The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-05-03
LET US NOT STUMBLE INTO PIT
FALLS,

Whatever shape the tariff agitation
may take it does not at present in
volve the question of protection at
all, for the existing duties are not
only far above the figure required by
the necessities of reasonable protec-
ton, but above the figure which the
Republican party itself has deliber-
ately declared to be sufficient. AL
most the first act of the Republican
party, when it got control of congress
by the secession of the southern rep
resentatives in 1860, was to pass an
avowed protection tariff bill, known
in congressional history as the Nor
rill bill. That bill was deliberately
and carefully framed as a protection
measure, and it would be ridiculous
to saw that a tariff which was ac-
cepted by the most extreme protec-
tionists over twenty years ago as suf-
ficient then, is insufficient now. In
time, however, the enormous expenses
of the government forced congress to
impose burdensome internal taxes, to
counterbalance WHICH it raised the
tariff above the measure of mere suf-
fciency under ordinary circumstances.
Now that the internal taxes of the
war have been nearly all removed it
is but fair that the manufacturers
should assent to the removal
of the war tariff. They do not assent,
the Republican party does not assent,
and that is the issue, one which it may
readily be seen does not really touch
the question of protection. Every
other disturbing question is disposed
of, and the question of tariff is now
the vital subject to be dealt with. The
estimated surplus for the current fis-
cal year is $12OOOO,OOO-and the actu-
al surplus will exceed the
estimate in both cases-and that,
too, after paying out $59,5OOOOO
for interest and $102,OOOO00 in pen
sions each year. Revenue must, there
fore, be reduced; the people must be
relieved, and the Democratic party is
expected to relieve them; in fact, it has
promised to do so, and taking this
promise as made in good faith, the
revolution that is to overthrow Re
publicanism was begun last fall. AS
is tersely put by the Republican, Dem
ocrats believe in large reductions of
the revenue, and insist that these re-
ductions should be made so as to bring
the largest measure of relief to the
whole people. The Republicans, on
the other hand, will not make any re-
ductions they can possibly avoid, and
in making them will attempt to give
the relief to favored classes. In the
new tariff and revenue bill passed by
the late congress, the Republicans
took off about $45,0O0O 0OO0-from
whom? Banks, bank depositors,
matchmakers, the manufacturers Of
patent medicines and cosmetics, and
tobacco consumers. They do not
think any further reductions ought
to be made in the next congress, and
they will oppose them if proposed ,jbut
if the reduction must be made, they
will endeavor to limit them to the
of spirits, beer and tobacco.
leaving the masses of the people still
subject to the oppressive taxes of
war tariff on the materials of their
industry and the necessarieS of life.
This is the Republican programme. |
1t is the tariff that Protectionist Kel-
ley attempts to faSten on the country,
and it is the policy of Mr.. Randall
who asks to be made speaker of the
house, that he may effectually destroy |
,he power of the anti-protectionists. |
1t is properly asked, can it be possible
or the Democrats of the next house to |
commit such an act Of irreparable |
disqualification as the election of |
his gentleman to the speakership,
,hus inviting defeat in the contest of
1884. The issues of that contest will
De made up, and the lines drawn, not
n the party conventions of next
but in the congressional
session which begins next December.