The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-11-04
JOHN SHERMAN DISHES OUT Ma
TIONAL ISSUES TO THE
VOTERS OF OHIO.
DELAYED BENEFITS OF D|NGltY BILL
An Anxious Public Informed That II
VIII Have to Wait n Year or
Two Lopger-OppOsition
to Free Coinage.

81. , -, t., . ~, - !.
time since the beginning OF the present
campaign in Ohio, Secretary of State
John Sherman has published his views
in the shape of lengthy letter address,
ed TO the editor of Cincinnati paper
State issues. the secretary says, do
not seem to be the subject of debate,
and in consequence his letter in the main
is devoted to national issues. Prefac.
ing his epistle with tho statement that
in his opinion tine pending canvass in
Ohio is n retrial of the issues involved
in the election Of 1896, Mr.. Sherman
says naturally the first issue now Is
whether the administration of Mr.. Me
Kinley thus far has met the approval OF
the people. Upon this question he con
tends there ought not to be any differ-
-ence of opinion. He then goes on TO cite
the calling together of congress by Mr.
Mckinley to provide requisite revenues
for the support of the government, and
says that the presidents recommends
ton of the prompt repeal of the feeble
and indefensiblc tariff law known as the
Wils0n-Gorman law, has met with gen
-eral approval and that the revival OF all
industries and the commencement OF
prosperity in all parts OF the United
States was the natural ard necessary
result OF the action OF the president anu
the republican congress.
Continuing. Mr.. sherman says;
1.-The tariff laws have been the SUB.
Ject OF discussion IRON lhe Gays OF
Washington to the days OF Mckinney.
From the time | entered congress III
1850 to this hour l have ut every cleo
ton heard, both In ana out OF congress-
OF the respective merits OF II revenue
tariff ana protective tarlh, ana upon
these questions the two great parties
have taken opposite sides. Inc NORTH
tar,n, passed III March. lSol Is the text
OF the policy OF protection TO our Amer
lean industries. and though greatly
changed from time TO time 10 meet new
conditions. 1t stu forms the GROUND
work of the policy OF the republican
party in respect TO the tarlfl. ms ACT
was passed at period OF development
with light taxes and increasing popula
tion. The average yearly expenses OF
the national government from lofU 10
1860, including the expenses OF me MeN-
lean war, were about So0,O0OOOO. Inc
civil war changed all TINS. us cost mas
been stated as over So,oooOOO,ooo.' 10
meet this enormous demand the duties
on imported goods were greatly increased
and internal taxes in almost every form
were levied on domestic products and
upon the income OF individuals ana cor
operations. The ascertained national deDt
at the close of the war was -, I4OOOO,-
OO0, but this was afterwards greatly en-
tarSeu ny cihiinS aiterWarus presented
and by the most liberal pensions ever
provided by law. In the face of these
obligations and expenditures the interest
of the debt and every year from lSO6
TO 1888 portion of the principal OF
the public debt was paid, thus reducing
IT 10 S9G1 ,43l, I66 on the list OF July,
1875.
I'm 1880 congress passed what IS
known as the Mckinley tariff act, which
was q careful revision of existing reye-
nue. laws. 1t largely reduced Internal
tax and carefully revised the tariff laws
then in force. If it had remained on
the statute book to this time the policy
OF protection and debt paying would
have largely reduced the public debt and
prevented the severe stringency that fol-
lowed its repeal.
1T is the declared purpose of the re-
publican party to restore and maintain
Ihe policy embodied in the Mckinley
ftarin act and the recent tariff act known
as the Dngley tariff. 1t is unfortunate
that the beneficial provisions of the lat
ter act can not be in full operation for
year or more owing to excessive inn
pertations under the Wilson-Gorman
act, but | confidently believe that within
year under the present law the reve
nue. of the government will he ample
to pay not only current Expenditures but
large sum yearly in reduction of the
public debt. TO secure this desirable re-
suit the republican party must be sus-