New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-08-11
POPULAR OBSERVATIONS.
NATIONAL DEBATE ON THE TARIFF
MR. NrMMo WANTS THE ISSUE SUBMITTED ~
TIE COUNTRY.

MR.. NIMMO WANTS THE lsStf4
THE COUNTRY.
TofheEdftor ghe Trfbunv.
Sir The Mills bill has posed the House oil heposo
tatlvcs and IS now before the Senate Inc qu's"
arises ought any tariff bill to be passed during 'ho
nrcsent session Of Congress- think not and mainly
for the reason that the passage Of any tariff bill wouu
be in the nature OF forestallng the opinion OF 'h'
country upon vital question Of National policy upo"
which our future as Nation largely depends i"o
Issue Of tariff policy upon tho basis oil the 'H'o'
commonlv known as free trade was clearly presented
to the people OF this country last December pS inc
President of the United states, whose denomination va"
a renewal of the challenge thrown down by him. '"'
Mills bll in its original form, and before the Dem
ocratic purpose had weakened through the lear vi
results, a concrete expression of the same tarl"
issue This appeal made TO tho country has oecn
answered by the Chicago platform The issue thus
Joined hold to be orc OF National policy and OF hlsher
rank than any legislative question: Action upon 'ns
issue by Congress at the present time hold, there
fore, to be out of order
But there IS very important view of this dues-
ton which, think will be taken by all sincere free
Traders and by all sincere Protectionists 1t Is Oh
the highest importance that the young men, to whoh'
the immediate future of this country will soon De III
trusted, shall have the benefit of the instruction which
they will derive from popular discussion OF great
question of National economies, upon the determination
of which the future of this country chiefly dcpcnuS'
The advantages of public instruction which Will De
afforded by great National debate should not be dihn-
ished any degree by previous action upon the case
in Congress Let nothing be done to diminish pubic
interest in the question During the last six months VIC
have had the best debate had In the Congress oil
tho United States, and the country is well prepared
! for the larger debate.
! But SAYS tho aGrighed Democratic statesman,
what shall we do with the surplus, the terrible sur
plus ~ hold the surplus cry 1t IS raised by DEM
ocrats TO be nothing more or less than Dig FREQ
Trade scarccrow. This surplus alarm calls to my
mind words OF the prophet jeremiah, II thou mast
run with the footmen and they have weaned tnee
then how canSt thou contend with horses Ana II III
tho land of peace wherein thou trsteds they wearcd
thee then how wilt thou do in the swelling OF Jordah
The case with us is simply reversed The kcpuDh
can party of this country during the years
from 1861 TO 1884, contended as it were, win
horses" and carried this Nation safely through LUG
Swelling OF Jordan" This terrible surplus WHICH 50
dsturbs Democratic statesmen is merely one OF those
pertrbations which ever and anon will occur In tho
land Of peace wherein We trust" and Cod grant, Ill
which generations to come may securely dwell There
| was a time when this Nation was contracting a war
debt OF three million dollars day. That was inc
swelling of Jordan" But tho Republican party re-
duced the National debt from S2,756,0OoOOO In 1850
to 81 1873 100000 in 1855, and they reduced the
interest on the public debt from 81 90 per capita In
1866 TO Sc cents per capita In 1855 and they dld
f. too without the loss Of cent in the Treasury.
| The Republican party reduced the internal
! revenue hom 500 900 in 1866 10
| S112.OOOOOO In 1888, and also reduced the customs
revenues largely by placing tea and coffee upon tho
frc, list and by many other reductions in the aflii'
until We are about down to and think little bcio"
the basis properly protective of American industries
After the 18th of next March the Republican party
which disposed of nearly Sl,4OO,OOO0O0 Of National
debt without any great strain upon lis faculIcs' VIII
as quietly, and ocnefciay TO the Nation dispose Oh
this little mountain OF Sl2J,OOOOOO surplus. ~
If YOU Will pardon the undue length OF TINS litcr'
allow me to Indicate two ways in which tlils can 10
Gone al least In a sufficient degree for all iinincdla
needs of our National finance. First, let Congress MAKE
liberal appropriation for scacoast dciences the tota
cost of which according to our military authorizes
will be fully Sl3O0OO00 1t viii cost
$4,000, 900 to defend NcwNofk City, including inc
cost of the necessary works at The cas-
end of Long Island Sound. There is pressing neces
sty defences at the entrance TO Puget Sound where
the Canadian and British Governments have erected '
| strongest military post tie American continent
\ Then acain II viii be good craftsmanship 20 appro
pirate money build post Offices In cities, where the
saving Of rental Will be a good interest on the ahOun
appropratcd. Moderate appropriations Tor these Oh
jects in connection with the abolition of tobacco TAX
and tax on whisky used In the arts, also the pac nl
Of certain non-cOmpetitivc articles on the ffce ISL
would reduce the surplus sufficiently for present pu
poses. Let no Republican be besullcd by this tall
about the surplus. Above all things let us not evad
the National debate the tariff question by any eN
pcdent tending compromise the grand cause OF pro
tecti TO the National industries
JOSEPH MIMIC JR.