The Monmouth inquirer., 1889-12-05

mum Dy prompt actloRApd by TIE assurance winch
the country alreAdy epjoys that any nepessary
changes win De so made as not to impair the just
and reasonableaprotection of our home Industries.
The inequalities Of the law should be adjusted,
but the protective principle should be naint iined
and fairly applied to the products q our farms as
well as Of our Shops These duties necessarily
have relation TO otAer thinss besides the public
revenues. We can not limit thcr effectsSpy fixing
cur eyes ON the public treasury sA,ne They have
direct relation to home production. to work, to
wages and to the commercial independence OF our
country, and the wise and patriotic legislator
shonld enlarge the field of his vision to include all
of these.
Removal of the Tobacco Tax.
The necessary reduction in our public revenues
can, am sure, be made without making the
smaller burden more onerous than the larger by
reason of the disabilities and limitations which
the process of reduction puts upon both capital
and labor. The free list can be very safely ex-
tended by placing thereon articles that do not
offer injurious competition to such domestic pro-
ducts as our home labor can supply. The removal
of the internal tax upon tobacco would relieve an
important agricultural product from burden
which was imposed only because our revenue
from customs duties was insufficient for the pub
lie needs. Ii safe provision against fraud can be
devised, the removal of the tax upon spirits used
in the arts and In manufactures would also offer
an unobjectionable method of reducing the sur
plus.
(fhe president here refers to the amount of
money in circulation at some lengthy
The law requiring the purchase, by the treas
ury, of two million dollars worth of silver bul-
lion each month to be coined into silver dollars
of four hundred and twelve and one-haif grsiins,
has been observed by the department.; but neither
the present secretary nor any Of his predecessors
has deemed it safe to exercise the discretion given
by law to increase the monthly purchases to four
mill 6nlln Wlaf1 fh.,l la yyQg
IS 1879 the price Of silver In the market was
S1.20 4-10 per ounce, making the bullion value Of
the dollar % cents Since that time the price has
fallen as low 9l.2 cents per ounce, reducing the
bullion value of the dollar to 7o5 cents. Within
the last few months the market price has some
what advanced, and on the 1st day Of November
last the bullion value Of the silver dollar was ~
cents
Tho Silver Dollar.
The evil antieipatione which have accompanied
the coinage and use Of the silver dollar havs not
been realised. AS q coin it has not had general
use, and the public treasury has been compelled
to store it But this is manifestiy owing TO the
fact that Its paper representative is more con-
venient. The general acceptance and use of the
silver certificate show that silver has not been
otherwise discredred Some favorable conditions
have contributed 10 maintain this practical
equality, In their commercial use, between the
gold and silver dollars But some of these are
not consrol, and OF the continuance OF which we
cannot be certain.
think IL is clear that If we should make the
coinage of silver at the present ratio free, we
must expect that the difference in the bullion
values of the gold and silver dollars will be taken
account Of In commercial transactions, and
fear the same result would follow any consider
able increase of the present rate of coinage.
Such result would be discreditable to our fnan-
cial management and disastrous to all business
interests We should not tread the dangerous
edge Of such peril. And, indeed, nothing more
harmful could happen to the silver interests.
Any safe legislation upon this subject must
cure the equality Of the two coins in their COM
mercial uses
/ have always been an advocate Of the use of
silver in our currency. We are large producers of
that metal and should not discredit it. To the
plan which will be presented by the secretary of
the treasury for the issuance of notes certih-
Gates upon the deposit of silver bullion at It's mar
ket value, have been able to give only hasty
examination owing to the press of other matters
and to the fact that it has been so recently forInu-
lated. The details of such a law require careful
consideration, but the general plan suggested by
him seems to satisfy the purpose-to continue the
use OF silver in connection with currency, and
at the same time to obviate the danger Of which
have spoken. At later day may communicate
further with congress upon this subject.
president Harrison here makes brief ref
erence to the Chinese Exclusion act and the
Behring Sea proclamation.l
Coast Defenses.
Judged by modern standards we are practical
ly without coast defenses. Many of the structures
we have would enhance rather than diminish the
pers of their garrsons if subjected to the fire of
improved guns; and very few are SO located as to
give full effect to the greater range of such guns
as we are now making for coast defense uses
49,. tI1~,
gress for some years, and the appropriation for
the construction OF large rifled guns, made one
year ago, was, am sure the expression Of q pur-
pose to provide suitable works in which these
guns might be mounted. An appropriation now
made for that purpose would not advance the
completion Of the works beyond our ability to
supply them with fairly effective guns.
The security OF our coast cities against foreign
attack should not rest altogether In the friendly
disposition Of other nations. There should be
second line wholly In cur own keeping. I very
urgently recommend an appropriation at this ses
sion for the construction Of such works in our
most exposed harbors
war that provisonibe made for encamping COM
panies Of the Natioual Guard In our coast works
for Q specified tune each year. and for their train
ing In the use Of heavy guns His suggestion that
an increase OF the ARTILLERY force Of the army is
desirable Is also IN this connection commended to
the consideration of congress.
The Improvement Of Our important rivers and
harbcss should be promoted by the necessary ap-
propriatious Care should be taken that the gov
ernment b not c. .nmitted 10 the prosecution Of
works not Of public and general advantage and
that the relative usefulness Of works Of that class
Is not overlooked So far as this work can ever
be said to be completed, / do not doubt that the
end would be sooner and more economically
reached il fewer separate works were undertaken
at the same time and those selected for their
greater general interest we're more rapidly pushed
to completion work once considerably begun
should not be subjected TO the risks and deterora
ton which interrupted or insufficient appropria-
tions necessarily occasion.
Protection Of Federal Ofacers and Wit
sA& 'i nesses.
The assault made by David s. Terry upon the
person Of Justice Field. Of the supreme court of
the United States at Lathrop Cal, In August
last. and the killing qf the assaiiant by deputy
United States marshal who had boon deputed to
accohpany Justice Field and to protect him from
anticipated violence at the hands Of Terry In con-
nection with the legal proceedings which have
followed, suggest questions which. IN my iudg-
ment, are worthy Of the attention Of congress.
recommend that more definite provision be
made by law, not only for the protection OF fed
eral oficers, but for fun trial Of such cases In
the United States courts. In recommending such
legislation do not at al impeach either the gen.