Year: 1872

men in the United States who have


learned from the science of Political
Economy that an Unrestricted inter.
change of commodities between any
to nations is for the interest Of both,
and who believe that, in the progress
of the worlds enlightenment, all re-
strictions on international commerce


will be abolished. The number of
such men in all parts of our country
is constantly increasing. They are
not scholars only; the great majority
of them are practical men, in all sorts
of business. Some, indeed, are mer-
chants; but others are manufacturers,
who have found that they are paying
more in duties on the raw materials Of
their industry than they gain by any
protection on the products of their in
dnstry. There are ultraisis, who de-
mand an immediate abolition of all
duties on imports, as we'll as of pro-
tective duties; but they are compare
lively few. What the thousands of
thinking and practical men are asking
for and expecting under the name of
Revenue Reform, is that the principle
Of taxing the people for the benefit of
particular interests shall be gradually
eliminated from the tariff of duties on
imports.


In former times the Wing party,
being identified with Henry Clay and
his policy, was eminently the Protec-
ZIONIST party and consequently, men of
broader views in regard to the prcduc-
tiveness of commerce were often favor.
able to the Democratic party, though
| am not aware that any Democratic
senator or representative from Penn.
sylvania ever failed to vote for addi-
tional duties on coal and iron. But
how there are at least as many Free
Traders and Revenue Reformers in
the Republican party as in the Demo-
cratic. Which, then, of these two
parties shall we vote for in the hope of
reforming our revenue system? Shall
we expect scientific aud equitable
system ,of taxation from the party
which has deliberately repudiated rev.
enue reform, that it may have the ed
itor of the New York Tribune for its
standard, bearer? A Free Trader or
Revenue Reformer voting for the Dem
ocratic nomination of to-day would be
like an Anti-slavery man of the old
time, voting for John G. Calhoun.


| am aware that the Republican
party makes no profession of belief in
the science of polical economy, and
that some of its leading men are as
ignorant of that science as they are of
many other things which every states
man ought to know. do not forget
that one buasted measure of that par
ty, in the late session of Congress, the
repeal of all the duties Of tea and
coffee, diminished the income to the
treasury far more than it lightened the
burthen on the people. But, on the
other hand, find that the crude and
inequitable methods of taxation so in
considerably " resorted TO in the time
of the war are undergoing reforma-
tion at the hands of the Republican
majority in Congress. The ten per
cent. reduction Of certain protective
duties in the late revision of the tariff
is noteworthy rs concession to the
demand for revenue reform, and as
sign that all such duties are to be
gradually abolished without shock or
jar to any exisitg industry. In refer
ence, then, to this great national ques-
ton, find it safer to vote with the
Republican party than to vote for "the
old white hat"


As for the fourth great question
that of CtvH Service Reform
have little confidence in any political
party, | have none at all in the party
represented at Baltimore. If our
diplomatic and civil service is ever to
be reformed if we are ever to see the
time when clerks and post masters,
gaugers and tide walters, collectors
and consuls, shall be appointed not for
party services; but on y for fitness to
serve the public-if ever that base
principle, first inaugurated and shame
lessl ly proclaimed in the name of the
Democratic party, that "the spoils be
long to the victors," is to be got rid of;
the reformation will be wrought not |
by political party, but by the people,
overruling the politicians What may
he expected from politicians, who
think that the chief end of going to
Congress is patronage, we know if we
remember with what scorn the idea of
such reformation has been assailed by
leading Republicans in the Capitol.
But when | remember that the first
proposal of such a reformation was
brought into Congress, in the form of
a bill, by Republican, and that
whatever has been done for il in the
Senate or the House, by word or vote,
has been done by Republicans whose
craftsmanship has not made them in.
capable of craftsmanship; and when
| remember that the candidate nomi-
mated by the Philadelphia Convention
is committc1 IN the nrinpinla nf tho !