The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1884-07-26
Is TIA Bold Threat:
st, Paul Pioneer Press.
One of the planks or items in the
Democratic platform seems to have
escaped criticism. 1t declares that:

T
One of the planks or items in the
Democratic platform seems to have
escaped criticism. 1t declares that:
The system of direct taxation known as the in
ternal revenue is a var tax; 50 long us the law
continues the money derived theTefrom should
be devoted to the relief of the people from the
remaining burdens iof the war and be made a
fund to defray the expenses of the care and com
fort Of worthy soldiers disable in time of duty in
the wars of the republic and for the payment OF
such pensions as congress may from time to time
grant to such soldiers like fund for the sailors
having been already provided, and any surplus
should be paid into the treasury.
If this declaration is meant to be in
terpreted as a threat to ultimately abol-
ISL the internal revenue, any one
drawing attention thereto would APP
pear to be doing kindly act to this
people. That it is such threat it is
fair to infer from the language, indi-
eating that the internal revenue law,
in the Democratic view of it, is but
temporary Adjustment of internal
revenue means, or would mean. in the
first place, abolition of the only tax
which this people pay voluntarily and
of their own free will and motion. 1t
would mean, in the second place, the
impossibility Of tariff reform; since the
government must enjoy a revenue
from some source, and if internal rev.
enue be cut off, tariff reduction could
not be achieved And finally, this
threat to abolish internal revenue
would mean, in the third place, the as
sertion of the paramount Importance
Of the whisky and tobacco interests,
and their claim to first consideration
at the hands of the government.
While we have no cue or desire to be
disrespectful to two such venerable
items of Democratic fuel and supply,
it will be largely conceded that res
pectable proportion of our fellow citi-
zens might feel that even whisky and
tobacco, per Sc, are not entitled to re-
lief; that they are items of very doubt
full utility and moreover have shown
themselves altogether able to take
care of their own interests without
government aid. 1t is apparent that
very few Democrats read the platform
Of their own party. 1t is highly pro-
bable that scarcely any Republicans
study its eminent and eloquent peri
DDS. Gentlemen of both porsuasions
should consider more carefully what
may be the intent and significance of
the plank referred to. Whereas the
expressions of that platform are ex-
ceedingly evasive and trimming"
upon vital issue of tariff reform, they
are by implication directly menacing
and Ineligible as to their designs up
on the optional internal revenue,
which the people now pay without re-
luetance or hardship. Footings which
show reduction in figures, and avoid
examination of the methods by which
that reduction has been reached, have
always been a Democratic weakness.
That the party proposes, upon getting
into power to substantially reverse Il
good part the existing order Of things,
is we'll enough understood. But if
a part of their upsetting programme
is to excuse themselves for maintain
ing an exorbitant surplusage of tariff
by the abolition of a freely paid, or at
least not a compulsorily paid internal
revenue, everybody, Republicans and
Democrats, ought to be thankful to
know it.