The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1888-08-23
RnPUBnIoANIsM AND wa1sKEY.


Harper's Weekly of August 18th has
an interesting article On Republican
ism and Whiskey,'m which it is shown
that the present attitude of the Repub-
lican party on the whiskey tax is a rad
ical departure from the convictions Of
all conscientious and intelligent Amer
leans on that subject.
Gen. Garfield, in giving his views on
the theory of taxation, said:
"First, we tax the vices OF the people,
if thai term may be properly applied to
some Of their social habits. The smokes
and drinks and chews of the American
people pay almost one-half of the taxes
now collected under our internal reye-
nue. laws"
Gen. Garfield said the wisdom of this
system Of taxation would not be dis
puted by any one. He did not even
dream that the Republican party, in
National convention assembled, would
ever dare to declare that they
would surrender the entire internal
revenue system rather than disturb any
Of our tariff taxes.
Harper's Weekly says Alexander
Hamilton advocated excise tax upon
wines, spirits, distilled within tn
United States, teas and coffee; said that
they could, better than most others.
bear high duties, because they were
luxurjes, and some of them in excessive
use as pernicinus luXuries. This he sale
was especially true Of ardent spirits.
Thomas Jefferson, writing to Gen
Samuel Smith in 1923, recommended
putting an additional tax IN whiskeg
rather than imposing any increase ii
tariff duties. Among other reasons fol
said action, Mr.. Jefferson said:
"The prostratiOn of body and min
which the cheapnesS of this liqn0!
(whisky) is spreading through the mls'
Of our citizens o calls the attention.
of the legislator. One of his import
ant duties is as guardian of those vito
from causes susceptible of precise def
milton, cannot take care Of themselves
Such are infants, maniacS, gamblers
drunkards. The last, as much as til,
maniac, requires restrictive measure.
to save his health, his morals, his tamil.
and his usefulness to society. Out
powerful obstacle to his ruin by hi
Self-indulgence would be a price beyort
his competence. As a sanitary meas
ure, therefore, it becomes one OF duty il
the public guardians"
General Grant in bis second ANNA
message to Congress, outlined a polio.
of National taxation in perfect har
mony with the Democratic policy o
today, and in direct conflict with tn
present policy of the Republican party
He said:
"With the revenue stamps dispense
by the postmasters in every community
a tax upon liquors Of all sorts, an
tobacco in all its forms, and by o wis
adjustment OF the tariff which Will PIT,
a tax only on those articles which "
could dispense with, known as @luXarie'
and those which we use more OF thu
we produce, revenue enough may l.
raised" etc.
Harper's Weekly quotes largely fror
Mr.. Blaine, showing him to be radical
committedto the whiskey tax, no longe
ago than last December; also from Sci
ators Hawley, of Connecticut, all
others high in the councils OF the Re
=, publican party.
Commenting on this new and wicke
departure, the Weekly says:
, "This is wholly new Republicanisu
, and a complete remuneration of the OF
! principle upon the subject. 1t is thi
new departure which repels DR.. Cuyle
and other strong temperance men.
THE position taken at Chicago upo
! this subject, like that upon the highe
tariff tax, with the suggestion of redu(
ing the surplus by prodiga. disburst
ments, presents as RepuOlicanism
policy and a prospect which alarm
r host of Republicans, as others wer
i alarmed in 1884 by the character an
p significance of the nominations. 1t
another sign of the party d!Sintegratio
which is now going on"