The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-01-29
About Right

In the subjoined article the New York
World, in defining its position on the tariff
question. unquestionably places itself in
line with the great body of the democratic
party of the Union:
The Commercial Adgertiser is perplexed
over our position on the tariff question
We regret this because, as we always set
forth our principles with clearness, it
implies that our contemporary has read
the World carelessly, and has thus neg
lected valuable opportunity for informa-
ton and improvement.
We are in favor Of
l. OF cutting down the expenditures
of the government and of putting a stop
to stealing:
2. Of disseminating galloping pay
ment of the public debt not contemplated
when the debt was contracted, and unjust
to the present generation because it taxes
them unnecessarily and disturbs banking
facilities.
8. OF raising the revenues necessary
for the government by moderate excise
tax on spirituous liquors and tariff fol
revenue so distributed as to afford Incl
dental protection to home manufacturers
and home labor wherever it is needed and
just.
We cannot in any way lessen taxation
while a republican administration is
squaHdering the public moneys, while
corruption permoates the departments,
while stealing goes pnpunished, and while
an excuse has to be found for heavy
taxation and large surplus.
The present democratic house may
enforce some economy by reducing appro-
priations. But it cannot even to thi:
extent now secure revenue reform, because
the senate and the president will not allow
the present tariff to be touched Hence
we are unwilling to waste powder by firing
in the air at tariff beyond our reach
causing needless agitation and giving the
republicans an opportunity to divert the
attention of the people from the plair
issue between honest and dishonest gov
ernment.
We supported Mr. Carlisle because vi
understand him to favor tariff for reve-
nue. with all the incidental protection i
can afford. and to be opposed to foolish
ness. That we are not in error, the
speaker'ss utterances after his election
which We reproduce. viii show He saiC
to the house over which he was called tC
preside:
Sudden and radical changes in tht
laws and regulations affecting the com
| mercial and industrial interests of tn
people ought never TO be made unles
lmperatlvely demanded by some publi
emergency; and, in my opinion. unde
existing circumstances such changes woult
not be favorably received by any consid
cradle number of those who have givel
serious attention to the subject.
IF there be any who fear that you
actions on this point or any other subjee
will actually be injurious TO any interes
or even afford reasonable cause for alarm
| am quite sure that they will be agreeabl
disappointed. What the country has
right to expect is strict economy in III
administration OF every department of tn
government, just and equal taxation TO
public purposes, faithful observance o
the limitations Of the Constitution and
scrupulous regard for the rights of an
interests of the great body of the peopl
in order that they may be protected, a
far as congress has power to protect them
against encrOaChments from every direct
ion"
Senator Payne says:
Free trade has never been accepted b,
the government of any civilized natio
nation and is impracticable and impossibl
and those words for revenue only,
unwisely inserted in the platform of 1885,
lost to the democracy the presidency an
and all which that loss implied. and lik
fatality will assuredly follow repetitio
of the folly in future campaigns"
This is exactly true. 1t is exactly wha
the World said six months ago TIL
word only" must go.