Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1888-07-27

is produced in this country but, further
yet, on what may be produced at some
time or other-and let the people foot the
bills nolc.
THE ISSUE SQUIRREL MADE.
The issue of high taxes Or low taxes is
now squarely before the country. On Sat
urlay last the Mills bill, which is the
Democratic platform of this campaign,
was passed, the vote being 1872 to l49. The
Republicans who voted for it were Little
of New Y ork, Nelson of Iowa and Brown
Of North Carolina. Three others, neither
Democrats nor Republicans, who voted
for it, were Hopkins (LaboD of Virgi mia,
Anderson Qnd.) of Iowa, and Smith Ind.)
of Wisconsin. The Democrats who voted
against it were Bliss, Merriman and Green
man of New York, and Randall and
Snowden of Pennsylvania. There was one
Democrat neither paired nor voting-Mr.
Foran of Ohio. So it will he seen there
has been about as close a party division
on this great measure of Reform as is
ever seen on questions of similar magni-
tude. 1t is we'll defined, clear-cut issue.
with no ragged edges-between those for
a reduction of the taxes and those against
it.
No alternative measure came from the
Republican side of the House during the
long consideration of the Mills bill. When
that bill was reported months ago, the lead
or of the Republican side. Mr.. Reed Of Me-.
who is himself member of the Ways and
Means Committee that reported it,
came into the House with minority re-
port signed by all the Republican men,
bers of the committee, and with great
flourish of trumpets announced that If
the Republicans did not succeed in having
the Mills bill modified they would offer as
a substitute for it this minority report,
(which would surely diminish the reve-
nues without impairing the system Of
American protection" That report aoas
qaeuer heard Of afterwards. The Republi-
cans in the House dared not make the
issue. They are too close to their consti-
tuency, and the November election is too
near at hand, for them to run the risk of
offering a competing proposition which
had either to give free whiskey, as their
platform is committed to, OR to go as far
as the Mills bill. With free whiskey they
would be defeated in November, and if
they went as far as the Mills bill they
gave up their whole ground of tariff oppo-
sition to the Dem ocratic platform. They
determined to stand still and dc nothing.
and let that far-off and not easily reached
body, the Republican Senate, prepare a
competing proposition. On the last day
of the consideration of the Mills bill, the
Republican leaders of the House held a
conference as to how they should escape
the scorn of the American people for the
impotency of their party, but they had
not the courage to take any step. The
situation thus created is extraordinary.
and well merted the taunts of the Demo
cratic members under which they sat
dumb. The representatives of great
political party, that for twenty four years
held the administration of the Nation, so
vacillating about its economic policy, SO
demoraliZed by the tearing away of the
miscarled Protection mask under which
it has been concealing high and oppres-
sive tax, so helpless to frame measure in
fulfillment of its promise to revise the
tariff that they were forced to sit silent
with empty hands when called upon by the
Democrats to exhibit their promised sub
stitute for a measure about to pass over
their votes.
The Democratic party, no matter what
to the country as its issue the Mills Bill.
On that it intends to fight, without going
back an inch. 1t offers low instead Of
high tariff taxes. If the people want the
former they will have an opportunity of
saying so. It reduces the money collected
from the people by high tariff tax and
stored away in the Treasury at Washing
ton, by the sum of 81 81 in every 500.
If the people still want to pay out $4.61
of useless tax in every $780, they will have
an opportunity of saying so. 1t creates a
free list by which the farmer may build
his house, clothe his back and furnish his
home and his farm cheaper. If the farmers
of the land prefer paying more for those
things and having the money devoted to
paying pensions" they will have an op-
portunity of saying 80.
These things the Democracy has pledged
itself to the people for years, to do when
it got into power. 1t has gotten into
power and it has kept it's word. Its plan
Of reduction is for the people and for their
business and their firesides. There is
nothing used by man or woman that has
not been cheapened, as far as tariff tax
reduction can affect it, down to the
point that would not imperil American
industry, and no further. On this reduc-
tion the Democracy plants itself before
the people. 1t is in the interest of the
farmers of the fields and the mechanics of
the cities, and 1t is with them to accept or
reject it in November. It is the first real
reduction of taxes that has been attempt
ed since the civil war, and in support of it
the Democratic party asks the vote of
every man who wants that reduction.
GEN. MAHONE
is walking straight along over the Wise
faction. His State Central Committee
has called the Congressional nominating