Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1883-06-06
Bayard and Mcdonald.
DEMOCRATIC VIEWS OF THE TARIFF
QUESTION.

The World publishes the following
extract from letter written to its
editor by Mr.. Bayard, Of Delaware,
dated Washington. May %.
WHAT MR.. BAYARD SAYS TO Mr.. MULITzER.
The more important the question
the greater the necessity in dealing
with it gravely and worthily, and any
thing like fnessc or the appearance Of
fin esse or trick in dealing with such
an issue as tariff for revenue or q
tariff for the protection of certain
classe of our citizens will greatly
weaken the party resorting to it.
Quite Independent of the enconomy
to the treasury and incidental benefit
to American producers and manufacr
turers which is to be affected by a
higher or lower tate of tariff taxation,
is the more profound question of pc
lltical right and power to lay any pub
lie burden upon the entire people for
the benefit, profit or protection Of
private individuals.
If this claim be admitted as one Of
right, then privileged classes do exist
in this country, and although titles
may not be allowed by the Coustitu-
ton, yet all the advantages and privi-
leges to rank will be obtained without
the name.
know of no position more impreg.
nable, and upon upon which it is more
important for the Democratic party 10
form its lines, than that public proper
ty cannot be taken for private use ur-
der any pretext.
The Constitution of the United
States-and in every one of the States
so uniteG-provides fer the taking of
private property for public use only
upon the rendition of Just compeD-
sation' to the owner; but nowhere in
this country and nowhere where free
institutions have recognition can the
sovereign power take public property
for private use or the private property
of A to be bestowed upon B with or
without compensation.
The only ground upon which any
individual can be deprived Of his pro-
perry is to benefit the community,
and whenever such an exigency arises
he must (under our GUARANTEED be first
| Justly compensated.
Inc form of the exaction is i'm.
material, as much so as the place,
and a tax collector in the interior,
or at a 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 10 be jnstlti
ed must be in the name and for the
use of the Government of the Uni
ted States.
With this principle ouce laid
down, the rate of taxation will be
easily measured by the public exi>
gencies, and such a spectacle as was
witnessed at the last session OF
Congress Of handful of men rep
resenting private interests and con-
trolling and moulding public laws
Of taxation TO suit those interests
will never again be tolerated by
honest public sentiment.
The excise system can be arrang
ed, | am sure, as 10 do away with
the army Of spies and agents and
the detestable inquisition practiced
under present laws. A tax upon
the ascertained capacity of still
can be substituted TOR the host #
political storekeepers and gaugers
and armed marshals who now con-
stitute the chief power Of the Ra.
deal party in many States. And
a sensible reduction of the rate of
tax to a true revenue point would
accomplish vast reform and give
great relief.
| am convinced of the serious
necessity for a change in our Civil
Service system OF removals and
appointments.
The tree will grow aid bear its
natural fruit, and il we continue TO
make mems salaries and means OF
living dependent solely upon the
caprice and favor OF the Executive
branch we will see such men in
high Ciiice as suit the office holding
class and not the people, or their
interest or honor.
\ urs sincerely,
Il. +. BAYARD.