The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-10


which was found incapable, even in time Of
peace, of furnishing revenue for the ordinary
| support OF the government, the Republican
| party was intrusted with the control of the
! country, and, for a quarter of a century, con.
| fronted by unexamped difficulties during one of
/ the greatest epochs of our history, won enduring
| fame, in addition to its patriotic achievements
| by the integrity, skill and success with which it
conducted the financial affairs of the Nation. On
| the 4th of March, 1885, the Republican party
handed over to its Democratic successors the ad
ministration of the government IN a condition of
uneQnaled credit. with an overtiowing treasury,
and with tariff so invulnerabe that its free
trade opponents propose 10 change 1t because it
is only too fertile in producing revenues. wholly
| unmlndful, as they appear to be, of their own
prodigai aptitudes as national spendthrifts
The paramount credit for the financial measures
which have been so long and are now so closely
identified with the growth and prosperity of the
country. unquestionably belongs to the Repub
liean party, and there is other party whose
yesterday looks back with q smile The ex.
ecutive department. of the government early
officially proclaimed its policy on civil service
and on the silver question: but it is TO be feared
they at once let it be understood that these were
only Pick wickian declarations, or that the ad-
minstration dropped its eggs like the ostrich,
with 10 subsequent care whether they hatch or
not, and that their friends were at liberty to
favor or oppose any action upon either subject,
to win on heads or tails, with no fear of dimin
ishing their personal shadows in any future ap-
plicallODS TOT Inc places OIL offensive partSanS,
provided they maintained true allegiance at the
polls to the present administration On the
tariff question, however the official declarations
are supposed to be enforced with greater rigor
and rebellious recreants seem to have seats at
the lower end of the table If the Democratic
party shall fully accept the leadership of the
second hand retailers of free trade. whose econ
omic theories. almost throughout the universe,
have won the contempt of legislators. and shall
ignore the inspiration and prestige which pro-
tart has nd tn try II.
Illustrated by all of the progressive records of the
past 1t will be greatly regretted butn one need
despair of the Republic so long as there is any
party visible which honestly and firmly strives to
bring into full play the intelligence genius, in
vention and industry of great people-a party
not ashamed to uphold tariff as the sure pres
age of victory which offers some protection
first. last and forever, to the honor. welfare and
prosperity of our own native land"
Mr. Beck desired to know whether the Senator
from Vermont proposed to advise his friends in
both houses-and he took that to be the scope of
his remarks-to resist all efforts that might be
made towards reduction of taxation. If this
essay were read for the purpose of encouraging
the Senator'S friends in each house to resist all
efforts at reduction of taxation, the country
might as we'll understand that all such efforts
were to be forestalled and defeated. Was it
now proposed that nothing should be done in
that direction, and that the Republicans and
the Democrats who voted with them last session.
should, under the leadership of the Senator,
resist the bringing up of any bill to reduce taxa
ton?
Mr.. Morrill, said he only desired to show that
ne was opposed to such propositions as had come
last session from Democrats; but he was quite
ready to unite with any party that would take
hold of the subject in the spirit which he had
suggested in his remarks.
Mr.. Beck said that the Senator should advise
his friends to bring up some measure that would
suit his views but so long as there was resistance
consideration that w the end of ali affort
When the leader in the Senate on financial ques
tions-the chairman of the committee on finance
gave out in advance. in a resolution and
speech, that nothing could be done to improve
existing conditions, 1t was like rallying his
friends in advance in opposition to every move
ment At the present rate of taxation the sur
plus revenue latter all the public debt that
payable was padl would be 1925 900 900 year;
therefore the Democratic President and Secre
tary of the Treasury demanded and insisted that
the taxation on the people should be reduced
There was no other way to get clear OF the surplus
revenue honestly. 1t might be locked up in the
Treasury but that meant bankruptcy Extrav
agant appropriations might be INDUCED in, but
that meant corruption; or premium of 20. 30,
40 or so per cent might be paid on bonds, but
that meant extravaganza and swindling OF the
tax payers for the benefit OF the few men who
held the government obligations, SO that il the
legislators were honest men and intended to deal
honestly with the people they we're compelled to
reduce taxation down to the point that would
suffice for an economical administration of the
government That did not involve any ques
ton of free trade. Was the Senator from Yer.
mont opposed to an honest effort to reduce
taxes9 The whole scope and burden of his
speech were in that direction. The whole bur-
den of his speech was. Do not reduce taxes, or,
if you do. take them off such articles to-
bacco. Perhaps he also meant whisky, because
whisky and tobacco were the articles
which there were internal revenue taxes.
No one paid these taxes except the
consumers of whisky and tobacco But the
Senator would keep up the duty of 95 per cent.
on blankets and 65 per cent on clothing. He
Mr.. Beck believed that with reasonable taxa
ton, with duties reduced to the necessities of
the government, the manufacturers of the United
States could reach the markets of the world. and
that the laboring of the country could be
employed twelve months OF the year instead of
five or six months, as now. All the pretenses of
aiding American labor by high tariff would be
exposed whenever the door was opened for de-
bate. The Senator from Vermont instead of
legisating to encourage his constituents to build
greenhouses and to raise oranges and lemons in
Vermont--to sell them to the people at ten cents
aDiece-ought rather to encourage them to Guilt
vate potatoes and send them to Cuba, and out of
the proceeds TO buy oranges and lemons in Cuba
and sell them to the people of the United States
at a cent apiece. The people of Vermont would
then be better off and the people of Cuba better
off, and trade would be kept up. He hoped that
the Republican Senators and members would
ton and give the Democrats a chance to discuss
the question.
Mr. Sherman said he had watched in vain for
over eight months of last session for any propo-
sition to reduce taxes on the part of the Demo
cratic majority in the house, where alone such
bills could originate. He believed that the rev.
enues collected were too large and that the pub
lie safety and the public interest demanded a
careful reduction of taxation. There was
dispute between parties on that subject. But
who had the power to propose the plan for re-
ductiop of taxes? The Democrats. That party
had been Entrusted with the power of legislation
in the House. They had promised, in their
national platform, to reduce taxation, and to do
it in such manner as not to injure the IN
dustries of the country. But the trouble was
that the Democrats could not propose any plan.
The propositions that had been made in the
House had been so diverse and various and
some of them had been so absolutely contrary to
the interests of the country, that the party itself
lam Sad hrro