The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1883-07-14
Issues of 1884.
From the Ne,c York Sun

From the Nelc York Sun:
The controlling issues of the Presidential
election. however they may be formulated,
will be reform in the Government and re-
trenchment in the public expenditures. The
Republicans will seek to make a diversion on
the tariff, as their last resource, but that at
tempt will fail, because there is nothing prac-
teal in the question to divide parties.
The running expenses of the Government
upon an economical basis, interest on the
public debt and pensions require Il certain
amount of revenue. Any tariff that will pro-
duce this revenue must, in the nature OF
things, give encouragement to our home
manufactures, because the duties are mainly
levied on foreign fabrics, with which they
come into competition.
All the technical talk Of theorists and the
devices of politicians in platforms signify
nothing but a waste of words in presence of
this plain and irrefutable fact. One man may
call himself protectionist, another may re-
ioice in being a free trader, and a third may
cry out for a tariff for revenue only. They
will all agree that certain sum of money
must be raised for carrying on the Govern
ment and to meet other obligations.
When they reach the point of levying a
sufficient tax on imported merchandise tor
these objects, human ingenuity cannot frame
a law that will not aid the domestic manutac-
turer who has to compete with any part OF
these imported goods. Of course the tax may
be laid so as to help one interest more than
another But this partiality does not affect
the policy which compelS these divergent
views to come together, and to stand together,
until the necessity for this large revenue dis
appears, or until some other mode of taxation
is invented to meet It,
The public mind is not, therefore, likely to
be diverted from the true issues next year by
this false artifce. The country is called on
again to pass upon the very questions that
were decided in 1874. The fruits ofthat great
victory were materially destroyed by the
theft of the Presidency in 1876, and the pros
titution of public patronage to the worst OBJ
jects that followed it.
The thieves, the perjurers, the forgers, the
ballot-boX suffers, and the other scoundrels
who contributed to the Great Fraud in Lou
isiana, Florida, and South Carolina, were all
foisted upon the public service by Hayes and
Sherman, in addition to the crew Of cOrrup-
tionists that Grant had bequeathed.
These vile creatures now hold the fort.
They are scattered through all the depart
ments. They virtually administer this Gov
eminent. We propose to reform them out of
these places, and to put in honest men to do
the peoples work.
The public expenditures have increased
abnormally, and out Of all proportion to the
growth of population. A large surplus in the
Treasury, the overflow Of excessive taxes, has
tempted Congress to make improper appro-
priations, and to create sinecures for pets and
partisans.
With a Republican Senate and Republ-
can Administration to block the way, the
House of Representatives may be able only to
carry out part of the programme of retrenoh-
ment, as was the case under similar conditions
in 1875. But the good work will be initiated
next winter, and whatever part of it may be
left unfinished will enter into the Presidential
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