The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1886-12-08
The Republican Party and Tariff Re
ductlon.

Just at time when the small men of
the Republican party and some of their
still smaller Democratic coadjutors, be
gin to feel safe from the oft-repeated
and oft-repelled attacks of the revenue
reformers, it begins to dawn upon the
leaders of the party that the people have
been hood winked By the protection
dodge about as long as they will stand
it, and so, led by Mr.. Blaine, who is al
ways on hand to save his party from
disastrous defeat, though he be not as
strong as his party in some of the
States, comes the cry, from the Repub-
licans, for revenue reduction. Mr..
Blaine and the Tribune have said that
there shall be a reduction of the reve
nue., and that pitches the key for all the
small-fry Republicans and Protectionists
in the land.
The present and new position of the
Republican party, though in favor of
reduction of the income from customs,
was clearly fereseen by the thoughtful
men of both parties. 1t was inconceiv-
able that there could long be in this
country political party hoping to get
control of the Government, and all the
while refusing to reduce the war taxes,
Notwithstanding the income of the Gov
eminent was largely in excess of its
needs, and constantly increasing.
The point of interest has been to know
on what basis the Republicans would
recommend the inevitable reduction land
to the horror of our friends in Louis
lana, they have coupled sugar and mo-
lasses with tobacco, and propose to wipe
out all the tax on these articles, so as to
render a reduction on other articles of
necessity unnecessary.
Our position on the repeal of the to-
bacco tax is well known. Tobacco is
not a necessity, but a luxury; and, to
many people, baneful luxury; and, be-
sides, the tax is not oppressive, and
repeal or reduction of it ought not to be
considered while the tax on wooden fab
RIGS and other articles of necessity re-
mains.
The tax on sugar and molasses is
revenue tax, strictly speaking. 1t yields
the Government annually some $4,000,
900. IF all or a large part of the sugar
and molasses consumed in the United
States were produced here, it might with
Justice be said that the people were be-
ing compelled to pay into the treasury
this vast sum for the benefit o. the pro-
Queer; but since less than one-seventh of
the amount consumed is produced in
the United States, all the revenue de
rived from the six-sevenths produced
abroad and imported is raised from
a revenue and not protective tax.
The case would be different if six-sev-
enths of the amount consumed were
produced in the United States, and one
seventh imported. In that event the tax
would not be a revenue tax, but pro-
tective tax.
The Times Democrat has shown time
and again that the friends of the Louis
lana sugar planter were to be found In
the ranks of the Democratic party; but
it never seemed entirely satisfied with
its own utterances in that behalf; be
cause no paper in the South has labored
more zealously in the interest of pro-
tectiye instead of revenue tariff and
it has encouraged and endorsed those
members Of the Democratic party who
chose to act with Mr.. Randall rather
than with Mr.. Morrison
When the proposition to link sugar
with tobacco is brought before Congress
by the friends of protective tariff,
where will the Louisiana members stand 7
We imagine that there viii be new
alignment. It is certain there should
be.
Out Of al this comes the consoling re-
Fiction that the labors Of the revenue