Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1883-04-24
Democratic Platform.

The New York San proposes the fol.
lowing as the proper policy for the DEM
ocrats to adopt, and it is nearly cor
rect -
81. Let the tariff be for revenue. 1t
will then be protective also.
"II. Let the revenue tariff be the only
source of revenue.
Iii. Let the internal taxes be abol-
ished at once, except only the tax on
spirits.
"IV. Let the tax on spirits be retain
ed only to meet the necessity of means
to pay arrearages of pensions. When
those arrearages are provided for let the
spirit-tax be likewise abolished"
With the abolition of the internal
revenue tax, and the large amount of
revenue required to pay the expenses of
Government, the interest on the public
debt, and the pensions to soldiers, q
tariff for revenue, to ensure the amount
required, would necessarily afford as
much protection as any reasonable pro-
tective-tariff man could desire. The
true policy is tariff for revenue with
incidental protection. This should be
satisfactory to all classes.
The present tariff needs revision, as
the duties on many articles are laid to
promote the interests of monopolies and
wealthy joint stock companies at the
expense of the consumers, and the unjust
and unnecessary taxation of the farm"
ers, mechanics, artisans, and profession
al men but this is not the time to do it,
as the Republicans have the Executive
and a majority in the Senate which
would render any attempt at such revi'
sion futile. Should the Democratic
party succeed in getting possession Of
both the Executive and Legislative
branches of the Government, as the pre-
sent signs indicate, then would be the
time to revise the tariff in the interests
of the people and without detriment to
the Government +; for the duties on i'm
ports could so be laid as to reduce the
indirect taxes of the consumers and al
the same time raise all the revenue re
quired, for many articles, by the reduc-
ton Of the duties thereon, would yield
more revenue than at present, by the
consequent increase of importations, and
the great mass of the people would be
benefited as they could then purchase
such articles at reduced prices.
None except those directly engaged in
the manufacture of the articles protected
have any interest in such protection
not even the employees of the manu-
facturers, as it does not increase their
wages, as enormously claimed, but. on
the contrary, their interests are made to
suffer, as they are taxed unnecessarily to
put money into the pockets of the man.
ufacturers, who are thus enabled to use
money lavishly to influence elections in
behalf of their own interests against
those of the people, and thus the unjust
taxation of the people may be perpetual
ted. Coming events cast their shadows
BEFORE" and one of the darkest shadows
that now portend dire,ev to the inter-
ests of the people and the Government
is the selfish influence that is unscrupu-
Iously exercised by monOpolies and
wealthy companies in the control of
legislation in behalf of their special in
terests and against those of the people.
The Government should be by the peo-
pie and for the people, and not by mo-
nopolists and for monopolists. The evil
to which we allude is already very great,
and is annually on the increase, as is
palpable to every careful and intelligent
observer, and unless the people be soon
aroused to the danger which threatens
their interests, they will be helpless
firmly bound in servitude without the
hope of emancipation. AS the policy of
the Democratic party is in behalf of the
power, privileges, immunities, and in.
terests of the people, it becomes the duty
Of the people to support that party, and
not to allow any prejudices engendered
In the past, or any slight difference of
opinions, to prevent them from dong 30.
No party should have an indefinite
lease of power, for security of possession
leads to corruption and disregard of the
peoples interests, and the Republican
party has been in power too long and
should be displaced. For the Demo-
Gratis to allow any difference of opinion
in reference to the tariff to divide them
would be the madness of folly. This is
the only ground of hope of the Republi-
cans, who boast with degree of conf
dence that there will be such division,
and that it will enable them to retain
power, which will be exercised against
the interests of tn g people. Forewarn-
ed, the people should be forearmed.-
Vote the Democratic ticket.