Morning journal and courier., 1883-05-30
MORE DEMOCRATIC HARMONY


It now looks as If we should in the course
ocrats think about the tariff ques-
tion. We have heard from Gov
ernor Butler, ex Senator Eaton, Hon Will
liam r. Morrison and other more or less
prominent Democrats, and their views have
been delightfully."- contradictory and in some
cases amusing
The views of two more great Democrats
were made public yesterday, when Senator
Joseph Mcdonald, of Indiana, and Senator
Bayard, of Delaware, were heard from. As
both these gentlemen have been prominently
mentioned in connection with the presiden-
tial nomination what they say concerning
"the great issue" is peculiarly interesting.
Senator Bayard very wisely reminds his
fellow workers that anything like fnesse or
the appearance of finesse or trick in dealing
with such an issue Us a tariff for revenue or
tariff for the protection of certain classes of
our citizens will greatly weaken the party re-
sorting to it. He also lays down the propo
sition that quite independent of the economy
to the treasury and incidental benefit to
American producers and manufacturers which
is to be affected by higher or lower rate of
tariff taxation, is the more profound question
of political right and power to lay any pub
lie burden upon the entire people for the
benefit, profit or ''protection" of private in
dividuals He says that if this claim be ad
mitted as one of right then privileged classes
do exist in this country, and although titles
may not be allowed by the Constitution yet
all the advantages and privileges of rank will
be obtained without the name. He continues:
1 know of no position more impregnabIe,
and upon which it is more important for the
Democratic party to form its lines, than that
public property cannot be taken for private
use under any pretext y The only
ground upon which any. individual can be
deprived Of his property is to benefit. the
community, and whenever such an exigercy
arises he must (under our guarantees) be first
justly compensated. The form of the ex-
action is immaterial-as much SO as the
place-and tax collected in the interior, OF
at mans residence, or at the seaport OF
entry and under a tariff law-an excise or a
| direct tax law-it is all the same, and to be
justified must be in the name and for the
| use of the Government of the United States
With this principle once laid down, the rate
| of taxation will be easily measured by the
public exigencies, and such a spectacle as
was witnessed at the last session of Congress
of handful of men representing private
interests and controlling and moulding pub
lie laws of taxation to suit those interests
will never again be tolerated by honest
| public sentiment.
This is very strong statement of the case
| as it appears to Senator Bayard and it will
| have much weight. Senator McDonnld does
not go into the matter IS vigorously and
deeply as does Senator Bayard. But he
thinks that ''the tariff issue connected with
| the general subject of revenue REFORM will
| necessarily be an important question in all
| future political contests until it is settled
| upon the doctrines of the constitution and
| the principles of sound political economy.
| He says: We may be some time reaching q
| solution of the question, but as the public
| mind comes to be enlightened it will not be
| satisfied with any tariff that has not for its
leading purpose the raising of revenue for
the government nor with the details of any
| tariff law in which the duties laid upon for
eign merchandise shall be above the revenue
| point.
The utterances of the Democratic states
men grow more and more interesting. Per
haps before long We shall hear from Mr..
Tilden. 1t would be real pleasure to read
one of his able and shrewd letters.