Mexico weekly ledger., 1883-05-10
THURSDAY, MAY 10, 1883.
THE ISSUE.

THE ISSUE.
That the time has come for the re-
moval of popular burdens is widely
accepted. The only question con-
nected with reduction Of taxation,
about which there is great diversity
of sentiment, is the manner in which
1t shall take place. This is the real
issue Of the hour and is likely also to
be that of the coming presidential
campaign. Unlike many questions
about which communities and even
parties have divided, this is not the
hobby of office seekers. Politicians
would willingly escape the conse-
quences of entertaining it. Nobody
understands better than the wire pull
lers how 1t affects parties and renders
their management more difficult. Re-
duction of taxation, however, is by
far the liveliest issue of the moment
and forms the topic Of conversation
and debate at all political gatherings.
1t is a matter also in which almost
everybody is personally interested.
1t concerns communities and families
as well as monopolists, manufactu-
rers, importers and merchants, and
the advancement of prominent poll
ticians in both parties will be pro-
noted or retarded by their views as
to the best mode of furnishing the
relief the great mass of voters demand.
In short, it is not impossible that
it will lead to new political combina-
tons and especially to n of which
Mr.. Blaine will aim to be the head
and center.
In the present condition of the
country all duties On imported fabrics
necessarily add to their cost and are,
therefore, calculated to enhance the
value of the home production of sim
liar articles. AS far as they do sc
they are unavoidably advantageous o.
~"protective" to such industries. Or
the other hand all tariff reduction i.
as undeniably IN the direction of fret
trade. All this IS often pointed
out to protectionists and free trader:
by democrats as inducements to sup
port their policies. A few we'll known
democratic senators and representa-
tives have also under the influence o
and with the view of benefittlng SOM
of the local interests of their State
and districts demanded protectiv
duties favorable to them, and certain
others of them advocate return t
free trade; but it would be redieu
lous on these accounts to assert tha
the democratic party was the party o
either protectionists or free traders
What the democratic party maintain
is that the constitutional object O
confering power upon Congress to lev,
duties to was raise revenue for govern
mental purposes. This is the doctrin
upon which the democracy has tr
umphed in the past and it is the is
sue upon which that party will b
victorious in the future. if victory
rel to be won by it. The republ
can party is as much divided by loo.
interests as is the democracy. TIL
vast majority Of that organizatio
interprets the constitution so as t
justify "Protection for protection
sake To a democrat such a tart
is legal robbery and tends to prob
bition. To be effectual and reach til
contemplated end it must make mig
approach to prohibition, and cannot
therefore, be productive of revenue
But the republican party is as muc
and eve more weakened by local ir
erests than is the democracy. Its dis
sentients are in the main, however
advocates for free trade and oppos
legislation that transfers without col
responding remuneration money fror
the pockets of one class into those @
another.
In such a crisis the eyes of all in
telligent observers of what is trans
piring in politics turn to the demoe
racy in the hope that it will make
square and manly fight for reductio
of taxation, for if there is anythin
to which that party is committed
anything it can be relied on to &C
complish when it shall be .entruste
with power-that thing is relief fror
the burdens of wal legislation, rer
dered possible by u peaceful an
prosperous condition.
Notwithstanding Tilden is old an
decrepit, and it is almost a physics
~impossibility for him TO take his SEES