Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1888-07-23
Asked and Answered.

Mr.. Editor,-I have long been n
subscriber and reader of the MONI-
TOR, and consider it good exponent
of republican principles but | read
in the republican platform adopted
at Chicago of a plan to reduce the
surplus in the treasury by abolishing
the internal revenue in part or whole.
As the wicked democrats are claiming
that the platform means free rum and
free tobacco, | would like an eX-
PLANTATION. / have always consider
ed the republicans strong in the line
of temperance. (signed)
One IDEA.
The above was doubtless written by
a democrat. 1t has certain ear marks
on it which we recognize. The man
is one of our Vermont democrats
who was cut out for a good fellow,
and only came short of it by having
a little sswicked" democratic blood
in his veins. He is not at all to
blame for his proclivities, but ought
to improve his opportunities and come
out into the light of progress and of
patriotism. He had reached the
years of understanding when south
ern democracy and northern demo-
Gratis incompetency threw the
country into rebellion. He saw the
labors, sacrifices and sorrows that a
Shareholders rebellion brought upon
us, and was still welded to his party
idols. He has watched the progress
of events these last years he is ia
miliar with facts regarding the things
of temperance and the positions the
parties take on this question, and is
a hopeless democrat, so we can not
prescribe for him. He attempts 10
throw slur upon republicans, so far
az the ahnvo letter goes, by pretend
ing to believe that the ''platform''
and the party favor 'sfree rum"
Let us discuss this matter briefly,
and, inasmuch as democratic organs
and stumpers are claiming that the
party is a ''free rum party" it may
be well to see how the two great par
ties stand on the question. We
make no invidious comparisons in
Vermont. Those who have watched
legislative proceedings know which
party stands firm for the most pro-
nounced temperance legislation
those who are familiar with the men
who manipulate political wires, with
platforms, control conventions, etc.,
have seen for themselves who are the
best representatives of the highest
temperance sentiment of this state.
But the above inquiry relates to a
clause in the republican national plat
form-a clause that the democratic
papers and democratic orators are
calling free rum and free tobacco
plank.
On the subject of tobacco both par
ties are in substantial accord, though
President Cleveland believes that to-
bacco should be taxed. The problem
which the democrats claim to be the
most important, is reduction of the
national revenue to a sum that shall
equal the expenses of government,
run under the present system. To
accomplish this, the president favors
a system which reduces the tariff on
certain imported articles to smaller
percentage and putting on to the free
list certain other articles, notably
wool, lumber, meat etc., etc. His
theory runs toward free trade, OF Ill
innate free trade; while the republic
ans, willing to reduce the income of
government, propose, for the sake of
the business of the country, to cling
to the protection theory; that is, they
protect such industries of farm, fac
tory and mill as need protection from
the cheap material, and cheap labor
of countries the world over, by plac-
ing a tariff duty on such commodities,
and such manufactures as can be
produced in this county, believing
that we should not be brought into
rivalry with the cheap labor of Asia
and Europe. The republicans, in OIL
der to continue protection to our peo-
pie, and, at the same time cut down
the incomes of government, would
cut the tariff slightly, here and there,
where it would do least harm would
remove half or the entire duties on
sugar, amounting to a vast sum, and
would then take off the internal rev.
enue on tobacco, claiming that the
people of the country, notably the
poor, make it a necessity of life. A
tax of 35 cents a pound on this arti-
Gle of consumption adds greatly to
the poor mans expenses. If he per-
sists in its use, whatever tax he pays
government comes out of his earn
ings, and not infrequently out of the
mouths of other members of the fam
ily. The next part of the PROPOSE
ton, as presented in the republican
platform, is to take off the taX"on spir-
its used in the arts" This would be
upon all alcohol used in medicines,
and vast amount used in various
arts, and for mechanical purposes.
The result ought to be in the cheap
ening of very many necessary arti-
cIes that are used by all families.