Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1883-12-15
WHAT THEY SAY OF IT.
From the Boston Post.


The democrats have discharged their
duty, not grudgingly and hesitatingly,
but with unction and emphasis that
show their hearts were in their
work and that work is inspiritlng and
gladdening, to every democrat who is
more of patriot than a politician.
From the Baltimore SUM-
The election of Mr.. Carlisel plants
the party upon principle upon which
it can base an intelligent claim to be
entrusted with the national govern
ment. This principle of the necessity
and urgency of tariff reform is one for
which the party can reasonably de-
mand the support of the people, and
upon which defeat would not mean
disaster or dishonor. 1t does not
mean free-trade, which, however
attractive as doctrine of abstract pol
itical economy, cannot be reduced fully
to practice in countries where, as i'll
the United states, the nature Of the
government and the tastes of the peo-
pie render the imposition of direct taxes
for the support of the federal govern
ment impossible. Nor does it mean
"expediency," that bane and tempta-
ton of politicians whose eyes are fixed
wholly upon the spoils of Office, and
whose minds are incapable Of recog-
nizing the immense vitality and in
spiriting force of great political
truth. What Mr.. Carlisle's election
does mean is revenue reform, directed
by a wise and conservative intelli-
gence.
[From the New York Times.l
And all because a man has been chos
en- speaker of the house of representa-
tives who believes in the gradual reduc-
ton of taxation on raw materials and
the neccssaries Of life. Is protection,
then, fetch? Does worship at its
shrine deprive mon of all common
sense and business foresight. Must a
community that has once accepted it
abandon all thought of change and be-
come forever incapacitated to accommo-
date itself to those laws according
to which change is the inevitable
condition and the essential cause
of prosperity 1t is sheer nonsense
to talk Of Mr.. Carlisle as a
radical free-trader. 1t is as silly and
about as honest as it was to represent
him as a rabid Southerner because he
lives in town just south of Cincinnati
He is not even al advocate Of tariff fol
revenue only. Judging by his utter
ances and his votes-and they are many
and consistent he simply believes III
the gradual return to a rational and
normal rate of taxation OH imports; hi
believes that taxes levied twenty years
ago in the stress of war, largely to of
set internal taxes which have been lons
since abolished, should not be contin
ued. Is this revolutionary?
The fact of excessive taxation is uni
versally conceded. The high protec
tionists emphasize it by various wild
propositions, such as the remission o
all liquor and tobacco taxes, the distri
button of the surplus among the states
the collection of the liquor tax for tn
benefit of the states, the diversion o
the internal revenue to the supper
of education, and SO on But MI
Carlisle and very many opposed to hin
i'll politics say that it is absurd to fire
, whisky and tax metals and wool an
jute and flax and sugar as they are nov
taxed. They hold that the prope
direction for reduction to take is to
ward the relief of manufactures, tn
stimulation of trade, the extension G
: markets, the employment of labor, all
not toward cheapening the mischievou
luxuries of the smoker and the drinEel
I They think that freezer development {
American trade and industry and
9 free breakfast table for American work
8 ers are better than free bar.
I + They don't propose to rush towar
i even these advantages. There is II
J reason to be frightened over Mr.. Car
!, isles intentions or over the action {
i congress. The republicans who al
i commencing all alarmist campaign fC
1884 are making fools Of themselves
i they are crying "wolf'' too early, an
II they have cried it much too often. I'll
e country is not going to get scare
u and stay scared for year. 1t is nc
the American way. The business NE
who, like the Pittsburg iron men, al
crying out in terror will quiet dow
before the winter is over. If the
don't the people will laugh them I'M
silence. The American nation is II,
y SO used up, worn out, dull and laz
that it cannot stand moderate dose
h change in a vicious tax system. Eve
q the protected interests will be the be
n ter for it in the long run, and they wi
j not suffer ruin in four months. The
.s are really much stronger than the
n make out, and will show that they ar