Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1889-12-13
THE PRESENT VITAL ISSUE

IL is not larQ 10 reach the conclusion
from the indications at Washington that
the tariff issue is to be pushed in the back
ground. The President, of course, does not
treat it with definiteness of committal. He
avoids doing this as regards all public meas
ures Of great importance where courage of
opinion is required. The Secretary of the
Treasury, who is less timid in his treat
ment of points generally, can find moth
ing more explicit to say concerning
the tariff than that "protection TO home in
dustry should be governing considera-
ton" in adjusting its amended details.
Very different kinds of tariff may be ar
ranged under this rule. 1t does not neces-
sarily endorse the tariff bill introduced into
the Senate of the last Congress, while on
the other hand there is nothing in it to in
form the country as to the views of the
Secretary upon the important features ad
vocated by tariff reformers, such as the free
ing of wool, iron, lumber and salt, from the
heavy taxes which are now put upon them.
Legislation on the subject of the silver
currency and on that of the elections In the
Southern States is in the meantime brought
into prominence, which in the opening of
place the tariff in the background. These
are subjects TO be considered, and they have
their own Importance. But they cannot
put the tariff question out of sight. They
cannot m ke il nf minor m nnrtunca II ia tho
previous question in this respect. 1t is the
question which has been longest neglected
in legislation. 1t is the question that most
affects the business of the countryside
general welfare of the people. This in
cludes not only the men who control the
production and conduct the exchanges Of
the land, but those who also labor in the
workshops and ON the farms of our nation
are those to whom it appeals.
The tariff must be settled, in the first
place, because the tariff is over taxation
The history of the world does not afford an
instance OF people so over taxed as ours.
They have been, and they are, taxed to raise
money that neither COVER nment or anyone
else wants To use-money which Legislators
have to exercise ingenuity to waste, or,
worse, to appropriate to purposes foreign TO
eminent The tariff must be changed to
dispose Of the surplus
The attention of the people generally has
been drawn to the tariff in the last ten years
as 1t has not been before for full genera
ton. Their interest in it has been increas.
ing with every month during that period
In the study they have thus given to it, they
have had an education ofthe highest value.
Its effect is shown in the great change of
public opinion that has been wrought dur
ing that time. All this cannot be set aside
at the fiat of politicians who find it an in.
convenient or embarrassing issue for their
own purposes. 1t must go on to its legiti-
mate end, in which is the reform of the tariff
on the liberal principles of modern enlight-
eminent in political economy, and in &c.
cordance with the reasonable claims both of
the business and the labor of the country
The silver question is not one in which
there is any wrong under which any portion
Of the people are suffering. The national
election movement is chiefly a politicians
scheme. But tariff is present vital ISSUE
1t is an issue for which the people have been
preparing for years, and which they are in
a temper to insist shall be settled. The
politicians will do well to heed the peoples
attitude with regard to it,