The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1883-12-06
Mr.. BIaIne's Letter.

The public uteranres of Hon. James &.
Blaine are sure to be universally read and crit
ic>ed, and he is rs certain to have hostile crit
is a. he is 10 have warm admirers. He never
di>appoints his friends or his enemies. for Iii,
speeches and his writings alike bear the I'M
press ola vigorous intellect and are never com
monpacc or ninlcrestng. His letter 10 the
editor of the Philadelphia Press. published in
another column. has created >omeW hat Of a
sensation, and served for a time to draw attcn-
ton from the Democratic contest over thr
speakcrship at Washington. Mr.. Blaine has
certainly touched the pocket nerve, the most
sensitive part of the taxpayers anatomy. and
his proposition to relieve property from tax by
distributing the proceeds of the tax ON whisky
pro rata among the several State, has been re-
celVed with enthusiasm by very large num-
Der. The anti-Blaine organs condemn it unhes-
tatingly, As matter of course: while others
hesitate about giving an opinion and are evi-
IDENTIFY waiting to feel the public pulse COY.
Butler of Massachusetts, plonounccs Mr..
Blaine'> plan fallaciouS and presents one Of his
own, which is also RandaIl's and keIley's. to
abolish the internal revenue entirely but the
Boston Herald uncharably says: If ANYTHING
could be more absurd than Mr.. Blaines plan
for reducing the surplus Gov. Buffers com
ment on it 'takes the cake" The New York
Times and number of other papers declare
Mr.. Blaine's proposition to be unconstitutional:
and others object to it on the ground that it
Will delay the adoption of free trade: but in
that case il would, in the opinion of many.
serve very good purpose indeed. The New
York Herald does not seem to have given the
matter much consideration, but rises TO en-
quire by the way. is Mr.. Blaine bidding for
the Presidency:' That looks as if the Herald
thought the plan would prove popular with the
people, as it no doubt has and will. The New
York Tribune of the leading dailies, comes
nearest to approval. though evidently feeling
its way 1t puts the question as one of free
homes or free whiskey." The Lewiston Jour
nal indicates one good result that may ensue
1t says: "No doubt. objections to the plan can
be raised, but it is likely to project debate
which, we trust, i'll any event will not result in
the reduction of the taxes on luXuries-or on
spirits-much less, as the whiskey ring now
contemplate, the removal of these taxes" The
Portland Advertiser says of it: This is the
Pennsylvania plan in another form 1t is
proposition to collect under the national law
taxes which are not needed by the national
government, and TO pay over the surplus to the
State treasures. Turn it as you will, this is all
there is of it." That the Democrats generally
oppose the proposition will be accepted as a
matter of course, for they want the whskev
tax removed. Indeed Gov Butler who may
be accepted as Il Democratic oracle, regards the
tax on whskey and tobacco unjust and I'M
constitutional, and thinks they should be as
free as other products. In this matter. how
ever, it is safe to say that Blaine will have more
followers than Butler.