The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1883-06-23
Not Greatly Troubled.

One very obvious way OF deailng with
politics is to charge upon others ones
own sins. 1t is favorite method with
some of our Republican friends. Per-
haps it resembles a little too much the
worn-out method of the thief crying
:. Stop thief first and loudest. The
Republican party of Ohio is just now at
its wits ends trying to get itself into
some comfortable position upon the
Liquor question. Disguised at its
lamentable failure, it turns through the
party press to charge upon the Demo-
Gratis precisely the game as to the Tariff
which it is playing upon the Liquor
question.
We do not observe that the Tariff
question is giving Democrats any very
serious trouble. 1t is an issue about
which there is some discussion as to
minor points where there is substantial
agreement as to all essential matters of
policy. Even the wing of the party
representing the extreme which is near
est Radicalism merely insists upon the
expediency of considering the act passed
a settlement so far as the next canvass is
concerned. The proposition to repeal all
Internal Revenue taxes, which comes
from that side of the House, may prove
very excellent compromise of differ
ences, while it will not greatly help
to control of the Democratic party I'M
less their opponents are guilty of a seri-
Gus bIunder. Whether to adopt this or
not is pure question of political ex-
pediency. 1t offers not only an easy
way to settle all differences, but it af-
fords plain way to gradual reduc-
ton of taxation and protective bounties.
1t is admitted that the necessity for
raising so much revenue will mako an
exclusively tariff taxation sufficiently
protective; but the necessity for revenue
will decrease with each year, and thus
the burdens of taxation and ofprotective
bounties diminish so gradually and with
so little disturbance to trade that an al
most purely revenue tariff may be
reached in few years without industry
ever feeling the change.
The feature that will most commend
this view to the Western Democracy
will be that to raise the entire revenue
by the tariff is strongly opposed by the
extreme prctectionists. 1t is as clearly
antagonistic to protection for protec-
ties, as the tariff for revenue only"
scheme. 1t is even more SO, for its
justice and the plain common sense of
it disarm opposition, and leave the ex-
treme protectionists crashing their teeth
over plan which they can not afford
to openly or at least violently oppose.
1t leaves them standing upon the sole
plank OF high protective bounty which
they dare not openly advocate.
| The only question is whether the
Western Democrats will adoptit as their
own. The Republicans had chance at
it. Mr.. Kelley, of Pennsylvania, gave
the protectionists a chance at it. Both
have passed it by. The Republicans
have obeyed the commands of the pro-
tectionists and passed bill which is
neither one thing nor another. Its re-
auctions of internal revenue taxes will
be followed by very slight reductions in
prices if by any at all, so that the pub
lie will not receive any benefit. The
tariff enacted is an incomprehensible
effort at compromising local interests
without regard to the revenue and with
no regard for the most meritorious claims
upon the Government for bounties
where bountles were being dealt out.
Abolish the internal taxes and protec-
ton will be left no leg to stand on as
claim for pure bounty, while general
and certain gradual reduction for taxa
ton will be provided for, which viii ex-
tend over period of some years, de-
pendent upon the revenue principle and
regulated by it.
The issue does not seem to US to be
giving Democrats much trouble. 1t
seems easy of solution, while it ought to
be discussed with the utmost freedom
and liberality, that a final solution may
be reached after all opinions are in.
Our Republican friends may rest assured
that, while the decision viii not, in any
event, please them, it will not divide
the Democratic party, or seriously Of
fend any number of Democrats Cinci,s-
n0ti Nescs.