Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1888-07-26
AlsEPuBLIoAN REVOLT.
Rev. DIR. CuIler Out Against the Chi
cago Free Whisky Platform.
tDr. cuylsr, in The RvungelI.t.l

lDr. Cuyler, In the kvangeltst.l
/ claim the privilege, as an old-fash-
ioned Lincolpite Republican, to enter
my earnest protest against its reaction
ary "plankn on the most controverted
question Of the hour. In 1884 the Re-
publican convention wisely declared In
iavor Of the revision of the tariff and
the reduction of the enormous and
dangerous surplus. But this years
Convention has strangely declared in
favor Of the practical maintenance of
the present exorbitant and Oppressive
war tariff, and In order to provide
against the accumulation of a surplus,
it suggests q repeal of the taxes on
whisky and tobaccoI Instead. of TAX
ing off the burdens from many neces-
saries of life, it would give US free pipes
and free whisky!
Six months ago Mr.. Blaine, in his So
called message from Paris" very
sagaciously said: 81 would not advise
the repeal of the whisky tax. There
is a moral side to ii. To cheaper the
price OF whisky is to increase its con-
sumption enormously. There would
be no sense in urging the reform
wrought by high license in many
States, if the national Government
neutralizes the good effect by making
whisky within reach of every one at
20 cents gallon. 1t would destroy
high license at oncein all the States.p
Very true, Mr.. Blaine; and 1t would
bring in carnival of Beelzebub and
Blcchus all over the land.
l am not the only dissentient against
the extreme high tariff heresies of the
late convention. Many. of the most
powerful Repuhl lean journals are pro-
testing against them, and such staunch
and thoughtful Republicans as ex-
Mayor Seth Low and Rev. DIR. Storrs,
and many Others of our Brooklyn citi-
zens, are In open revolt against them.
DR.. Storrs said to me yesterday that, as
he could not turn Democrat, he would
initiate Sambo in the story, and "take
to the woods" If all of us Republicans
who are opposed to free trade and free
whisky, and yet are strenuouslysin
favor Of reducing the present outrage.
ously oppressive tariff, should follow
the example of DR., Storrs, the woods
will be pretty full by next November,
The immense surplus in the national
Treasury is fraught with increasing
evils and dangers. There is a growing
discomfort among the intelligent work
ing classes with high taxes on the nee
essarles of life, The many are now
burdened for the benefit of the few
1t is in the power of the Republicans
in the present. Congress to correct i'm
mediately many of the unjust features
of this odious war tariff" if they will
set resolutelyand boldly about it. They
will thus spike the guns" of the free
traders, bThey will neutralize the un-
happy effect of that pronunciamento
in favor of free whisky as an alterna-
tive. They will prevent a political
cyclone that will gather volume as the
season rolls on. This is question that
deeply concerns both the financial sta
bility and the public morality of the
nation. For party politics in the mar
row sense care but little; for princi-
Piles that alone can make parties effec-
tive for the public veal, l care good
deal. Thirty years ago I used my
tongue and pen zealously for the Repub-
lican party in its early conflicts with
the monster of chattel slavery. Its
name and fame are dear to me; and
trust that 1t may not become itself en-
shaved to the reactionary rule of those
who would build up monopolies at the
expense of the great mass of the people.
AS this is question of absorbing in
terest, and touches great moral issues,
l do not hesitate to discuss it in these
columns. j'.et a...... f--.. d.