The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1884-02-08
What Will Come Of 1t ?

Under the present system ct taxation
the revenues of the Government exceed
the sum required by upward of a hun
dred millions. The practice of the
Republican party has been to use up
this enormous and unnecessary surplus
in schemes of expenditure that were
extravagant and dishonest, as, for in
stance, in Star route plunder and Robe
sonian robberies. The only source
from which any effective opposition
to this corruption and extravaganza
could be expected has been the Demo-
cratic party and finally, after sea-
son of unexampled recklessness, the
majority of the House of Representa-
tives became democratic and the new
Legislators were looked to for an honest
and judicious regulation of the nation
al revenues and expenditures.
To accomplish this end two propo-
sitions were advocated wlthin..the lines
of the majority, and the issue between
them was joined and decided imme-
diately upon the assembling of Con
gress, in the election of the Speaker
Those who were for making the re-
quired reduction through the tariff car
ried the day, and those who were for
accomplishing the same end through
the internal revenue system were beat
en-.
The dominating spirit of the move
ment which resulted in the success of
Mr.. Carlisle was Free Trade. Its i'm
mediate purpose is to eliminate the
element of protection from the national
polity, so far as may now be practi-
cable and its ulterior purpose is to
bring the tariff down to strictly free
trade basis. To this end the system
of internal taxation is to be permanent
ly maintained, notwithstanding its
odious and undemocratic features. For
if the tariff is now reduced in prefer
ence to the internal revenue, that rule
will doubtless prevail in all future re-
ductions in national taxation as they
may become necessary through decreas-
ed expenditure. Then, if the require
ments of the Government should be
brought down to the amount the inter
nal taxes now furnish, or if these taxes
should be increased sufficiently, the
whole be wiped out and the dream of
the free traders would be completely
realized. In that way this internal
taxation, established under the pres
sure for money occasioned by the civil
war, and intrinsically opposed to our
scheme of government, would remain
forever as the source of Federal reve-
nue..
Moreover, it is difficult also, on any
other theory than the desire to estab
lish free trade at an early day, to ex-
plain the abandonment by the new
leaders of all other purposes that have
hitherto held the foremost places in the
Democratic platform, and their perss
tence in the assertion that the tariff is
the only matter that now needs re
formation, and that TO alter it should
be for the present their chief and only
aim.
1t is an interesting problem what
will be accomplished by these gentle
men toward carrying through the pro
gramme they have mapped out fol
themselves, and toward realizing the
one measure which they have declar.
ed to be the solitary mission of the
Democratic party, and the only remain
lug reason for its continued existence
No bill intended to radically alter the
present tariff can hope TO be approved
by the Senate and Executive, even il
itshould pass the house, The question
to be considered is what will happer
after the Democrats have formulated
distinctly what it is they wish to do il
the way of diminishing the revenue
and after the question has gone before
the people to be voted on. viii the
Carlisle Morrison method of dealing
with this difficult subject so commend
itself to the country at large that OF
that issue a Democratic Executive will
be elected, and the unnecessary and
Objectionable surplus be wiped out al
an early day ? or will the Democratic
party, stripped of its old ideas and
spirit, hesitating and disordered by
imposition of an issue on which il has
never been united, sink under the bur
den of its new platform, and another
Republican Administration succeed Pre-
sident Arthur's 7
The revenue reformers have entered
upon a bold crusade. Are they or are
Others destined to profit by it IN Y
S,tn.