Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-04-07
TEE REAL RECORD.
What the Republican Party Has
Done in Legislation.
A Cry for n Reduction of the Tariff on
NecessitiesT An Intelligent.
Theughtfui Communication from
Iowa.

Editor ARaus:-
The Chicago Tribune has set mp an in
termittent howl that the tariff of 80 per
cent on art works, painting and ststuary
must be abolished. and the republican
congress is going to do it. The amount
of duties annually collected upon these
articles not found in the homes of the
poorer classes, is about $500, 900. Were
the duties upon them as high as upon
rice. liz per cent, over $1,000. 900 would
be taken off the shoulders of the poorer
classes. The republican party for the
past quarter of a century has not passed
an act in favor of the general public un-
iii 1t saw as it does now, an uprising of
the masses in open rebellion to its unjust
impositions. For the capitalists and
sgainst the people this party demone-
iiZed silver in 1878. IL did not demone-
tie gold from 1861 to '65 in the inter-
ests of the people; oh, no-such pro
ceeding would not be in the interest of
the capitalists; but it did convert tho
non interest bearing notes of the gov
eminent, the greenbacks. that the peoS
Pile at home and the soldiers n the army
were willing to take, and TO be used as
circulating medium until the government
could redeem them by levying taxes upon
the people in the same manner it has.
and is now doing. to pay off the bonds aud
the interest upon the bonds, into bonds
drawing from to Z $40 per cent inter
est. The commodity, gold coin, had
ceased to circulate as money. Why was
it not demonetiZed when it had ceased to
perform its functions2 Because the re-
publican politicians were in league with
the holders of gold. Greenbacks cousti-
tuted the money circulating in the hands
of the people, worth as now, 100 cents on
the dollar. A corner on gold increased
its value, until it was worth $50 cents on
the dollar in comparison to the greens
back. Government bonds were issued so
that the gold brokers were enabled to
buy them at discount, costing them
about 25 per cent of their face value by
purchasing greenbacks at about 40 cents
on the Collar.
The infamous policy of the republican
party did not cease at this point. The
bond holders were not receiving enough
tribute from the people. The govern
meAt printing presses were taxed to their
utmost to issue money to the bond
holders who would deposit their bonds
with the secretary of the treasury. and
go into national banking. The national
bank notes were founded on no other
security than what the greenbacks were
the ability OF the government at some
future time to pay off the bonds or to re-
deem the greenbacks. The republican
party would have converted the $500
100000 of greenbacks now in circula-
ton into interest bearing bonds had the
people not risen up in the manner in
in which they are now doing IN regard
to paying four times the tariff rates upon
their necessities than the capitalists pay
upon luxuries and demanded that the cir
culating medium should not be further
contracted to benefit money loaners and
to Cypress the people.
The dastardly aud morally criminal
legislation of the republican party has
saddled debt upon the people of three
times the amount of what it would have
cost them. had not an interest hearing
bond been issued.
The hand writing on the wall. has
thoroughly almared the republican pUliti-
clans. They are shaking in their boots
Allison. who has tariff bill now before
congress not materially reducing the
rates upon necessities. and who was re-
elected to the senate in the peculiar man.
ner in which all wealthy senators get
there. In the face of the protests of the
farmers and Knights of Labor, of all
political parties In their conventions at
Des Noines and Marshalltown, who de-
clared year ago that the rates
his committee had set for the
new tariff bill would effectually settle
all tariff agitation for years. This Janus
faced politician now comes out and con-
tradicts his former statement and de
clares that the rate on sugar must be reN
duced from 20 to 30 per cent. Nothing
is said about increasing the rates on dia
monds and precious stones. now paying
10 per cent; amount of duties in 1888.
81 ,047 1888. Had the rate been as high
as that upon rice, the wealthy classes
would have contributed S12. 557 800 TO
the government by the indulgence in
sparkling gems.
Let the Tribune howl against the un>
just rate of tariff of any extent against
the capitalists Injuries. The people are
beginning to study the tariff question and
the injustice heaped upon them by the
republican party. Because that party
happened to be in power when the great
rebellion occurred and the terrible con-
hict was finally suppressed by the upris-
ing of the north irrespective of party
The ablest Mcclellan, Grant
and Logan came from the democratic
ranks, but The republican party has ar
rogated TO itself the claim of saving the
union and because of this assumption say
the people should be numerically taxed
for generations to protect and benefit thu
co-conspiratoTs of the republican politi-
clans.
The American people are not idiots,
even if the republican party in the past
has treated them as such. They will
arise in their majesty and demand that
all taxes upon necessities that does not
benefit the workmen in protected facto-
ries and the hired hands upon wool. sugar
aud rice farms. but does increase the for
tunes of the manufacturers, and the own
ers of the protected farms to a much
greater extent than the Illinois and Iowa
farmer can realize upon their products,
even il protected are to q very limited
extent imported. must be abolished. Let
the Tribune howl; every howl will but
enlighten the people.
Z. S. GIBBs, Lyons, Iowa.
comps Equescurriculum.
A novel and at once meritorious enter