Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1884-01-31
[From the American Register
The Political Issues.

[From the American Registcr.l
The Political Issues.
Much has been said and written of
late about the political issues before the
country, and the Republican organs ap-
pear to have difficulty in shaping the
issues to suit themselves at the present
particular juncture. The questions
arise upon matters of fact, which news.
papers cannot wholly fabficate, and
should not be allowed to mould or give
form to. Attention is invited here to-
n few of these issues. 4 a
First. What is the real issue on the
tariff? The Republican party is in fa-
vor ofa protective tariff, which makes
protection its primary and controlling
object, and revenue simply incidental
thereto. But the Democratic party ad-
heres to q revenue tariff, which makes
revenue its controlling object, but af-
fords protection as incident to the Sc
lection of the articles on which the du-
ties are laid. The consequence of this
is that the Democratic tariff is limited
to the necessary expenses OF the Gov
ernment, while the Republican tariff
collects between one and two hundred
millions of dollars q year more than is
needed tbr the public expenditures.
This is the real issue on this subject, and
it makes the question whether the peo-
pie desire to be taxed q hundred mill
lion dollars and over, Il year, more than
is actually necessary or not ~
Second. What is the real issue on the
finances of the Government? The
Democratic party has always since the
days of Jefferson, indeed since the for
nation of the Constitution, made econ
my in the administration of the Gov
ernment cardinal principle. Whereas
\ the present Republican party since it
came into power in 1861 has favored
constant enlargement of the eXpendi-
lures of the Federal Government with
view not only to personal aggrandize-
ment, but also with view to the GEN.
tralization of power, and the protection
offavored interests, and the creation of
mOnopOlies. In 1873, having an over
whelming majority in both branches of
Congress, the Republican party passed
"the salary grab law" whereby the
salaries of the leading public officers of
the United States were about doubled,
and the President'ssaralry raised from
$4,000 to $50, 1000 a year, when hisper-
quisities of Office in the way Of
the expenses of the Executive Man.
sion were already over $4,000 a year.
Beside this, the proffigacy with which
the Republican party has squandered
and given away the public lands toraii-
way and other corporation monopolies
shows wasteful extravaganza in that
party that knows no bounds. When
this Republican party CAME into power,
in 1851, the total net annual ordinary
expenditures had been under Demo-
cratic administration the year previous
only $50, ,056, 1871; whereas under the
Republican administration in 1852 the
expenditures reached the sum of 1885,
379, ,896.61, and they continued to in
crease in the same way every year, un-
til in 1865, the total expenditures of the
Republican party, for that year reached
the enormous amount of 81 I'll, 704, l99.
%, exceeding q million of dollars o
month. During the war of course the
expenditures were vastly increased, but
since the war, and exclusive of the war
debt, the ordinary annual expenses of
the Government have grown to about
three hundred million dollars q year,
an increase in the ordinary annual ex-
pendituresO of the Government of more
than four hundred per cent. under this
Republican party.
d So much for the finances.
Third. What is the issue as to the
preservation of fequality Ofrights among
the people? The Democratic party has
always insisted upon JeffersOn's idea,
that the blessings Of government, like
the dews of heaven, should fall equally
and alike upon all, the rich and the
poor, the great and the small,
all men paying it homage, least
as feeling its care, and the greater as not
exempt from its power. But. this Re-
publican party Is the party Of monopo-
ly, Of corporations and concentrated
wealth, and which seeks to control
power Of fictitious interests, and to
transfer it from the hands of the many
tothe few. This il q leading distinction
between the two parties, made mani
fest in the whole history of the party
Fourth. What is the issue as to the
Capitalization of power in the Federal
Government? The Constitution made
the States and the Federal Government
equal and coordinate powers, each SUI
premeS within the sphere Of its own
powers, and each q mutual check upon
the other against the abuse Of power.
The Democratic party maintains this
theory of the Constitution, and to con-
fine the Federal Government within
the sphere of its expressly delegated
powers it insists on strict construction
Of the Constitution. But this Re-
publican party, adopting the
doctrine of the old Federal party,
insists upon a latitudinarian construc-
ton of Che Constitution, and the en-
largement of the powers of the Federal
Government, and the centralization of
the powers of the States into 1t. This
is one of the deepest lines Of distinction
between the two parties. Alexander
Hamilton proposed to abolish the
States and consolidate them into the
Federal Government, and thus form a
consolidated monarchy or empire
And this Is the ultimate result in which
the doctrine of this Republican party
would terminate.
Fifth. The Democratic party is gov.
erned by not only Il strict construction
Of, but strict adherence to, the Con
.s.stitution rs tire only certain safeguard
Of the rights and liberties of the people,
But this Republican party fritters away
the Constitution by q loose construction
that can make il mean anything Oh
nothing, proclaims higher law than
the Constitution, sets aside the Consti.
tuition and also the most solemn pledges
nf the vnuhttc' faith whenavar they