West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1884-10-03
The Real Issue.

ai' ''hllAlN ibN ilNN l' uIt u INC
platforms of the various parties, the
letters of acceptance of the principal
candidates, and the pronunciamcnto of
Mr. Butler, who prefers to be regarded
aS the candidate of no party in part g.
ular, hut the prs alter of the dis on
tented of all parties. One fact will or-
cur To any one who has the patience to
master the great volume of this sort uf
campaign literature and 10 compare its
several chapters, and that is the sub.
stantial agreement which all have, with
more or less emphasis, come To upon
the treatment OF the revenues. The
Republicans, while still clinging 10 the
prOtcctiOnist idea, and while pointing
out various channels into which tho
surplus can bc turned without REDUCING
taNat on, still promise a revision of the
tarlit The Democrats place tariff re.
vision in the front rank Of the sub ects
of legislation. General Butler dcnoun.
ccs the inequalities of the tarin. aud
proposes principles which, logically up.
piled, would give more radical results
| than either of the organized parties
have vcntured TO contemplate. So far.
therefore, rs the authorized dcclara.
tions of the conventions and candidate.
are concerned, there il every reason tC
expect a treatment OF the revenue sub
stantially the same, and for the first
time i'm any National canvass all are
agreed that that treatment must be in
the direction of moderate, gradual, but
real, reduction.
This singular harmony among the
political parties has been brought
about by the awakening of public
opinion TO the actual situation and the
desire that the revenue policy of the
Government shall cease 40 be the foot.
ball of intriguing politicians. and shall
be dealt with with reference to the real
and permanent interest of all the in
dusirics of the country. Our people
have come 10 understand that a system
of taxation which takes from their cur
rent earnings o5e hundred millions q
year beyond what is needed for the
regular expenses Of the Government
can not be permanently maintained.
This fact has been made more obvious
by the changed condition of trade and
industry since the last Presidential
election. Then everything was boom
ing. Demand was active. prices were
well maintained, speculation was hone.
ful, profits were large and rapid. and
the burden of taxation was not felt.
But, with the reaction that necessarily
followed the ovcr-stimulati.n and
Over-productiOn Of that period, the
burden is not only felt, but is felt
heavily, and the points whore il presses
most sOrcly are easily perceived IT, *
seen that. whether the protection prin-
ciple be sound or not. tho present tariff
is not protective; that It's fa,ors and its
Disadvantages are very unfairly dis
tributedi that 1t clogs profitable manu-
tacturcs dOubly by MS increase of the
cost OF raw material and by It's limita-
tiOn Of the markets The feeling has
grown mp, and all parties think them
selves bound TO respect it, i'm profcs.
sion at least, that the tax system,
should be- rcadiustcd and IT'S cxactious
reduced i'm order that the cntcrpriso
and energy and Labor Of the country
should have frccr play and fairer
chance.
An indirect advantage from ,hs state
Of public opinion is that tho political
field is LEFT more clear for the voters 10
act according to their convictions ON
the ISSUES other than the tarin. The
most important Of these is unmcstiou.
ably thc reform of thc public service for
the purpose yf weakening and ultimate.
], abolishuL the spOils system that hsa
don so much 20 dcmoralIze party man
agcment iu the United tatcs. On thi.
issue there is mo- room for doubt that
Governor Cleveland occupies the strong
cstpOsinon. lie is the only caudi ate
who ba, shown au Intelligent compre
nrusion even of tbc principle ON which
Che reform must proceed He is the
only one whose public career affords
any adc Vuatc security t1at Dee will OF
can carry Chat principle into pract
II would bo absurd 90 think OF Mr..
Blaine or Mr. Butler as 70 rcfJrmcr oi
The iyiI service. Their character. and
their records forbid such au as.ump.
ton. and the laiue organs hardly ven
turc it They are content with trying
20 r.di ule those who believe iu thc re-.
form as overrighteous But Mr.. Glove
land i'm two years Of the most din alt
and responsible adm Illustration has
shown that hc know clearly what ought
to be done and that he has the honc-ty
and the energy to do it--N. y ErcL
iUy PyH
Man-eatine fbarls have appeared
ia New Haven harbor They were
probably sent tnnro b., Steve Elkinf
TO gct away with Che "fr.o fradors'f