The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-08-16
CONGRESSMAN STEWART.
speaks at mIddIebury and Punetures
the Third Party PrOhIbitIOnist Bub-

} Speaks at mIddIebury and Puneture'
the Third Party PrOhIbitIOnist Bub'
bic.
J As to the internal revenue, | must say
that am opposed to It, as contrary to
the principles of our government. The
Democrats were against it up to 1880,
When they declared for IL in their plat
form. Historically, the internal revenue
ia of little account. Twice only before
the rebsllion was it resorted TO. The
first time was after the revolution, when
the country was burdened with debt ;but
Jefferson denounced it as inqulsltorial
and un-American, and after being IN
force for eleven years the system was
abolished, A second use of the system
was made in 1918, to help pay the debts
contracted in the prosecution OF the war
with England, but in 1917 the act was
repealed. am amused to notice how
some Republicans (though not very good
ones) are distressed about that portion OF
the Republican platform relating to the
internal taxes. The platform doesn I
mean free whiskey, and the man that
saws it does either doesn't know what he
is talking about or willfully mislcads. l
am Opposed to the internal taxes chiefly,
however, because they make possible
the existence of the whiskey trust. This
il a monstrous organization that always
has at it's command at least $500, OOO,-
900. 1t is the most powerful foe of good
morals IN the country; and Is solidly
Democratic. Whiskey costs 10 cents
gallon 10 make. The tax is 30 cents a
gallon. But this tax is not payable till
the end of three years, Meantime the
whiskey is carefully taken care of by
the Government in its bonded ware
houses. At the end of that period the
barrel of whiskey, which cost the owner
81 80, has come TO be worth SAB after
the payment of the tax; so that the
practical working of the law is to make
the Government the banker for this con
Germ, for all this time the Government
has had over $40 (the unpaid taxi invest
ed in the barrel of whlskey, while the
owner has had but $3.50. This is the
system which the whiskey trust wants
kept up and which it strives IN every
way to maintain by work in the courts
and even in Congress. 1t ID one OF the
grcat evils of the country and ought 10
be wiped out. The third party people are
in error. though, in assuming that a
permit. 1t is. in truth, merely mode
of restraint. 1t is wrong to treat prac-
tical question, like this of restraining
the liquor traffic, in sentimental way. |
If you cannot successfully cope with the
drink evil by prohibition, then go at ii
by license. The ProhibitiOnists say they |
want to tear down the Republican party |
in order, evidently, to build up their
own. This is a strange method OF pro-
cedure. Ii l were on my way to tenn
perance meeting and should learn that
my neighbours barn was on fire and my
own premises in danger, should turn
back and help put the fire out rather
than go on and let it take its course. The
meeting could wait, hut the
fire wouldn't. That is exactly our case
at present, The tariff question won't
wait, and isn't it wise TO attend to that
now and the temperance reform later
The Prohibitionists acknowledge that
they don't expect to accomplish nything
exceps cripple the Rel ublican party.
Let us not mix up this tariff issue with
other things. What has this adminstTa-
ton done that Prohibitionists or any one
else should wish to keep it in power
Nothing worthy Of commentator. Has
II reduced the surplusI NO; though II
might have done it by cutting off the
duty on sugar. But that happens to be
Southern Industry; and 80 with rice. A
more thoroughly sectional bill than
the Mills bill was never proposed. Con-
zress passed an act authorizing the pur
chase of DO Dis, and yet they have not
been bought because the President
claims that the validity of the act is
questionable for the reason that it form
I'd part of an appropriation bill. Yet he
travis his saIary-nor does he hesitate
about it, either under an act passed in
Exactly the same way. The education
bill, which has twice passed the Senate,
ia not allowed to come up in the House.
Why? Because the ring of Southern
Democrats who practically run this Gov
eminent don't want it acted upon.