The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1886-05-26
The Whisky Tax.

We are surprised to learn that there is
candidate for Congress in Mississippi
who favors the abolition of the tax on
whisky, and yet if we understand Col.
Hooker, who is a candidate in the
Seventh District, that is his position.
In his reply to the letter Of Maj.
Barksdale's explaining his vote on the
Bonded Whisky Bill, he says:
Is he Maj. Barksdale to be set down
forever as in opposition to the repeal of
the Internal Revenue laws? If so, then
he will take wide departure from the
pronounced policy and views of the
great leaders of our party, and which
has been the slogan of the Democratic
party in every canvass from 1875 to the
present hour.
This utterance of Col. Hooker is a
criticism on the following passage con-
tanned in Maj. Barksdale's published
letter to Mr.. Spencer, of Port Gibson:
will never vote to repeal or to abate
the tax on spirits or any other luxury,
while the people are taxed on the clothes
they wear, the implements they work
with, and on the necessaries that sustain
life.
This makes sharply defined issue
between the two candidates for Congress
in the Seventh District. The one, Mai.
Barks3ale, declares that he will not vote
to abate the tax on whisky or any other
luxury while the people are taxed for
necessaries of Efe-clothing, tools and
articles of food the other, Col. Hooker,
in obedience to the Slogan of the Dem
ocratic party as he phrases it, will
vote to repeal the Internal Revenue
laws, including the tax on whisky and
tobacco, without reference to any action
to be had on the customs tax on food
and clothing.
The advocates of protective tariff
would be well pleased to see the tax on
whisky and tobacco repealed, as that
would pecessitate the imposition of
tariff which would have the necessary
effect of protecting the monopolists of
the United States at the expense of the
masses. The advocates, however, of
tariff for revenue, as the easiest means
of raising money to defray the Govern
mens's expenses, insist that the tax on
whisky and tobacco shall not be repeal
ed till the import duties on the neces-
saries of life shall have been first repeal
ed. As to the tax on whisky and to-
bacco, COL Hooker's position classes
him with the protectionists or high tar
iff men, while Maj. Barksdale makes of
him low tariff man.
The slogan to which Col. Hooker re-
fers, is the slogan, not of the Democratic
party so much as it is the slogan of
Democrats of the Sam Randall type;
and were it the slogan of the Democrat
ic party for never so long time it is
not the slogan now. Least of all is it
the slogan in Mississippi.
On every gallon of whisky manufac-
tured the Government is entitled to a
tax of 80 cents, and this yields prince
ly sum annually, to be used in paying
the public debt and meeting the neces-
sarily large appropriations.
We know of no one except Colonel
Hooker, in the broad limits of the State
of Mississippi, who is complaining of the
tax on whisky per se-not even the sell
lers and consumers.
There is not a citizen of the State, no
matter what his occupation, who would
be benefited by the repeal of the tax.
The profits of the man who makes his
living out of its sale would not be in
creased, if indeed, they would not be
materially decreased.