Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1890-06-18

Total.
46s.esI.9n.64l

| 1Otesi's 1ootool ,JI l.Ot
From this table 1t appears that the sugar
| aggregates the enormous sum ofs465, GOO 900, and
that for the last of the fifteen years the bounty
| Will cost nearly SS0,000 600.
| The SILK bounty will cost, by like calculaA
| ton, not less than S50,000O00 during the ten
| years it Is to exist. have made these ealcula-
| tioDs upon the assumption that these bounties
| will accomplish the objects which the majority
| of the committee reporting this bill think they
will, namely, to establish the sugar and silk
| Industries in this country SO that our own peo-
pie Will produce both articles in quantities
| sufficient TO supply the requirements Of our
own country.
| had supposed that if there was one sub
jet to which the Republican party was
thoroughly committed 1t was the entire
abolition of the tobacco tax. The platform
upon which Mr.. Harrison was elected and
from which 1 have quoted Enthusiastically
proclaims it, and theTe are gentlemen DOW
iu this House, filling seats on the Rapubli-
can side Of the House, who with uuseifish
desire TO enighten the good people of Vir-
ginia in the doctrines of the Republican
party, came to our State in the fall of 1888.
refer to the gentleman from Illinois
| Mr. HOPKINS who spoke from the same
| platform with me in the town Of Lexington,
and in favor of my opponent; the gentleman
from Michigan Mr.. BURRows], member
| of the committee that reported this bill, and
| who spoke at my own home (Staunton, Va
and advocated, as I am reliably informed,
ths total abolition Of the tax on tobacco;
the gentleman from Indiana Mr.. CHEA
DLE], and if I mistake not the gentlemen
from Kansas [ Mr.. PETERS and Mr.. PER.
KINs1 and others, some of whom, if not all,
as am informed, declared that the Repub-
.ican party was committed to the abolition
of, and if it secured power would abolish,
this tax on tobacco. Aud now when you
have an opportunity to abolish the tax and
redeem yoar promise to the Virginia people
yon are found vigorously opposing it.
So anxions, too, was thu present Speaker
of this House Mr.. Reed, tina then defiant
leader Of his party 10 the minority, to see
the tax on tobacco taken off in the last Con-
gress that he was unwilling to wait for the
report Of the committee on the revenue bill
and used the following language in this
House December 16, 1887:
We are all agreed, at least upon this side of
the House. that the surplus should be reduced,
and we stand ready now before the holidays to
the House are agreed, and that is in relation to
the tobacco tax; and hope that an opportuni-
ty will be given us before we separate by the
powers that be and are to be, to vote thereon
and show to the country sonle disposition pro-
per and suitable in this matter.
Contrasted with his action during the
present Congress we are prepared 10 ex-
claim, "Qudntuns mutatus ab lilo Hectore
qui redI eauUias a?ldatus Achili!!"
With these facts before me can not ade-
quately express my surprise a6 the speech
Of the gentleman from Iowa Mr.. HENDER.
SOM who has just taken his seat, a Justly
distinguished member of his party, and who
was prominent candidate for the Speaker
ship of this House as was also she gentle
man from Michigan [ Mr.. BURRows1. The
gentleman says it may be that the Republi-
ca party IS committed to the removal of
tbs intertal-revenue taxes, but "as to the
time when that is 20 be done we are not
com mitled." Such position is simply
tTifling with the people Gud is unworthy of
comment.
The gentleman's additional excuse is
fouud in bis subsequent languago:
As long as the soldiers of this Union are ap-
peeing to Congress for reli 3f and for justice to
be taking off the tax On tobacco while these
and other important demands are pressing up
on us. is something that I, for one can not ac>
quiesce in. [Applause-l
That ia, as l understand the gentIamap's
position, you will not deny that you prom
! iGed the abolition of the tax on tobacco and
at the same tirae you promised to conply
with tho demands OF the soldiers. Your
party knew when it made its promise to the
tobacco growers that it would not be kept;
and you ara now trying to shield yourselves
behind the claim of ths soldier and thereby
Justify your breach Of faith to the tobacco
grower. Such an excuse will not be accept
ed Yen will doubtless try to keep your
promises to the soldiers until Gas is now
anticipated) deficiency rather than sur
plus of one hundred millions, will be had;
but il will be of little comfort to the tobac-
co ogrower to be told that in order for you to
keep faith with the soldier you were COM
PEELED to continue to lay tribute upon his
meager substance, and that, too, for sol
diers, many and many of whom never saw
q battlefield nor heard o gun fire, dessrters
from both armies, camp followers, spies,
informers. and dead beats, besides 1000
dishonorably discharged soldiers, all Of
whom have joined the noble army OF
martyrs and claim their reward il pension
from the Government they never served.
The people Of Virginia and the south
have never murmurfd So the tax for PEN
sioning IN proper measure the trae soldier
Of the Union who brsyely fought the battles
of bis country, bnt they protest against the
preIniun to rascality offered by the pension
! legislation of this republican Congress,
which knows no DISTINCTION between the
brave and the oo*artlly, ast Feea patriotism
and tEeaeheTy.
In order to show that my colleagues frop