The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1889-08-10


held at the same times and places
that representatives in congress are
chosen, aud the names of the candi-
dates voted for are on the same ballot;
and one of the great questions OF the
future will be whether these elections
shall be conducted by the several states
through their own officers, under laws
enacted by their own people, aud free
from federal dictation or interference,
or whether they shall be presided oyer
by officials appointed by the president,
with power to determine the qualifica-
tiOns of voters and make conclusive
returns of the result. The final decision
of the people upon such question
caLdOt be at all doubtfal, unless they
have lost all respect Tor their own
rights as citizens.
In this country the real purposes of
political party must be ascertained,
not from the declarations OF o single
party leader, nor even from the resOlu-
tlons of its national and local conven.
tons, but from the expressed opinions
and general sentiment of the masses
who constitute its voting strength.
The time has passed when any one
man, no matter what may be his
position, can dictate the opinion or
control the action of a great political
party, and as to party platforms, it is
well known that they are more fire.
quentiy framed to secure the floating
vote than to disclose the real party
policy. The people, speaking and
acting separately, without fear of the
political consequences, and therefore
gyIt hnN nNrk Nx. hn
most reliable exponents OF the policy of
the party to which they belong; and
while it is true that all those who act
together politically are not always
agreed among themselves upon every
question at issue, the general prepOn.
derance OF opinion can be ascertained
without much difficulty from what is
said and dong in the country during
a campaign, anu from the speeches and
votes of the men chosen by the people
TO represent them in congress.
IT'S PRESENT POSITION.
Applying this test to the republican
party, its present position upon the
various public questions likely to be
presented for its determination while
ii remains in power, can be easily
| olhtOu. Ih W tuO 5uUJCSL5 al
ready mentioned, it will be compelled
to consider and act upon the questions
OF the tariff and internal revenue
bounties and subsidies, pensions, the
improvement OF the navy, federal aid
to education in the states, aid the gen.
eral financial interests of the country
Upon all these questions, while there II
the usual diversity of opinion among
its members, the party itself is distinct
lY committed; and it cannot ignore
them. 1t will not make any materia
or beneficial reduction of tariff taxa
ton, but will largely increase the rate
upon many important articles OF gen.
eral consumption; and if there is an!
substantial diminution of the revenue
it will be accomplished by the total O
partial repeal OF the laws imposing in
ternal taxes upon whisky, beer, manu-
featured tobacco and cigars. Senate
Morrill, says it will "equalize the reve
hue and expenditure" but whether tni
is to be done by reducing the revenu
or increasing the expenditure, he doe
not state. lie does state, however, tina
the present protective tariff policy wi
be maintained, and he gives no intiina
ton whatever that he will favor a re
duction of taxation upon any articl
from which the government now de
rives a revenue.
But il ls well understood that a
early attempt will be made to reduc
the revenue in the manner just ind
Gated; and at the same time the pei
manent expenditures OF the govern
meut will be enormously increased b
> granting bounties and subsidies
favored industries and private busines
. enterprises, by repeating the limitatio
clause in the act allowing arrears
pensions, by greatly extending th
= scope and operation of the pensio
: system, and by making large appropri;
. tons tor educational purposes in tt
several states. The fact that tn
scheme involves two palpable incol
, sistencies will not deter the party fro
attempting to carry it out. In i
u frantic efforts to re establish itself
J. power, it bid high for the support I
s every dissatisfied element and ever
Il meUdicant enterprise in the countr
}, and the account must now be settled
u no matter how illogical and absurd Il
J. proceeding may be.
FOICI2H 10 OltilCl
u injurious to this country, and whatev'
o policy is adopted upon the subje
e should be predicated upon one or Il
q other of these views. II it is goC
n policy to restrict such trade as much
e possible by the Imposition of high
II protective or prohibitory duties upc
imported goods, it must be upon Il
ground that the trade is injurious
e us; and if so, it certainly cannot
= good policy also TO encourage al
II promote it by granting subsidies fro
IS the public trr sury to the corporation
&c engaged IN carrying it on. Englar
y might consistently subsidize steamsh
II lines even if she possessed no dista
)" colonial interests, because ii is her Sc
II tied policy to encourage commerce WI
e other countries. But it is now, aud h
IS been for nearly 80 years, the policy
D lhis country, under the dictation of q
republican party, to discourage su,
commerce aud contine our people
far as possible to the home market, II
IL only tor the purchase OF what th'
ID need, but for the sale OF what tn,
J! produce. To tax the people heavi
e. Tor the purpose of perpeluating ii
V restrictive policy, aud then to use d
: revenue derived from such taxation
Is Subsidize corporations engaged in E
81 foreign carrying trade, is manitestly
l. absurd and unjust that it cannot be d
I, tended upon any rational ground, @
cept that of a generous disposition up,
he part of members OF congress to gi
a ,way other peoples money. Yet Il
a is just what the republican party nc
IL proposes to do, and Senator Morr
Ie proclaims it without seeming to
l. aware of the absurdity of taxing il
Is ports to keep them out, and paying t
;o carrier bounty to bring them in.
10 INCOME REDUCED; OUTLAY INCREASE
!y Scarcely lessimconsistent is the poll
us of reducing the revenue and increasi
re The expenditures. If the liInilati
d. clause of the pension act is repealt
L. the dependent pension bill is passe
b, aud and is extended to the states
lc educational purposes as proposed in
" bill which has twice passed the sena
II md bounties and subsidies are granite
Il it is almost certain that not less th
rs 5000 ,0G0 900 will be Immediately add
y to the expenditures OF the governme
H. Moreover, there is a strong and p,
~ haps controlling element in the repu
It iican party now advocating the graz
81 ing of pensions, without regard to a
;h or disability, to every surviving sold
VI aud sailor of the late war, auu to [
widows of those who are dead
,y measure which would deplete {
er treasury at once, and compe! the &C
he ernment to seek new sources of reven
|, in order to detray ordinary expense
CO Many senators and representatives q
nI,,,n