Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1886-05-21
THE TARIEE,

One Of the cardinal doctrines Of the Demo
cratic party has ever been tariff for revc-
nue. and not for protection.
In all the political campaigns of the party |
either for president or for representatives |
in Congress it has been the watch word |
from the tower that every dollar taken from
the people by way Of tariff on foreign i'm
ports, or internal revenue, in excess Of the
necessary expenditures Of the government
was so much money filched from the pockets
of the husbandman and the honest sons of
toll and labor.
The last Republican President in his mes
sage to Congress declared that the revenue
Of the government was in excess Of the
needs. The present Democratic President
has reiterated the same thing. The reports
OF the Treasures of the United States prove
by the figures the same thing
And yet no sooner has 1t been even sug-
gested that during the present week the bill
to reform the tariff would be brought up in
Congress but there is an outcry not only on
the part of Republicans, but also from Demo-
Gratis against the measure. Some even go 80
far as to condemn the President for using
indirectly his official position TO influence
and control the action Of certain Democrats
in reference to this measure.
The question Is simple one Is it honest,
is 1t just TO unnecessarily tax and burthen
the people any longer by the internal reve-
ii L. IF he mazda nf
government
The Democratic party has declared to the
people it is not. The Democratic party has
pledged itself to the people to reform this
evil. The Democratic party is in the ma
iority in the lower house Of Congress. The
Democrats Of these United States will look
to them to make good that declaration and
fulfill that pledge. There can be no excuse
for not SO doing.
1t is folly for them To say such law will
not pass the Senate Let the House do its
duty fearlessly and regardless Of the Senate
and If this reformation Of the revenues Of
the government Is right, let 1t go forth to
the people that the Republican Senate has
acted wrong In refusing TO grant 1t.
The day for temporizing with so i'm.
portant question has passed. Let II be
understood, fairly and in sober earnest that
men who are opposed 10 this crying need
of reform in this particular, men who are
still willing to fitch and extract needessly
the hard earned money from the bone and
sinew of the land, men who by their votes
shall forfeit their word and sacred pledge 10
the people, such men are no longer Demo
Gratis and have no claim or right to demand
or expect the support of the party.
Let the cry come up from the Democratic
party Of this whole land TO press the bill to
reform the tariff Let nothing short Of full
and speedy vote upon this important ques-
ton in the House satisfy the party. Let
sentinels be placed upon The watch tower
and let the vote be well scrutinized, let their
be no absentees when the vote is taken, and
let it be known that the pretended Demo.
crat who fails TO support this measure il
hcnceiorth excluded from participating in
the councils of the party. The people are
tired of deception and false pretences, they
want acts and not false declarations ant
unfulflled pledges. The evils Of an over
flowing treasury are apparent Throughout
the lend
Congress, by devices OF national public
schools, by unjust and burthensome pen
sion bills, by enormous appropriations for a
river aud harbor bill to improve mythical
rivers and harbors, will always try TO de
plete the treasury of its excess. This is MOI
Democracy, nor in accordance with the Ma
tional Democratic platform. What we wan
is tariff for revenue, an honest and eco
nomical expenditure Of the public money
and instead Of discomfort, need and disturb
ance throughout the land, we may expec
TO see thrift and prosperity.