The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-08-09
The Tobacco Tax.

baccO. 70 them the question IN an lni-
portant one. The tax is even now eight
cents per pound upon all Of their tobacco
that is manufactured. Such law dis
courages production and prevents the estab-
lshment OF new factories. 1t Expresses
the planter. and yeXes and annoys the
manufacturer. The tax is so high that
much tobacco sells for n less price per
pound than the manufacturer is taxed for
the privilege OF turning 1t into Cavcndish.
IL is rs II -four were taxed IS barrel.
How long would the northern people
quietly submit 20 such a tax? For nearly
twenty years this exorbitant and upiustit-
able tax upon tobacco has been paid by the
manufacturers, and been damaging the
planters.
This tax is peculiarly tax levied by the
Republican party. When The law author
ling il was first passed there were very
few Democrats in Congross-ycry lew in
deed. Whenever proposition for its re-
duc;ion has come up for consideration in
Congress, the Republicans as party have
voted against reduction. whilst the Demo-
Gratis as body have voted for reduction.
On the 10th OF February last, in the United
States Senate. the vote on the motion TO re-
ducc the tax on tobacco from sixteen TO
eight cents per pound stood-ayes so, noes
-. OF the ayes II were Democrats. OF the
noes only were Democrats. so that the
Democratic vote was-ayes q, noes 4
willis; the Republican vote Including Gen
eral MAHONE's) was-aycs Q, noes 20. The
Democrats voted more than i've 10 one in
favor OK the reduction. The Republicans
voted more than two 10 one against reduc-
ton. Clearly, then, the planters Of Vir-
ginia owe il TO The Democrats Of the United
States Senate rather than TO the Republic
cans OF that body that favorable answer
was made to their frequent petitions for the
reduction Of the tax on tobacco.
Now, next year the two parties will lay
down their national platforms. The Re
publican party will no doubt declare for n
continuance Of the internal taxes upon to-
bacco and whiskey as Injuries which will
bear such burlhens better than any other
articles. The Democrats will probably
follow the example Of Virginia and Penn
sylyania, and demand the total abolition
of the internal-revenue system. The six
New England States all taken together pay,
ms We showed the other day. but little more
OF the internal taxes than Virginia alone
pays. Leave out Massachusetts,, and Vir-
ginia pays more than all the other five
New England States together. The
Republican party has always been in
certain sense New England party.
Its original creed was founded upon New
England prejudice, and it has almost lived
upon preiudices. Hostility TO slavery and
Shareholders gave it birth. Hostility to the
section whose people once owned slaves
has for years perpetuated it, existence.
AT the bidding Of New England capitalists
the income tax was abolished and the
tobacco tax continued. At the bid
ding Of New England, the abomina-
bile and totally uniustifable reconstruction
laws, election laws, anti-Kuklux laws, and
the so-calIed civil-rigbts laws, were put
upon the statute-boOk. New England no.
tons still dominate the Republican party
and next year that party will, we doubt
not, esteem il strong card TO call for the |
continuance OF the tax upon the poor
mans only luxury afactured tobacco |
There is little reason to doubt that such |
will be tie action Of the Republican Ma |
tional Convention OF 1884. Nevertheless, |
ii the Democrats of Congress are wise they
will next winter see TO it that the Republic
cans of the two houses are put upon the re-
cord upon the question Of taking all the
tax OF tobacco. A recorded vote in each
house showing that the Democrats as par
ty are in favor OF the repeal OF that tax,
whilst the Republicans as party are in IA
vor OF the continuance Of that tax, will be
powerful ohensive.weapOn in the hands
OF Democratic speakers and papers in the
campaign of 1881. We doubt whether any
cry could be raised which would be more
popular than stern demand for free to-
baccO.
The Coaiitionists Of Virginia are The
"laithfnl allies OF the Republican party,
and will next year be entirely merged in
that party. There will be but two tickets
in this State in 1SSi-the regular Repub-
lican ticket, aud the regular Democratic
ticket. II Will be a square stand-up fight
between the Republican nominee for Pres
ident Of the United States and the Demo
cratic nominee for the same Office. There
viii bc but two platforms. II our conjec-
turc be right, the Republicans win declare
for continuance OF the tobacco tax and
Che Democrats for repeal OF that tax. The
Republican platform in New England an(
tle Republican platform in Virginia viii
be the same. One platform must be nc
ceptea all over the United States. So tina
General MALONE and his followers mus
stand, whether they will or not, just wher
EDsuNDs. and IIoAR, and GRANT, an
CoNKIING, aud LOGAN, and all the rest @
thelHepublicans, stand.
II, then, the Democrats should be do
feated in Virginia this year, and this deiea
should result in Republican triumph mex
year, nobody would expect the tobacco-ta
TO be repealed. Would or could anybod
expect that result TO follow iiepublica
triumph: Would General MALONE himse
pretend to believe that the tobacco-tax wi
DC abolished ii Republican House of RI
personalities and Presiden, OF the Unite
States shall be elected next year? Woul
not everybody in that event set il down q
settled That the tobacco-tax was to be PEI
manent tax:
the NOtcrs OF Nirmini. shonld ,nnndn