National Republican., 1888-04-11

the nest highest b,iI- Pennsylvania, with
si,aCOtCO ohio, s1,933,C 900 and illinois, Si,oOO,.
Go. Inequality Is the strongest ground
urged Tor the passage Of this bill,
yet the inequality of the cotton tax Is
largely In excess. The southern members
are put off with the statement that the passage
of this hill will pave the way for the passage
Ol enc rcfunding the cotton tax but they
know II Is not so. For their hill they can say
that the lcvying of the cotton tax was the
only instance where a tnN has ever been laid
10y the government upon the produU, Of the
soil in It's raw state, and It's cOnstitutiunality
has never been settled by the Supreme Court
60, while cuntcnding that the principle in
volvcd in refunding is wrong, yet If the bill
to refund the direct taS. based ON u wrong
principle, is to pass. they insist ON passing the
cotton tax bill. which is based on right prin
ciplc
This is the proposal of The llibusters.
They will vote TO return the direct taN pro
vidcd the cotton tax is returned, and not
otherwise.
Unfortunately, this inspired statement of
the correspondent is lacking in the essential
element. Truth, both in its assumptions and
lis supposed facts. 1t assumes that the pro-
NNNfl VI lllt 'NllNn IUlu Nut N'lN'l NhN'
This comes with ill-gracc from free traders
aud the tlihustcrs are nearly all free
tradcrs-whO assert that the consumers not
only pay the duties levied on imported
goods, but an increased price on all they
rmthasc of home manufacture because of
the duty. As matter Of fact the purchaser
of the cotton paid the tax. because II was
added to the price Of the cotton, rs every
one knows who Is at all familiar with the
sale Of cotton during the years when the tax
was levied.
Then, again. II is said that the cnnstitu.
tiOnality of the cotton tax has not been de.
tcmucd by the supreme Court. This Is
not true. \ case was made and suit brought
against Rolfc ". Saunders, internal revenue
collector of the western district Of Tennes
see. The court below affirmed the consti.
tutionality of the tax. IN appeal was
taken to the supreme Court The case wa,
cl0boratcly argued there by able lawyers
and the judgment of the court below wd'
affirmed by divided court four judge,
| holding each way.
Again, it Is said that the tax ON cotton
was the only one levied ION the product OF
the soil In its raw state" This is false, a.
those people can see by looking at the taS
| on tobacco.
As the hlibustcrs have explained theil
position to their friends, Mr.. Oates, of Ala
| hama. the leader of the band, has given out
a long explanation, which could all hav,
been compressed into three lines taken from
his sixth reason. "YhS bM has prorOkcc
an agita'iop in .tdcor Of refmding the cotto,
tnr, bW no JW has been Jrough ,tirward dac
passed for that plU.p0Se. ! gare Ho'ic
(which do mt recalD that 4 tbs bill is L
he pissed wW al tie proper time oGu Ma
amendment"
This is the whole and sole reason Of th,
i'll clustering. This minority proposes t,
force the majority to adopt their schernc o
such doubtful propriety that it could no
otherwise be passed or to defeat a legitimit,
and proper measure.
The country ought to know the tru,
reasons for this extraordinary proccelin.
in the House.