The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1884-04-16
HOME JOU RNAI..
The Democratic Party, and
Tariff and Taxation
Reduction.

Revision, laxallon, AMI the Reducti,
of the Surplus Revenue now being c,
ected from the people; and as Il
Democrtic National Convent,
will soon commence forming It's me,
bership and preparing for an euunci
ton Of position on this subject Of prin
Importance, it is incumbent on evel
newspaper which may, in any dcgrc
he regarded as representative of Dem
cratic opinion, to make an uiterant
thereon. Briefly as possible, and wit
perfect frankness, the Hume journal i
this article will dismiss the subject.
None but the most parlzan Repub
can, or purblind advocate in either pa,
~, Of some specially-protected interest
will dispute that both the tariff, or in,
post, and excise taxation, laid in 1856
and ~ for revenue.f,r.war purposes
now needs thorough revision in Tie wa,
Of reduction, and in some fits features
as We think, Of abolition. As a tru,
Democrat, and thoroughly devoted 10
such measures, we assert with equal
pOsltiveness that the present tariff agita.
tion in the councils of the Democratic
party is inopportune and precipitaie,
and, unless moderated or abandoned
will lead to hopeless division in the
ranks and certain defeat in the Prcsi.
dental election, and a return next fall
Ola Republican majority in the House
Of Representatives, and IN indefinite re.
investment Of that party with the un-
disputed control Of tho Federal Govern.
ment.
Less than year ago not political
calculator of either party entertained
more than bare doubt that the Demo.
cratic party, under anything resembling
prudent leadership, would he successful
i'll the Presidential election of thus year,
with the concomitant result Of very car
assumption of power in both houses
Of Congress. To-day hardly one be,
Jevcs in the probability of that result
not even the headstroag Kentucky doc
tmInalres who are chiefly responsible
for leading the party into this danger.
Gus defIe, aud whom the Home journal I
followed, like Peter, for awhile, but up-
on mature consideration and readi,.p
chooses to speak more considcrateIv
iNan IN the past. Those men are pro- 5
iltc in specious argument tat their \
theory Is the true Democratic position E
ON these subjects, and prof'ise in their c
nrlaIgnment and dcnnncation of their '
iellOw-democrats who will not follow a
them-charging timorousness at least, a
anu III some cases, .rcachcry. 50 in a
iatuated are they with the single idea, II
that they admit it will defeat the party, ii
and almost exuli in the prospect, and T
are talking of what is to be done in fl
1913, or 1892, or in some far.oF Free. p
Trade millennium. Now, this is not
politics, or average good sense. 1t
ii reduction of taxation through we'll /
and systematic adjustment a
d tariff schedules to a revenue basis is II
Inc pressing and imperious demand for o
.he relief of the country, and the Dem is
'cratlc party is to he the agency to ei- o
ect 1t, it will be false to its mission and
'Edeserving of popular support if by 5
'erverse and mischievous management r
shall impcril the cohesion and strength ii
ITS organization and become powerless Ell
do so. We are forced to say that Il
he Democratic Speaker of the House, C!
nj the Chairman of the Ways and pI
leans Committee, and those giving k
mem voclterous support, are fatally IN
irving things to that contamination. til
IN Justification of this impulsive and IL
onfessedly destructive course, they con- pr
end that the tariff view advocated by co
hem Is the cardinal principle delivered n
rom the Democratic fathers and re. TIL
'emted qnadrienally in the party dec hi
aration. Ifby this they simply mean co
he lowest possible rate of taxation con- of
'slent with The necessities for the sup en-
"rt of this Government, this claim ag
night stand unchallenged. But when Ca
hey assert it to he Free Trade, or even We
a tariff for revenue only,"-.that tic
'enseless and luckless form of words en-
'aey propose to erect as the party shib- laI
student of the political his. tri
"y OF the country may successfully tel
eny it. Commencing with jefferson, in
'ad the whole line of Virginia states Gel
men and other political associates down be
% the era of jackson; continuing with
~, lm and Van Buren,, Benton, SiIas try
wright, Marcy, Polk, Walker, Pierce, Wis
Oal Buchanan, johnson, Seymour, col
l''aen and Thurman, who may be con- dis
''ered apostles of the faith, and not rec
'ne of them deod or l;y;pr ovar oil for