Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1883-08-11
THE TARIFF AND THE DEBT.

s.The reduction OF the national debt for July
was 81, 9OO. $50. This would be nearly at the rste
of SlO0, 0c0, 900 y year. There cannot be more
than $3.50, 900, 900 of the national debt paid on
in the nine years except the secretary OF the
treasury buys the government bonds In the open
market. At the rate Tor July, small Is 1t WAS
all that can be paid In nine years will be paid In
three. What viii then be done with the money
that with our present tariff will sccumulste In
the treasuryP''
This statement, as made by the Kan
sas City Times is, none will deny, q
statement Of facts. Still the Ohio re-
publican platform views with alarm
the reduction Of customs taxation,
which it alleges the democracy would
make if it were to come into power. II
the tariff is not reduced what is to be-
come of the money? Already there is
too large q surplus constant tempta-
ton to extravaganza and theft. What
will happen when the revenue Is great
or than 1t Is now, as it will be every
year even under the pretended reduc-
ton made by the last eongresss The
democrats say emo more revenue should
be raised than is necessary economl-
cally to conduct the affairs Of the gov
eminent and to meet ito obligations"
The republicans reply, ssthere must be
no further reduction Of the tariff, to
place our working people on = level
with the pauper labor Of Europe. The
speciousness of this plea has been pref
ty thoroughly shown by the men them
selves who raise the cry in order to en-
nance the value Of their wares, while
they seek from China and Europe the
lowest priced labor that they can pro-
cure. The tariff must be reformed.
Fairness demands 1t. Honesty de-
msnds It.. The political necessities of
the government demand it; and lastly,
but by no means least, the great mass
of the people, who are much better in
formed than many politicians think, de-
mand it. Is q democratic congress,
elected to make an honest effort toward
this referm-elected moro on that issue
than upon any or all issues-to disap-
point its constituency because, forssoth
Mr.. John Sherman says it would not
be well for the democrats just now to
reduce taxation. Democratic congress,
men must remember that the war is
over. State rights n not threatened,
hence not discussed, though none the
less q vital principle Of democracy for
all that. A campaign Of 'tturn out the
.rascals," and "they YER turned out
twenty-five years ago." simply means
q campaign Of dirt. The time for all
this has passed. Taxation is a living
issue. 1t touches every mans pocket
nerve. and there il no nerve that quick
telegraphs sensation to the brain.
The people are ready for this tariff
question. The democrats elected the
present congress upon it; and every
platform in that canvass,
and since, has said that there must be
no more raised by taxation than the
government absolutely needs; the re-
mainder Al figured between that sum
and present revenues to be left in the
pockets of the people. Tho only way
to do this thing il to reduce the Gus
toms duties. IF tho republicans and
Mr.. Arthur desire to stand in the way
of such reduction let them do 70. If
they dc they will simply intensity the
cry which is Of late growing into . very
popular chorus, that cite republican
marty mnst poO