Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-07-27
THE REPUBLICAN, BOOMERANG

ter.
THE REPUBLICAN BOOMERANG.
The actual reduction of the tariff pro-
posed by the MILLS bill is but AL per cent
The present tariff is 4710; Mr.. MILLS pro-
poses to leave IL 1919 per cent-higher
than the MORRILL, tariff with its urpre-
eedented advance Of duty. As 1t passed
the House the MILLS bill makes reduc-
ton of $50, $50, 1923 on dutiable goods,
and adds to the free list goods which now
yield a revenue of $40 ,75s. s45.51, or a to-
tai tariff reduction of $50, 5sl, 636 SO. The
import duties on tobacco, liquors and silk
goods are unchanged.
The MILLS bill makes the mildest re-
duction that could be made consistent with
the enormous surplus in the Treasury.
There is in the Treasury, available for the
reduction of the debt, $1OS, 220 <64.7l, and
no bonds can be called until 1891, and
then only SIZE, 600, 900. After that moth
ing is due until 1907.
Here's state of things!
The Democratic party has already done
its share of the work of correcting the
abuse. 1t has done all in its power toward
keeping the pledge, to revise the tariff in a
spirit of fairness to all interests, made by
both parties to- the people at the last cleo
ton.
What have the Republicans done toward
keeping their pledge? Nothing, worse than
nothing, for they have simply been OBJ
structing tine Democrats in spirit of mar
row minded jealousy. Worse than this,
they promise no reduction of taxation, but
they do promise an increase and would re-
ducs the surplus by checking imports
and giving the people free whisky.
The Louisville Coarier-Jonrnal wants to
know what the Republicans are going to
do with the MILLS bill and complains that
one day it is announced by the authority
of MCKINLEY's sdherents that they will
do nothing; on the next, Senator ALLISON
is given as the authority for the statement
that the Senate committee will offer sub
stitute for the MILLS bill very promptly.
"They can and they can't
| They will and they won't;
They will be damned nthey do,
And they'll be damned If they don't"
After thus dropping into poetry the
Courier Journal continues:
The Republican platform adopted at
Chicago would, under ordinary circum-
stances, snlightsn us on this subject, but
no platform has ever in so short time
been so openly repudiated and for so many
different reasons.
That document first declares it to be the
duty Of the Republicans to reduce revenues
by advancing the rate of duty, thus
checking imports" as if imports were
cholera, yellow fever, paupers and crimi-
nals. Failing thus to sufficiently reduce
the revenues and discsrding Mr.. TAYLoR's
suggestion to throw the surplus in the
Potomac river, the platform says:
1--WE FAVOR THE ENTIRE REPEAL OF
THE INTERNAL REVENUE LAWS RATHER
THAN SURRENDER ANY PABT OF OUR PRO-
TECrIyE SYSTEM"
Mr.. KNUTE NELSON, Of Minnesota,
lives in Republican district, which adopt
ed q platform which ia not in harmony
with the MCKINLEY platform. Those
Minnesota Republicans say:
ave insist on material and judicious reduc-
ton OF the tariff especially where it bears heay-
ilyupon the producing and agricultural inter
ests, and demand that Congress shalt cease
triaing with thlsmost important subIect?'
The MILLS bill meets those require
meuts exactly. Another Republican Con-
gressional convention in Minnesota, meet
ing since the Chicago platform was adopted,
said:
while supporting the doctrine ofprotecLion 10
American industries, American labor, American
homes, American fisheries, and American honor,
we demand such reduction or repeal of duties as
will relieve from unnecessary burdens the neces-
saries of life"
No one indorsing that declaration can
object to the MILLS bill. Another Re-
publican Congressional convention Gays:
I'm the imposition Of duties on foreign i'm
ports, we demand such revision Of the present
tariff laws as will correct all inequalities therein
and make return to the taxpayers to the fullest
extent without injury to the cause Of American
labor or menseing the prosperity of the coun-
try"
Thus we see Republican sentiment crys-
taliziDg in opposition to the Republican
platform.
The truth is the Republicans at Chicago,
under the lead of MCKINLEY, took q new
departure on the tariff, declaring for higher
taxes and free whisky.