The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1870-09-22

CO brought down to the starving wa
ges of those in Europe. The very
men who are the most importunate
for protection are those who complain
that labor costs too much in this coui :
try, and to reduce wages are advocat-
ing the Importation of the Pagans of
China who can work for etrifie, be-
cause they can live on what an Amer
ican would starye. s,e.r.5...- -.
/ They would peril the future peace
and well being Of the Republic by i'm
porting another and entirely insolu-
BILE element into society to diminish
the rewards of labor and increase the
gains of capital. g sss1e331 7tsa
I Again, the tax-paying power of the
people is impaired by this protective
system. The Legitimate means of
paying taxes is the surplus left after
exchanging what we do not want for
what we do require. We have no
surplus, but are hampered, crippled,
4 robbed. without understanding how
and why ID is we are so poor. IF one
of you farmers could go to a
store and buy hundred dollars
worth Of goods at their fair market
able value, without duties, and the
incidental costs and charges, and q
Government officer stood at the door
as you passed out to collect from you
another hundred for the support of
the Government and to protect Amer
lean labor, you would understand bet
ter the now mysterious manipulations
of the tariff. You would knowwhy
You had no surplus after procuring
the necessaries of life. ~ tt 81
/ The plundering Of the producing
classes is So airoitly and stealthily
done that they do not know that it is
done, or why the product of their
labor procures SO little of what they
want. Atthe prime cost,of salt, tea,
coffee, calico, muslin, iannele, shoes,
hardware, household and kitchen fur
ture, the consumption would be great
/ ly increased, and, of course, increased
activity would be infused into the
manufacturing aud carrying trades
Our abundant production of raw ma
terial, our facilities for manufacturing,
with our superior skill in the inven-
ton and application of machinery,
viii enable us to compete. with other
peoples in our own orin foreign mar
kets. During the Cornlaw agitation
in England, the farmers were wonder
fully excited. Mobs and riots were
not unfrequent at 1.-THE prospect of the
depreciation of their lands by the
Iicompetition of foreign productions
Their protective tariff was repealed.
AS the result, our corn, flour, beef,
pork and cheese are abundant In their
markets; yet their lands have doubled
and quadrupled in value, and agricpi-
tural labor and skill were never bet.
| ter rewarded than now. Isse- :
In future discussions we shall be
able more fully to expose the enormi-
ties and iniquities of the, protective
tariff-that it is wrong in principle
and .ruinous in practice. This and our
internal revenue system, like the up
per and neither milestone, are grind
ing to dust every industrial, interest
They have driven our, artisans from.
our workshops and infused increased
activity, wealth and enterprise into
the workshops of Europe. Not a.
single steamer sails under the Ameri-i
can flag to or from any European.
port. - E g. .
We would say something more on
our internal revenue system which,,
with the tariff, is rebbing labor of its
rewards, and squandering them upon
an army of x-gatherers, informers
spies, Government officials of q high.
er grade, and an untaxed aristocracy.
These themes involve the whole sub
ject of tagatio,s. -; - 81, 5i'g H.. I.
Taxes are debt due the State in
consideration of its protection to life
and property, and should be levied
upon the people equitably, according
to the protection rendered. They are
a debt we. all owe, and each should
pay his fair share promptly and with
out complaint. Are our revenue laws
constructed on this principle? Let
us see. ul IHn s1sa 5UpFgete foh
BEER, WHISKY AND TOBACCO 9iI
It is source of congratulation that
the larger part. of our internal reve-.
nue. is derived from beera whisky and
tobacco. 1t is said that every man can
do without these luxlries and if he |
persists in using them let him foot the
bills. We donot deny that every per-
son can do without these articles, but
we do resist the conclusion that the
consumer of them should be COM
PEELED to pay other mems share of the
public debt. Government should be 4
sustained by levies upon the proper
ty, and not upon the vices of the peo-,
= ID J. ~
pie. 1t is downright knavery in me
to shift my burdens for the mainten-
ance of Government on your shout |
'ders because you choose to indulge in
a vicious practice. Inordinate taxes
are levied upon whisky aud tobacco,
not to deter men fron their use, but
to shield those who have money,
bonds and other property from Pay-l
ing their equitable share OF. debt. gala1
We have constructed our system |
upon the English model. The work
ing classes in Great Britain are almost1
universally addicted to the use of to-
bacco; indeed, they regard it as a
necessary of life. The landed and |
monied aristocracy who; (there, as well |
ac haraN enoof tho 10 NC. 70 l;no odxop