The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1888-01-12
The Manifest DUTY of tho Hour,

AhV lVpupIN'h parry plCuSth lCocll
to correct the inequalities of the tariff
and to reduce the surplus X by
such methods AS will relieve the tax
payer without injuring the laborer or
the great productive interests of the
country,
In the democratic platform adopted
at Chicago, July 10, 1884, we find the
following:
The democracy pledges itself
to reduce taxation to the lowest limit
consistent with due regard to the pres
ervation of the faith of the nation to
its creditors and pensioners. Know
ing full well, however, that legislation
affecting the operations Of the people
should be cautious and conservative
in method, " it is not proposed to
injure any domestic industries, but
rather to promote their healthy
Growth.
1t is well to have these utterances OF
the two great POLITICAL parties in mind
at this juncture. So far as can be dis
covered they are alike in purpose,
both admitting the existence OF an in
creasing evil and both demanding its
removal by such measures as may
seem TO be wisest and best.
Here are two facts upon which the
whole country was agreed in 1884
First, that we have a dangerous sur.
plus which is piling itself up at such
tremendous rate that at the end of the
next fiscal year we shall have one hun
dred and forty millions Of idle money /;
and, second, that this surplus is pos
tive peril because it clogs the govern
ment, interferes with business enter
prise and is OF no use to any one.
Now, then, suppose we take the next
step Something must be done to re-
duce the revenue. No matter what
we will get to that by and by-but
something. 1t is not question of
party politics, because both parties are
in accord, but question of patriotic
duty. Something must be done, and
done quickly, to keep the peoples
money in the peoples pockets, where
1t belongs, and to keep it out of the
Treasury vaults, whore it does not be-
long The people need it to conduct
their business with, and therefore to
extract it from the currency of the
country and hoard it up is not only
bad political economy, but it is bad in
every way and good in no way. Here,
too, we are all agreed. There is no
chance for difference OF opinion.
We stand together-democrats repub-
llcans, prohibitionists, mugwumps and
the knights of Labor-with the excep-
tion Of few unredeemed partisans.
All right.
But where shall we begin this neces-
sary work of reduction' We all cry
out that beginning must be made
somewhere-but where? Mr.. Cleve-
land makes suggestion, as it is his
obvious duty to do and says, Suppose
we admit raw materials into this coun-
try free? and instantly Mr.. Blaine
screams through the cable something
about protection and free trade. He
has kind of rhetorical convusion,
and under the impression that con-
vulslons are contagious he transmits
q cartload OF them by submarine wire
for the purpose of inoculating his PAL
ty and securing his own nomination.
1t is palpable political trick, quite
worthy Of demagogue, but entirely
beneath the notice of u statesman. lie
never seemed 50 little or 80 mean and
contemplate as when he tried to turn
a great national necessity, involving
serious national dangers, to his per-
sonal account as the probable nominee
of party.
Protection? Why, in Heavens
name, is there any one on this CONT
nent who doesn't want to protect our
business interests? Is there any one
who would lay an extra straw on the
shoulders Of the wage esrners, or in
any way interfere with the CONNER
cial prosperity which, after a long ebb
has just turned toward the floodf II
there is, we have not seen him. Pro
lection and free trade indeedl These
have no more to do with the question
we are now handling than has the
complexion of the man in the moon
When that subject is up for discussion
we shall discuss it, but at the present
moment it is not before the house.
We have--this sixty millions OF free
people-these facts to think about
and the conclusion we arrive at settles
the matter for the present,
FIRsT.--The government is rich, and
it ought to be poor 1t has no bust
ness with millions which it does moi
. need
SEcoND,-The government is grow
ing richer every day, and even blind
man can see that crisis is at hand
which ought to be faced.
THIRD.-The revenue Of the country
must be reduced or our political equi
hbrium will be imperilled.
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