The southern sentinel. (Winnfield, La.) 1883-1910, 1884-10-31
The Tariff in the Campaign.


II is clear that the Republicans have
decided to make the tariff the issue in the
present campaign. The only other qnes-
ton before the country-that of civil SER
vice reforms one which they do not
care to discuss. They cannot meet the
argument that government, Us represent
ed by the Republican party, has grown
corrupt and scandalous, and that every
substantial interest of the nation demands
a change. They join battle, however on
the tariff issue and are basing upon that
their claim to popular suffrage. 1t is an
issue which the Democrats should and do
Eagerly accept, for an impartial consider
alton of the two platforms with view to
reaching an intelligent choice between
them must infallibly result in tremen-
dcnS preponderance for the Democracy.
The Republican platform may invite the
support of certain classes of manufactu-
reIs and all classes of monopolists. but the
Democratic platform addresses itself to
the interests of the manufacturing and
"---N-
laboIing masses all over the country.
The difference is very evident. Mr..
Blaine is preaching a doctrine of protec-
tion,pnre and simple. lie does not de-
clare for an abolition of internal revenue
tax. SO hat the means of supporting the
government must needs be derived from
duties on imports. He advocates naked
protection. American manufactures must
be fortified by Il tariff which will make
them rich, no matter whether the poor
man is compelled to pay tribute or not
through the increased necessaries of life.
The scheme contains no guarantee of an
improved state OF things for the laborer.
lt merely assures an increased profit for
the capitalist. On the other hand, the
Democratic platform is framed to cover
every inch of the ground 1t sets out
with pledge to abolish the internal rev.
enue. 1t promises to abate that oppres-
sive custom which taxes the enterprise
and Industry of the American citizen.
Under its operation the individual will be
free to engage in any legitimate oecupa-
ton he may elect without paying tribute
to the government for the privilege of
trying to support his family. Men will
no longer be taxed ON what they hope to
toaaake. but every respectable channel
OF livelihood will be opened to them
without money and without price. We.
say nothing of the benefits that will flow,
in a purely political sense, from the OBJ
Iteration of so powerful party machine
rs the internal revenue establishment has
always been. We confine ourselves to
the exclusively financial aspect of the
question. The Democratic programme is
10 eliminate every source of revenue ex4
sept that Of the Gustomhouse, and to look
70 the duties on imports for the means cf
the government and paying
pensions and interest en- the public debt.
: Ii needs no argument to prove that the
operation of the Democratic theory is the
Que calculated to confer the greatest ben
efits upon the greatest number of people.
The platform contains two provisos which
makes this eonspicuously clear: LIST.
That in the readjustment of the tariff,
special reference must be had to the pro-
Iection Of capital and labor already in
vested in domestic enterprise; and. Sec
Dndly, that the tax must be made to bear
most heavily on articles of luxury and |
lightly on articles of necessity. In other
Ncrds. the programme is devised in the
interest of the whole people and not in |
hat of a few favored classes. Itprovides
a return to the Democratic practices
\ the founders of the Republic and is
19sed upon sound and wholesome prin-
iples of government. How any intelli-
gent and patriotic citizen can hesitate be-
aS6en the Democratic and the Republi-
m platforms is problem which we
;8nfess ourselves unable to solye.-T.-D.
-