The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1893-12-05

whole, in prevailing rates has been
more extensive than could have been
expected, but ii seems to us they have
not grappled this hydra-headed sub
ject IN that utterly fearless spirit that
could alone hope to attain the highest
results; nor have they, in the detailed
application of accepted theory, proved
themselves without fault. Awed, to
illustrate, by the clamor of the ex-
treme free trading press, vociferating
the wholly artificial doctrine that
what is once on the free list should re-
main on the free list on the one hand,
and on the other bowling to the hector
ing wrath of the Louisiana delega-
ton, they have, in the important mat
ter Of the sugar schedule, effected
compromise that pleases no one.
Hearkening to mere popular out
cry, they have violated deep under
lying principle of their party, while
at the same, time the sugar-growers
remain scarcely satisfied with pro-
lection that promises in the end to
prove more of snare than benefit.
1t is the true theory of the Democratic
party, and should be the controlling
motive in solving all tax questions,
that taxes should be SO distributed as
to produce the least amount of incon-
venience to the masses commensurate
with the amount of revenue raised !;
and this theory should be steadtastly
pursued at whatever cost and regard
less of all conflicting hobbies or
tenets. In keeping with such broad
design, it may sometimes be found
necessary to tax staple universally
used, though by no individual in very
large quantities, in order that other
necessaries, still more indispensable to
the numerous classes that can least
afford to be taxed, may be provided at
still greater reduction Of cost. Such
an occasion has arisen here; but the
Committee have failed to grasp it. If
a tax OF one cent a pound had been re-
placed on sugar vast amount of
money would have been raised with
out producing any perceptible hard
ship anywhere, which profit could
have been advantageously turned to
account in extinguisbing the rather
high tariff of 30 per cent. the Com
mittee have left on cotton and wooden
manufactures-the very items which.
of all in the tariff list, now bear the
heaviest on the poor throughout the
land. Incidental to this far penetrat-
ing error, emanating from too mar
row conception of their mission, has
been the grave mistake of tolerating,
even in a modified form, bounty-a
thing wholly repugnant to the spirit
and tradition of the party, and ever IN
in the past the object of its loudest de-
nunciations and eagerly proclaimed
promises of reform.
We think, too, that the tariff on
pearl, ivory, silks, and the more fanci-
ful articles of food and apparel, might,
in keeping with the increasing wealth
and luxury OF the higher classes, have
been increased rather than otherwise
to the advantage Of still further re-
auctions in the manufactures list. In
deed it is questionable whether, with
out such reduction, too great a dis
elimination is not made against the
producers of raw material though a
country so fertile of natural resources
as ours can scarcely be heard to COM
plain with justice of such slight, if it
does in fact exist. We are sorry not to
see aluminium transferred to the free
list. on the other hand. If scientific
indications are not amiss. the next
century will be the age of aluminum
as this has been of iron; and we think
free market for this most important
product open to the whole world
would greatly stimulate its production
and hurry to the general advantage
the expected era, while a valuable
precedent would be established when
the metal is yet in it's infancy for its
future unrestricted introduction.
Descending to further details, we
note several Inconsistencies in the bill,
such as reducing the tariff on opium to
avoid smuggling, while the tariff on
diamonds, which, while low. is yet
high enough to keep three-fourths of
the importations away from the Gus
tom House, is increased. Errors OF
this character, however, are not so ma
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