Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1884-03-28
The Great Issue.

Mr.. Editor With what principle shall
the Democratic party confront its opponent
in the coming campaign Shall We say that
the Republican party is corrupt; that II has
flung open the doors of the treasury, robb ed
the people of their hard earnings and fostered
monopolies which have grown strong on
the sweat and tears and blood of the poor;
that it has left no trick, however base, no
misrepresentation, however mean, untried,
to stir up the smouldering fires OF sectional
hatred; that it has made the civil service
the spoils of the victor, to be used as the
greed of politicians may dictate; and that
it is subverting the government of our
fathers, trampling upon the constitution,
and hooking at all who dare to raise pro-
testing voice? This is all true this will all
be urged. Oh yes it will be urged, and it
will not be unheeded. But shall our party,
while it thus severely arraigns Republicans,
show itself to be hesitating, halting between
two opinions, and AFRAID to put into execu-
ton the principle which it processes? How
can we hope to secure the respect of any
voter by such weakened policyg Cow
ardice in legislative chambers is as truly
despicabe as poltroonery on battle field.
For years Democratic statesmen have indus
triously promulgated the doctrine of
tariff tor revenue, and tariff tor revenue
only. Read this >cathing indictment OF the
protective system from the platform adopted
by the Presidential. convention ut st. Louis
in 1S16-a platform, be it remembered, upon
which our party swept the country and
elected President who was never inaugu-
rated
"We denounce the present tariff levied
upon nearly four thousand articles as mas
terpiece of injustice, inequality and false pre-
lenses 1t yields dwindling, not Il yearly
rising revenue 1t has impoverished many
industries to substitute a few 1t prohibits
imports that might purchase the products of
American labor. 1t has degraded American
commerce from the first TO an inferior rank
on the high seas. II has cut down the sales
Of American manufactures at home and
abroad and depleted the returns of Ameri-
can agriculture, an industry followed by
half our people 1t costs the people five
times more than it produces to the Treasury,
obstructs the processes Of production, and
wastes the fruits of labor. 1t promotes fraud,
fosters smuggling, enriches dishonest Off
cials and bankrupts honest merchants, We
demand that all custom house taxation shall
be only for revenue"
While the tariff has had bad influence
on American shipping, we think its decad-
cnce is mainly owing 20 dnwise navigation
laws which etEectually prevent Americans
from buying ioreign-built ships. The reve-
nue. was "dwindling" in 1875, but since 1877
IL has increased not, rs Senator Beck eX-
plains, BECAUSE Of protection but in spite
of the tariff The other charges, true in
1875, are true to-day. Congress has, indeed,
tnkered at the tariff but the reduction OF
duties made by the last Congress was less
than per cent on the average, though its
authors believed, that is to say pretended TO
believe, that it would he 30 or % per cent.
II may be that they were honest in their
declarations, but their hearts can only be
indicated at the expense of their heads.
Here can the Democratic party find its OPP
portunity. Let it do what the Republicans
Of the Forty Seventh Congress were com
PEELED reluctantly to acknowledge ought to
be done.
To such legislation there will be, we doubt
not, the strongest opposition Whenever at
tempts have been made to lower the tariff,
the country has been treated Ia u concert of
hypocrtical howls about the protection
which is legaized robbery-of American
labor. Rivulets of crocodile tears will be
shed. Judge Kelley will make his me-
chanics starve or play the piano Us occasion
may require. But we trust that the leaders
its traditions, true to their own professions,
true to the people who chose them as the
instruments to accomplish great task, may
move, with dauntless courage, right onward
The House will, it is thought, at this session
cut down Republican extravagances by pos
siby thirty millions of dollars. Add this
to the surplus of revenue, already immense
Will it he wise to go before the people and
say; There was in the treasury much more
money than even the Republicans could use
Tor the expenses OF the government; by
economy we have saved you thirty millions
of dollars more; but we dare not reduce the
tariff which creates this Unnecessary reve-
nue.?
Oh let thesparty be manly; let it take
its stand upon pytRciplej and let us go into
the battle IN scfred ranks, with the legend
of "Revenue Reform" emblaZoned on our
banners, and victory is ours II we faltcr,
if we fight among ourselves, if we surren-
der the peoples trust, ii we fail to wage
war, ceaseless and relentless war, against
the iniquities of the the tariff, defeat and
shame will be as inevitable as they will be
richly deserved