The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-12-04

he is appealing to the common sense of
the business public and will be borne out
by it.
The secretary shows that the principal
trouble with the United States at present
is what tariff reformers have claimed all
along During the earlier period of deve>
lopment, and while war was wasting our
substance and currency was cheap and
plenty, we had home market that was
ample, but now the conditions have
changed. We can manufacture more
goodsin six months than we need at home,
and if wecontinue other present unfriend-
" policy toward our nations we will pres
emily find ourselves growing poorer and
poorer instead of richer and richer. He
recommends the appointment of COM
mission to revise the tariff in the interest
of our foreign trade, and that the surplus
in the treasury may be done away with he
suggests the immediate repeal of the tar
if on raw materials, the admission free of
duty of articles generally consumed by
the people least able to pay taxes, and
the abolition of the tobacco tax. In
accomplishing these or any other changes
he declares that congress should be gov
erncd by two considerations, one of them
being that no radical or sweeping meas
urcs be adopted, and the other that all
unnecessary taxation be done away with.
This position is so reasonable aud so
thoroughly in accord with the best bust
ness sentiment of the country, without
reference to politics. that it will only cX
cite amazcmcnt to reflect that the admin
istraton which takes so wise view of
the question of taxation, revenue, and
commerce is of the same rolitical house
hold as the party which in the campaign
to suggest any change in the tariff.
Not one democratic congressman in fiji
ty will advise more radical legislation at
this time than that proposed by the scores
tary Of the treasury. Dozens of rcpubli>
can congressman, now that the cxigen
cies of political campaign are past, may
perhaps be expected to speak out in snp>
port as the recommendations which he
makes. 1t would be a glorious thing all
around if the representatives of both par
ties in congress who are not subject to
monopoly dictation could agree at this
session to give the legitimate business in
terest Of the country the mach needed
relief. The question, it is clear, is not
yet one of politics, for parties are divided
upon it. 1t is business proposition. Or
one side sullenly resisting any reform
whatever are the arrogant protected
monopolies and their hired or dcludet
servants. On the other are all the en-
lightened business men of the cOuntr,
who ask no unjust privileges, the farmer:
and the great mass Of idle or poorly pait
workingmen who only demand q markc
for their products. Naturally the great
est producing nation on earth, we hay,
permitted inferior countries to deprive Il:
OF a commerce which would enrich Us be
yend the conception of the average mind
No nation ever prospered permanent,
which discouraged foreign commerce
We have lived off each other as long as i
is profitable to do so. A liberal CONNER
cial policy under which an Interchange o
commodities could take place would sOol
put the American republic at the head 0
manufacturing. maritime, und producin:
nations.
The effect of Secretary McCulloch'
farsightcd paper cannot fail to be good
1t will destroy party prejudice on a sub
iect which should not he considered i
turmoil nor decided by higotry. He treat
it from the standpoint of business ma
and shows how relief for all classes ma
be had in Il business way. The needs {
the country are so plain that the prescn
congress might easily meet them even i
the short session remaining.