Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-05-06
$taunto,l Spectator.
TUESDAY, MAY 6, 1884.
Tariff Reform.

We have always believed that the Re-
publican party only needed chance to be-
come tariff reformers. to even a 'greater
extent than the Morrison bill goes, if they
hadn't been frustrated by the Democratic
party several years ago. They now fear to
meet the issue on the Morrison bill, and it
would be day of rejoicing with them
should the Democrats be so foolish as to
yield their position on tariff reform, and
give the Republicans chance to take it up.
They are aware Of the false position they
occupy towards the growing sentiment Of
the American people in favor of lower
tariff than that which now fills the treasury
of the United States to overlooking and
gorges the already plethoric purses of the
monopolists at the expense of the farmer
and the laboring man.
At recent large meeting Of the business
men of Boston for the purpose of forming
Tariff Reform League, the chairman of
the meeting said:
ssYou will never see a reduction of the
tariff OF the revenue brought down to the
necessary wants of the government by Con-
gress alone. The movement has got to
come from the people by making the repre-
sentatives of the people in both houses Of
Congress feel that they have votes to give
and votes to withhold, and that they will
withhold them from the men who maintain
the present abnormal condition Of things I"
The Constitution adopted declares that
~xraoa,+ c,,rr,1rc II, tbo patiOpa
revenues above the public requirements is
demoralizing and dangerous, and should be
cut down by removing the burden of taxa.
ton from the necessaries of life, and not
from whisky and tobacco, and that the pol
icy of taxing imports, not for revenue, but
for the purpose of obstructing trade, is un-
sound, and that well considered but decis-
i've action looking to it's ultimate abandon
ment should not longer be deferred"
Mr.. Charles Francis Adams, a Republican,
was elected President of the League, and
during his remarks said that while he was a
free-trader, he did not consider free trace to-
day practical or living issue. 81 would
not to-morrow," he said, con any considera
ton place this country on ground of free
trade. 'sAll we DESIRE" he said, sis thai
these trammels which have been thrown
around flee trade during the twenty years
should be as far as possible removed
from manufactures these infants OF forty
years standing. These should now bt
placed in position where they can 60 ou
and compete in the markets of the world
Ard before adjourning, the meeting
adopted the following resolution, which
sounds like the utterance of meeting o
tariff-reform Democrats:
ssResolued, That the leading new ISSUE
confronting the craftsmanship Of the pres
ent day is the question of reducing the sur
plus revenue of the government; that the
Republican party should recognize and pu
itself in accord with the best sentiments O.
the time on this question, and advocate il
it's national platform immediate reduction
of the present tariff and an increase of thu
free list, with view to reducing the reve
nue."
The Republicans are at last, after year,
of misrule and oppression, beginning tx
realize the fact that this country belongs t.
the people, and that it cannot hope to con
tinue in power unless it put itself in accort
with the progressive ideas of the great ma
jority of the people of the country. The,
are beginning to realize the handwriting Oh
the wall and the meaning of the cry, 9Th
Republican party must CO.,