The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1883-05-31
SENATOR BAYARD ON THE TARIFF.

pressed In recent letter to the publisher
Of the New York World, and epitomized in
our telegrsphic report yesterday morning.
Mr.. BAYARD is one OF the most cautious and
statesmen in the United States |
and Mr.. BAYARD is, withal, a presidential
candidate. 1t may, therefore, be set down
to suffer himself to be drawn out upon so
vital and extensively discussed subject as
the tariff unless he is convinced that his
views are not only sound but such as the
awakening spirit of the times approves. Too
many aspiring men have been wrecked
upon financial and tariff questions to al
low so far-seeing and cautious states
man as Mr.. BAYARD to speak has
tily or in opposition to the
popular will Just at this crisis in his own
aud his country's history. The fact, there
tore, that he has. il not in so many words,
at least in effect, and by the consequences
of his reasoning, declared himself in favor
of tariff for revenue only, living, as he
does, too, in the east, and in manufactur-
ing state, would seem to indicate that the
senator is not only convinced of the cor
rectness, but of the present popularity
throughout the country, of the views ex'
pressed by him in the premises. The rea-
soning bv which he reaches his conclusion,
is not only clear and constitutional, but
practical and statesmanlike to pre.em,-
nent degree, as, indeed, are all
tho public utterances OF this distin-
guished senator. Thrown into the form of
syllogism, the premises of the
senator are at once apparent, and his con
clusion rrefutabe. His views as outlined
by the telegraph, when presented in such
shape are, briefly: Taxation is imposed
properly only to meet the exigencies OF
government; but the imposition of tariff
is taxation, therefore the tariff should con
form to and he required only to meet the
exigencies of government. There is no
protection in this, no bounty to the manu-
facturer, no favoritism to this or that prl'
vate enterprise within tho country. The
'exigencies of the government" do not in
clude the protection or building up of pri-
vate enterprises. When lie and property
have been protected and their peaceful en-
oyment has been ensured and the various
officials of the government have been.paid
for their services, when the necessary
money in word for running the
machinery of the government itself has
been raised, the exigencies OF the govern
ment In its present peaceful state have been
met and to take private property for other
purposes than this, in word to impose
more taxes than are necessary to run the
government, is a fragrant violation of the
constitution, robbery and outrage, unless
compensation is made in kind by the gov
eminent to these from whom this excessive
| taxation is taken. In round numbers now
the revenues of the government reach
nearly 800 ,000, 900, while the expenses dc
not amount to more than half this sum
leaving surplus or unnecessary amount
OF taxation raised from the customs end in
ternal revenue of nearly 5000 600 600, or fol
the sake of safe argument, say
800 100000. Here then is $780,,
100000 raised by taxation, fol-
which there is no compensation in kind
given the citizens from whom it is raised
and which sum is not needed in meeting
the "exigences Of government" In Other
words, in the face of justice and the con
stitution annually 500 900, 900 of the pri
vate property of the citizens are taken from
them without compensation by the govern
ment and given to the manutacturingcla
who alone derive any advantage from the
tariff, by which this surplus of revenue is
raised. SENATOR BAyARD wants us to keeI
within the constitution by conforming the
tariff and taxation to the actual needs o
the government and cease at once
taking private property from one SCI
OF citizens and giving it Il
another. In short he is simply for q TART
for revenue only believing that any othel
is not only unjust and inquitous, but un
constitutional upon the clearest grounds
The force of this reasoning is apparent a
once to even the unreasoning mind and tn,
tact that prominent statesmen in the east
the very home and hot-bed of ultra protec
ton views are adopting it and coming on
boldly in favor ofright, the people and tn,
constitution, is not only q highly gratifying
fact but an indication that protection
Is weakening in its very strong holds, tina
though tardy in their approach, common
sense, justice, equal rights and constitution
al methods are beginning to show and as
sert themselves in the determinations o
great public questions.
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