The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1888-10-06
For Congress,
HERMAN STUMP,
A Contrast.
The policies of the two political parties
when contrasted show the following;

The policies of the two political parties
when contrasted show the following
Democratic Republican
Tax on Tobacco Modify Abolish
Alcohol Retain Reduce or Abolish Roiain
81 a. NecesSaries Reduce Retain
a. . TnTnries Retain Retain
Object TAX Revenue Proleeuoh
Expenditures Economical Liberal.
Free raw material was the policy of the
Fathers of the Constitution, among whom
Hamilton led the way III his famous Report on
Manufactures in 1871, wherein he declared
that ''the exemption of the materials of man
ufactures from duty, as general rule, par
ticularly in reference to new establishments
as Obvious. 1t can hardly ever be advisable
to add the distractions of fiscal burthens to
the difficulties which naturally embarrass
new manufacture; and where it is matured,
and in condition to become an object of reve-
nue., it is generally speaking better the fabric
than the material should be the subject OF
taxation" He further advocated draw
backs of the duties which are imposed on the
materials of manufacturers and of ''the i'm
portation of iron, in pigs and bars, free of
duty" he argued that lit would certainly be
favorable to manufactures of the article, but
the doubt is, whether it might not interfere
with its production. Two circumstances
abate, if they do not remove. apprehension on
this score; one is, the considerable increase
of price, that has already been remarked, and
which renders it probable that the free Gdn,iS-
sion of foreign iron would not be inconsistent
with an adequate profit to the proprietors of
iron works; the other is, the augmentation of
demand which would be likely to attend the
increase of manufactures of the articlein con-
sequence of the additional encouragement pro
posed to be given" by the admission OF iron
in pig and bars free of duty.
Hence Mr.. Hamilton did not consider that
duties imposed on ''raw materials wear be-
nefcent aspect towards the manufactures Of
the country" [See Hamilton's Works, vol.
3, PIP. 245, PSI, 252.l
The tariff bills of ''The Fathers all made
raw materials free, and hence the Mills bill
would have the support of "rhe Fathers"
Tar on Necessaries The Democratic party,
by the Mills bill, would reduce the tax on
necessaries, while the Republican party would
retain the existing high duties. The poor as
well as the rich consume the necessaries of
life, and duties increase the burdens and cos t
of living to the wage-worker, and yet the Re-
publican party pretends to have special regard
for the working man.
w. aa. -, ,,,.,,,siss- ratoipad Inv both
parties, but when taken with the tax on neces-
saries, the retention of the tax on luxuries
brings no relief to the wage-worker, since he
uses no Injuries, but does use necesSaries al
together. The Republican policy of retain;"@
the tax on necessaries imposes unequal b.
dens, since the rich are able to pay for lnxu-
ries, while the poor are strained in their effort
to live. This inequality of Republican taxa
ton exemplifes the policies Of the two parties
and shows that under the Protective policy of
the Republican party the rich grow richer and
the poor grow poorer To relieve necessa-
ries from tax, while taxing luxuries, is to
help the poor without hurting the rich, and
TO distribute taxation according to the ability
of the tax. payer and equalize the burdens of
government.
The adjustment of tax on Tdic materials,
the reduction of tax on necessaries, and the
retention of tax on luxuries is in brief the
fiscal policy of the Democratic party. The
first, cheapening the cost Of manufacturing
and widening the scope of the business,
increases manufactures, employs more labor
ers and does not reduce wages. The second,
cheapening the living of the workingman,
makes his wages go farther, and gladdens his
home with possible profit over expenses of
living. The third brings the burdens of tax
alton upon the rich without hampering the
poor, and makes the cost and expense OF
government fall upon those most able to bear
them.
The Tar on Tobacco the Democrats would
modify or reduce, and the Republicans would
abolish. If this tax is abolished the tax on
necessaries and raw materials would have to
be retained, hence the Republican party would
abolish the tax on tobacco that the manufac.
ture of necessities might be taxed and the cost
of living increased. As any one can escape
paying the tax on tobacco by stopping its use,
the Democratic party deems it best to reduce
the tax but not abolish it, because the revenue
derived from this quasi luxury is paid only by
those who use "the weed,'' and is not in any
sense a necessity.
The Tar on alcohol the Democrats would
retain and the Republicans would abolish or
reduce. If the alcohol used in the arts and
sciences could be distilled without opening the
way to frauds by which whisky would escape
taxation, the Democratic party would readily
abolish the tax, but that is next to impossible,
and hence it is best to retain the tax on alco-
hol rather than make it possible to moonshiRe
the whole whisky distilling.
With the Democrats the object of the tariff
is revenue, for that and that only the Consti.
tuition gives TO Congress the power to tax the
people. With the Republicans the object OF
taxation is protection, which derives its con
stitutional warrant only from a forced con-
struction. The same regard for the Consti-
tuition marks the policies of the two parties in
the matter Of expenditures. A close obser-
vance Of that instrument requires an econom-
ical administration of the peoples money; a
loose construction leads to a liberal expendi-
ture of the revenue. One may be liberal with
his own money, but those who believe pub
lie Office is a public trust, will recognize the
obligation as reaching to the.expenditures Of
the government as much as to the duties Of
official position.
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A petition calling on President Cleveland
to annouuce himself az in favor of Gov. Hill,
is being circulated in New York. Every one