The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1888-09-06
PLAIN DEALER.
VHYfnlNa IN fw LINZ N
JOB WORK,
Bm.HeadS, Cards, Posters, Cir.
cularD.
Satisaeds0 b Aeatness, Pfs1pbss ill
Pdes 6uarlltssl.
MO EIAcWHERR~
INDEPENDENT COMMENT.
3eorge william Curtis ON Republicanism
and whisky.

INDEPENDENT COMMENT.
seorge william Curtis ON Republicanism
and Whisky.
General Garfield stated sound and
ust rule of taxation, and expressed
he feeling of conscientious and INTEL
igent Americans, in saying:
First, we tax the vices OF the people, II that
erm may be properly applied to some Of their
tocal habits The smokes. and drinks. and
,hews Of the American people pay almost one
ialf OF the taxes now collected under our in
ernal revenue laws"
The wisdom of the tax, he said,
would not be disputed by any one.
Hamilton, advocating an excise tax
lpon wines, spirits distilled within the
United States, teas and coffee, said
hat they could better than most 9TH
srs bear high duties because they
we're luxuries, and some Of them in ex-
,essive use pernicious luxuries. This,
le said, was especially true OF ardent
spirits, and added:
Should the increase Of duties tend to do
srease OF the consumption Of these articles,
he effect would be In every respect desirable
Mr. jefferson writes to General Sam
iel Smith in 1923:
II shall be glad, too, II an additional tar Of
inc fourth Of dollar gallon on whisky shall
enable US to meet all our engagements with
ounctuality. Viewing that tax as an article In
iystem OF excise, was onoe glad to see II fall,
With the rest OF the system. which considered
IS premature and unnecessarily introduced.
But the prostration OF body and mind which
he cheapness OF this liquor Is spreading
through the mass Of our citizens now calls the
attention OF the legislator on very different
principle. One of his important duties Is -
guardian Of those who, from causes susceptible
II precise definition. can not take care OF them
selves. Such are infants, maniacs. gamblers,
irunkards. The last Is much as the maniac 70
luires restrictive measures to save him from
she fatal infatuation under which he il destroy
ng his health, his morals, his family and his
Isefulness to society. One powerful obstacle
10 his ruin by self-indulgence would be price
beyond his competence. AS san tary meas-
IRE, therefore, it becomes ono of duty in the
public guardians.
This is Jeffersonian doctrine
worthy OF the most respectful consid-
Grafton at the cross roads of both par
ties.
General Grant, in his second annual
message, said:
WIN the revenue Stamps uiSpcuseQ Uy Inc
postmasters in every community, tax upon
liquors OF all sorts, and tobacco in all its forms.
and by wise adjustment OF the tariff which
will put tax only on those articles which We
could dispense with, known as luxuries. and
those which we use more Of than we produce,
revenue enough may be raised" etc.
Senator Edmunds, when it was pro-
posed to modify the whisky tax, said
that question of morals was involved
in the retention of the tax. and added:
.The true principle upon which taxation
ought to be imposed is to put the highest pos
sible rate on articles Of luxury; and what can
De more SO than this, an article the pro-
iuction OF which il would be o great advantage
to this country IL it could be discouraged in
stead OF encouraged and leave the corn and
the wheat and the rye that 20 into you poison
to be fed to the children Of the drunkard, in
stead Of turned into liquid and given to him as
drink
Senator Hawley sal 1 in Congress:
twill not vote for the entire abolition OF di-
rect taxation, nor can the gentleman find a
wise government or wise head OF finance in
any foreign country that Is in favor OF taking
al duties from whisky and tobacco. They ARE
the legitimate plunder OF the tax collector, the
legitimate plumber Of the exchequer, in every
government OF the world. They all get large
be immeasurably and insuferaby foolish II We
abolished those taxes. am aga nst it.
In the same year the Republican
convention in Maine resolved that:
1--WE are unalterably opposed to the abolition
liquors, and demand that all possible reduction
OF taxation should be made on necessaries, and
not upon luxures."
Mr.. Emerson. in his essay on civili-
zation. says that wise government
puts fines and penalties on pleasant
vices, and added:
What benefit would the American Gov
ernmenk not yet relieved Of its extreme need
render to itself and to every city, village and
hamlet in the States if it would tax whisky and
rum almost to the point of prohibitionf
Mr.. Blaine, the chief authority of the
Republican party OF to-day. agrees with
Senator Edmunds He said last Decem.
ber:
"Other considerations than those of financial
| administration are to be taken into account
| with regard to whisky. There is a moral side
| to il. To cheaper the price OF whisky is to in.
| crease ITS consumption enormously. There
would be NO sense in urging the reform wrought
| by high license in many States II the National
Government neutralizes the good effects by
making whisky within the reach OF every one
ut twenty cents q gallon. Whisky would be
everywhere distilled II the surveillance OF the
| Government were withdrawn by the remission
| OF the tax, and Illicit sales could not then be
| prevented even by policy Us rigorous and
| searching as that with which Russia pursues
the Nihilists. It would destroy high license at
! once in all the States. - So long as
there is whisky to tax would tax 1t.
The tax on whisky by the Federal Govern.
ment, with its suppression OF illicit distilla-
tion and consequent enhancement OF price.
! has been powerful agent in the temperance
reform by putting it beyond the reach of SO
many.
These views, SO far as they are
modern, were, until recently. Repub-
lican views. They were the views OF
a party of moral ideas: of party
which. perceiving the terrible conse-
qucnces to the individual and to
society of the unrestricted use OF
ardent spirits, would limit the use by
high taxation. This has been the
policy of the Republican party. II has
asked the support of the friends OF
temperance on the ground that it was
essentially Il temperance party, because
ii favored high tax. in the form OF a
license upon the sale of spirtuou'
liquors. But its latest and strongcs
declaration reverses its precedents,a
demands as remedy for the surplus
the repeal Of the taxes upon tobacco
and upon spirits used in the arts an,
mechanical purposes, and if despite
this. and while checking by highe
duties the importation of articles pro
duced in this country.
This is the way that the overpro
tected manufacturers are expected /,
take care of themselves contrib
uting money to the campaign expense
of the party that preserves to then
their bounties.
Mr.. Blaine talks in public for bun
combe. Mr.. Foster writes in privat,
for business. Which is the NOR,
likely to speak the truth?-Harper''
Weekly (IndD.
| ..,.,.:,.l N.,,., N-~ir la, }