The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1869-05-01
THE BOSTON REFORM LEAGUE AID ITS
PLATFORM

the country BY the heavy lAAn"V"
form or another, under preteSt OF ra'''ns "
revenue to support the government Is '"'D
ing the attention of tax payers and 'ohsu"'
ers to the importance Of organic" oPP0o'
ton 10 the whole scheme Of financial mis-
management 4 Reform League has been
recently organized in Boston, with vie"
particularly Of overturning and revising ou'
tariff system, by which nne.ten!hs OF 'he
people are robbed to enrich mere ifacHoD /
of the people engaged in manufacture -,
League has among its members men OF III
shades of political views on other que'"o"S'
who have for the single purpose OF "o'A'ng
ont this needed reform ignored as minor
considerations their differences about other
ouestiops Of national or local policy.
The following platform Of principles and |
objects has been adopted and issued by this
association and a thoughtful reading Of it
will show that there is more craftsmanship
and true science Of government in it than
has been limited at by the legislation Of con.
gress for years past;
That every man is entitled to the results
Of his own labor, and to exchange the same |
at pleasure, wherever he can do 50 to the |
best advantage.
That all interference Of government, by
which be is made to receive for his efforts
less quantity Of the objects Of his desire than
he might otherwise obtain, is an infringe.
ment Of natural rights, TO be justified only
by clear public necessity.
That, as individuals have apitudes for
different svoCations, by which each 10 en-
sbled to excel in his special line, and there
by the Joint product OF all is greatly Increas.
ed, while by exchanging each person can
obtain vastly more Of the comforts Of life
than il compelled by law to forego the ad.
vantage Of such division Of labor, it is not
less true that nations can work TO the best
advantage IN pursuing such branches Of in.
dustry as natural facilities and national tastes
indicate as profitable, and can by mutual
exchange give to each other the greatest re
suits from the least expenditures OF toll.
That the phrase I'VE cannot compete with
other nations" in the production Of O given
article, means simply that we can do better
in producing some other thing that the re
quirod investments Of labor and capital will
not pay in the one case, because there is
some other employment for them which
offers better returns.
That the effort TO change, by Legislation
the current Of industrial activity from suCl
enp.Oymauts as promise 10 be profitable IN,
are therefore natural, to Il nation, into sue
as promise TO be Improbable but Tor sue
legislative interference, or, III other word
80 induce the expenditure Of two dollar
worth Of labor to produce one dollars wort
of value, involves an enormous waste Of ii
dustrsl power, which may be saved 10 soc
ETY. by allowing free play to natural force
prompting each community to undertake
that which II can do the best.
That the common interest Of society d,
mSudlug from government the maintenance
Of order, the administration OF justice, Il
opportunity for education, and various uthl
provisions for the common good, II is nsce
ssry TO provide for the expense of such @
Jects b. just and equal system Of tax
ton.
That in the exercise ola sound discI
ton, Government may properly levy Gu
tom duties under the power to raise take
but such duties should be laid for the pa
pose Of gaining revenues, aud not for II
purpose of diminishing revenue by cxclu
Jug kDDubs uhI WutH uutltb hIt Ihlbtu :
high as TO yield no revenue such powt
ceases TO be taxation and becomes spolIatiOr
compelling the community to pay high pr
ces for merchandise from which the publ
treasury gains 40 benefit, while the eXtr
price goes to the benefit of q few person
Or more probably, is wasted IN the effort
produce something which could be- more a
ysntsgeously obtained by an exchange
products with some other nation.
That no two persons exchange propert
unless each supposes the trade to be for h
advantage, and that what is good al
profitable transaction between two indiyid
Bis cannot be bad one if multiplied a mi
hon fold between two nations.
That the true policy Of government is I
seek 70 aid the manufacturing interest
enabling it 20 produce goods chesply, 80 {
TO be able to meet competition and supp
other markets, rathev than by excluding cor
petition in order to make goods dear. To til
end raw materials, machiner fuel AZ
lumber should be exempted from duty, an
more important than all else, a currency
real value should take the place of deprec
sted paper.
That experience has shown that prote
tive duties are ineffective in permanent
excluding foreign goods, as the co"s"'"'
OF the protected article must III turn oDto
higher prices for each Of their produc
leading to a higher range of prices tor
commodities, aud again tempting to increa
ed imports.
That the only efectual mode of reducr
importation TO a healthy and proper limit
to reduce the volume Of the currency, ant
by reduced prices, to make excessive impo
tatiOus Improbable
Ihat while proper regard for existin
interests requires that violent changes
the tariff should be avoided and that a
steps IL return to an equitable and perm
nent system should be cautiously made, it
imperative that the present tariff should
Gmphhed, AID such changes made in man
Of the present exorbitRnt rates OF duty
the demands Of the revenue and the int
ests Of the consumers require.
That the commercial relations Of Il
United States with all the countries on q
American continent are capable Of vast g
psnsion, and as the treaties of reciproci
will insure an enormous increase of NUT
ally advantageous trade with these cou
tries, such treaties should receive the ear
attention Of the government.
mat The presen: course of depressing Il
Pilee Of gold by the export Of bonds au
oluer 'ofhs Of indenteAuess certain TO col
tinue SO long as we may continue n max
four dollars OF our money worth MO rro,
than three dollars If the ruorav os "
world, stimulates mpor,a,ions far beyo,
the proper REQUIREMENTS Of the country.
compelled to pay cash, by the exnor,s
god, aud can only end in &lsa.,a-
That, as there can be NJ sound ear4;,i,