Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1883-06-05
Bayard and Mcdonald.
DEMOCRATIC VIEWS OF THE TARIFF CUES
TON.

The World publishes the following ex-
tracts from letters written to it's editor by
Mr.. Bayard, of Delaware, dated Washing
ington, May 30, and Mr.. Mcdonald, of In
diana, dated Indianapolis, May %.
WHAT MR.. BAYARD SAYS TO MR.. PULITZER.
''The more important the question the
greater the necessity in dealing with it
gravely and worthily, and anything like
1inesse or the appearance of .fnesse or trick
in dealing with such an issue as a tariff for
revenue or a tariff for the protection of GER
tain classes of our citizens will greatly
weaken the party resorting to it.
"Quite independent of the enconomy to
the treasury and incidental benefit to Amer
lean producers and manufacturers which is
to be affected by higher or lower rate of
tariff taxation, is the more profound ques-
ton of political right and power to lay any
public burden upon the entire people for the
the benefit, proftor protection of private
individuals.
eff 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 and privileges to rank will be
obtained without the name.
81 know of no position more impregna-
BILE, and upon which it is more important
for the Democratic party to form its lines,
than that public property cannot be taken
for private use under any pretext.
''The Constitution of the United States
and in every one of the States so united
provides for the taking of private property
for public use only upon the rendition of
gust compensation to the owner, but no.
where in this country and nowhere where
free institutions have recognition can the
sovereign power take public property for
private use or the private property of A to
be bestowed upon B with or without com
pensation.
''The only ground upon which any in
dividual can be deprived of his property is
to benefit the community, and whenever
such an exigency arises he must (under our
guarantee) be first justly compensated.
1.-THE form of the exaction is immaterial,
as much SO as the place, and tax collector
in the interior, or at mans residence, or
at the seaport of entry, and under tariff
law, an excise or 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 measured by
the public exigencies, and such spectacle
as was witnessed at the last session of Con-
gress of handful of men representing
private interests and controlling and mould
ing public laws of taxation to suit those
interests will never again be tolerated by
honest public sentiment.
"The excise system can be so arranged, l
am sure, as to do away with the army of
spies and agents and the detestable inquisi-
ton practlced under present laws. A tax
upon the ascertained capacity of still can
be substituted for the host of political
storekeepers and gaugers and armed mar
shals who now constitute the chief power
Of the Radical party in many States. And
a sensible reduction of the rate of tax to
true revenue point would accomplish vast
reform and give great relief.
81 am convinced of the serious necessity
for a change in our Civil-Service system of
removals and appointments.
''The tree will grow and bear it's natural
fruit, and if we continue to make mems
salaries and means of living dependent
solely upon the caprice and favor of the
Executive branch we will see such men in
high office as suit the office no ding class
and not the people, or their interest or
honor.
"Yours sincerely, T. F. BAYARD."
c1r1r amor,