The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1870-10-19

new tariff, and Zante currants are ~. and
in addition, bone dust, squills and lpecac
are free, and yet every implement be uses,
from rake to reaper, is doubled in price
by the tariff, and through it's influence
treights are so increased that it costs as
much TO get bushel of wheat to market as
II costs TO raise 1t.
Some other points made by the same
speaker slrikingly illustrates the special
history OF many provisions in the law that
have most benehclent and disinterested
look. Thus:
Borsx, prime necessity for timers and
olacksmlshs. and also used by the medical
faculty. Ten years ag 1t was brought from
the Island OF Sicily, aud from Venice, and
was sold in this market for twenty cents a
pound. Unfortunately few years ago q
borax lake WAS found upon the Pacific
slope, which proved to be the richest d. posit
OF borax upon the globe. At this discovery
all the consumers OF borsx who heard of it
were ready to shout for joy. But 10 and
behold II went into the hands of a company
and the company went to p" ash.ugton. and
a duty stnt ur, q borax and to day we have
the felicity Of psylng for it fifty cents per
pound.
That is, the more ahundsntly nature sup
plies the means OF wealth. the more they are
made to cost the people, in order that they
may fatten q favored few. Again:
So with the metal nickle-a few years ago
mine of it was discovered in tbs congress
ional district OF Thsddeus Stevens, in
Pennsy lvania-as usual In such cases it
went into the hands of a company,
and the company vent to Wash
ing ton, but old Thad. Stevens was reasona>
bic, and only let duty of fifteen per cent.
go upon it. But the company found that
fifteen per cent. was not prohibitory, and at
last Ihsddsus Stevens died, and In his place
appeared q man by the name of Dickey, and
Dickey got upon the Ways and Means
Committee, and now We Il I'D bill reported
TO the House which puts the duty on nickel
up to 40 per cent. But the thing Was too
bare faced, and hence it was cut down to Is
per cent, being an increase of only 10 per
cent upon the former rate.
So with emery, which is largely used in
the arts, and formerly came from the Medit-
errsnesn Sea As bad luck would have it
an emery N ne was discovered few years
ago in Massachusetts, and the result is, EN-
cry has almost doubled in price and 30 we
go. and SO long as this system of legislation
continues, we Will continue thus to go.
The reflection so natural after a contem'
plation of such dishonesty in the employ
ment of the law making power ofthe country
is not withheld by this candid speaker,
though it has become odiously familiar to
radicals froE the mouths of democrats.
This whole system of special legislation.
| whether in the state or in the nation, is a
fearful evil, aud is sspping the very life
blood of public men and public morals-hke
the Devil Fish of Victor Hugo, it has a
hundred slimy arms, and every arm has a
hundred greedy suckers, and j. is fas, gath
erine into its hideous grasp al the powers
of legislation. and unless we can free
ourselves quickly, the Liberties of this nation
will be thing of the past, and our republican
institution 'wll go elinmering iato the
dream Of things that were"