Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1888-01-13
The Real Issues in the Coming Presi-
Dental Campaign.


From the Hartford COurant, Senator Hawleys
paper
Suppose the Democratic House passes a
moderate revenue bill, one likely to lessen
the war taxes, to reduce the accommodating
surplus without inhicting serious damage
upon any of the great industries, bill in
deed that seems to strike fair protection
level without encouraging initiation and spec
ulative over production, such bill as has
been suggested, and the Senate fails to pass
it, and the two parties 20 to the country on
this issue in the presidential campaign.
What will be the position of the Republican
party
There is universal agreement that a big
surplus is national danger, a demoraliza-
ton and an encourager of jobbery and ex-
travagance. The people revolt at the paying
of taxes for any such purpose. The proposal
to raise money by general revenue in order
to distribute it among the several states is
opposed to the spirit of the constitution, is
long step toward Capitalization, and
would tend to destroy the Independence
of the states and,put them in the attitude
Of paupers on the federal government.
The mischievous attempt to do this in 1867
is a standing warning Not less m!schiev-
GUS is another disposal of a surplus proposed
in the Blair bill, dangerously centralizing
measure, and one certain to enfeeble the
states in proportion to the bounty they re
ceive, and certain to kill in many states the
individual responsibility in education, with
out which local schools will grow feebler
and feebler, and the public school system,
resting upon popular effort, as it should,
will be emasculated,
But suppose the House and Senate agree
upon moderate revenue bill likely to re-
duce the surplus and at the same time effect
certain revisious in the tariff that nearly
everybody confesses are needed, and the
President signs it, what will then be the po-
sition Of the Republican party in the next
election
What vii! be the issue before the country
For the party must have an issue, a policy,
or it is not a party that can ask support,
Issues are not wanting and have not been
wanting for 10 years to party of the flu
ture The intelligent revision Of the rev.
enue laws is one that has been neglected.
A revision of the national banking act in
view of the extinction of the basis Of circu.
lation by the payment Of the national debt
is "A pressing one. We are in danger of un-
limited paper based ON nothing but the pop.
ular vote.
The establishment of trustworthy, sta
BILE civil service, divorced from the chilean
cry of politics, is another issue more aud
more pressing.
The fertilization Of our sea coasts and the
creation of a navy that would encourag,
our commerce and enable us to cope at leas
with Psru is another living issue. If il
were pushed it would then be seen whether
after all a considerable part of our surplu,
was not needed for the general defense anC
/ public welfare.
There is also the encouragement of oul
merchant marine, the recovery Of our los
carrying trade, the opening of profitable
commerce with the South American state
aud finding a market there for our manu-
featured articles, These are American is
sues and will teach the spirit of American
ism, which longs 10 make itself felt in tn
world. We might also begin TO deal intel
ligently with the Indians.
Suppose we have only a personal issue
where shall We be in the next campaign