxation will be easily meas
uTed by the public exigencies, and such
a spectacle as was witnessed at the last
session Of COngress-Of a handful of
men representing private interests, and
controlling and mOlding public laws OF
taxation to those interests-will never
again be tolerated by honest public men.
The excise system can be so arranged,
l am sure, as to do away with the army
of spies and agents, and the detestable
inquisitiOu pTacticed under present
laws. A tax upon the ascertained ca
pacity of a still can be substituted for
the host of political stOrekeepers and
gaugers and armed marshals who now
constitute the chief power Of the Rad
tGal party in many states. And sensi-
tive reduction of the rate of tax to a
true revenue point would accomplish a
vast reform and give great relief.
am convinced of the serious neces-
sity for a change in our civil service sy5-
tenn Of removals and appointments.
The tree will grow and bear its natu-
raj fruits, and if we continue to make
mems salaries and means of living de-
pendent solely upon the caprice and fa-
YOr of the executive branch, we willsee
such men in high Office as suit the office
holding class, and not the people, or
their interest or honor.
Yours sincerely,