Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1888-01-27
A Talk With Republican Brethren OF
The Press.
From tue Chicago Tribune, Rep.l

From tue Chicago Tribune, Rep.l
The question of reducing the 100 mil
lion surplus revenue and correcting the
irregularities of the tariff as pledged In
the Republican platform of 1884, has
now been sufficiently discussed among
the Republican papers of the country to
permit an estimate of public opinion as
reflected by them. We are surprised to
find among them considerable number
of small concerns (not yet out Of the
horn books of political economy which
are hostile to the Republican Platforms
policy of reducing the war taxes, and to
The Tribune for advocating it. These
unreasoning little organs are disposed
to be captious and snarling in their com.
ments, even to the extent of assuming
the Pnpal functions of accommodation
and reading The Tribune out of the
party.
Among these critics, however, wheth.
er they write in good or bad temper,
whether they are prejudiced or unprej-
udiced, we have not found one that deals
with he question fairly or logically. or
that shows by even plausible arguments
that there is no necessity for a reduc-
ton not one that demonstrates from
facts and figures that the tariff cannot
be properly, justly and benef1cially re-
duced not one that proves it has the
right to violate the pledge made in the
Republican platform of 1884, or that,
that pledge was given to be violated.
We have not found one Republican ed
itor who has given any reason why these
enormous war taxes on the necessities of
life should be continued, or why they
cannot be safely reduced, or why the re-
duction cannot be properly adjusted SO
that the tariff should still be high enough
as a protective measure. Not ono has
shown that n reasonable reduction would
be any damage to legitimate manufact-
uring interests or that consumers ought
to keep on paying these war taxes when
their necessity for revenue has ceased.
We have scanned all the little thick and
thin tariff papers to ascertain If any one
OF them could seriously argue that 500. :
OOO,OO0 OF Unnecessary taxes should be
collected merely to be SOU n er d Il at
but for the War of the Rebellion there
would havebe no such tariff as we have
now or any necessity for it or that six
ty million consumers have not the right
to demand relief from wanton and tyr
anncal taxation on the necessaries of
life for the benefit of millionaire mo-
nopolists.
We submit. therefore, that as mat
ter OF common propriety and decency
these small critics should set forth their
reasons or be quiet. They have no right
to assail the position taken by President
Arthur and emphasized hy the Repub-
ican National Convention of 1884, un-
less they have ample and valid cause.
III they have any reason for 30 doing,
Will they not kindly state them and send
us marked copies, SO that The Tribune
may discover the error OF its ways?
Will they further show us how they ex-
pect the party to win with tobacco on
the free list, with half the soldiers
pension fund destroyed, and the war
taxes continued, and where they expect
to count upon new votes, unless it be
Democratic votesIin Massachusetts,, Penn
sylvania, and Ohio. where they are not
needed They have much to say about
the votes of workingmen, but will they
kindly remember that Henry George got
10000 votes in New York City on
platform OF absolute free trade, with
land tax on top Of il; that here in Cook
county $4,000 votes of workingmen were
pollcd on platform in favor of abolish
ing the war taxes on the necessities of
life; that the recent annual gathering of
Knights of Labor at Minneapolis not
only refused TO adopt any resolution fav.
| oring the continuance of these taxes,
but placed itself squarely on the plat
form of the farmers oil that State, de-
manding relief? If the little editors can.
not get the vote of the farmers all over
the great West or of the workingmen
all over the country, what are they go
ing to do?
The Chicago Tribune stands where it
has always stood-right in The middle
OF the Republican congregational
| plainly states the reasons why IL abides
by the Republican creed, the principal
doctrines Of which are the Republican
tariff reduction OF 1857. the reduction of
1883, and the pledge made in 1884 TO re-
duce the tariff still further. In the curt
language Of Gen. MacMahon "J'y
suis; J'y reste" The Tribune is here and
stays here, and tells the reasons why.
Would II rot be well for its little critics
be fore shrilly piping out any further
treble excOmmunicati ons. To take their
bearings and see where they are, lest
they SO upon the rocks and are dnshed
To pieces!