The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1886-07-24
JUDGE GUNBY'S VIEWS UPON THE
TARIFF.

JUDGE GUNBY's VIEWS UPON THE
TARIFF.
Since Judge Gunby's speech at Yer
non, in which he expressed his views
ut length upon the tariff, several at
lacks have been made upon him on
that score.
The Telegraph does not stand AS his
special defender upon this or any other
question, for he is perfectly able, and
will, as the campaign progresses, meet
all attacks upon him before the people.
This district is up 10 the average in in
telligence and when he goes before the
people we have no fears for the result.
But until tEat time comes we do no
propose to see him misrepresented
upon this or any other question.
AS we stated last week In our article
endorsing Judge Gunby for Congress,
he stands squarely upon the tariff plank
of the platform of the Chicago Demo.
cratic Conventional tariff reformer-
just where every sound Democrat
should stand aud just what every sound
Democrat should be.
We quote the tariff plank in full to
settle "for ever and day" all con.
troversy concerning Judge Gunby's
views upon this question:
The Democracy pledges itself to purify
the Administration from corruption, to
restore economy, to revive respect for law,
and to reduce taxation to the lowest limit
consistent with duo regard to the preserva-
ton of the faith fthe Nation to its creditors
and pensioners.
Knowing full we'll, however, that legisla-
tion affecting the occupations of the people
should be cautious and conservative in
method, not in advance of public opinion,
but responsive to it's demands, the Demo-
cratic party is pledged to revise tho tariff
in spirit OF fairness to all interests.
But in making reduction in taxes, it is
not proposed to injure any domestic indus
tries, but rather to promote their hoalthy
growth. From the foundation of this
Government, taxes collected at the Custom
House have been the chief source of Federal
Revenue. Such they must continue to be.
Moreover, many industries have come to
rely upon legislation for successful con-
tinuance, so that any change of law must
DO ut every step regardful of tho labor and
capital thus involved. The process Of ro-
form must be subject in the execution to
this plain dictate of justice.
All taxation shall be limited to tho re-
quirenents of economical government.
Tho necessary reduction in taxation can
and must be effected without depriving
American labor of the ability to compete
successfully with foreign labor, and with
out imposing lower rates of duty than will
be ample to cover any increased cost Of
production which may exist in consequence
of the higher rate of wages prevailing in
this country.
Sufficient revenue to pay all the expenses
of tho Federal Government, economically
administered, including pensions, interest
and principal of the public debt, can be
got, under our present system of taxation
from Custom House taxes on fewer i'm
ported articles, bearing heaviest on articles
ofluxury. and bearing lightest on articles
OF necessity.
We, therefore, denounco the abuses of the
existing tariff; and, subject to the proceed
ing limitations, we demand that Federal
taxation shall be exclusively for public
purposes and shall not exceed tho needs of
tho Government economically admins
tered.
The system of direct taxation known as
tho "Internal Revenue" is a war tax, and
so long as the law continues, tho money
derived therefrom should DO sacredly
devoted TO tho relief of tho people from tho
remaining burdens of the war, and be made
II fund to defray the expense of the care
and comfort of worthy soldiers disabled in
limo of duty in the wars of tho Republic
and for tho payment of such pensions as
Congress may from time to time grant to
such soldiers, like fund for tho sailors
having been already provided; and any
surplus should be paid into the Treasury.
Every intelligent man knows the
situation Of tho Democratic party upon
the tariff, and the conditions upon
which the tariff platform was adopted
in the convention of 1884. The party
is about equally divided between Free
Traders and Protectionists, and the
two great wings of the party were led
in the Chicago Convention by Mr..
Morrison and Mr.. Randall respectively.
The tariff plank adopted by that con-
vention Quoted above) was a great