The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1870-11-05
Tariff Pluuder.

can have as properly. Rauical congressman
tell US that this tariff was levied for revenue,
and it vas estimated that through this source
We should annually derive sum sufficient for
all the current expenses of the government
and to pay the interest of the debt, and in time
the debt itself But though all this was fig
ured up in amost fiattering showing, the first
year astonished those who did not see below
the surface, by its wide discrepancy between
dollars estimated and cash received. Those
who originated it saw all this they knew it
would be an immense gain to one class of the
people at the expense of another, and gener-
ally of one section to the disadvantage of
another. They saw that by it they could
build up moneyed aristocracy and strength
en- IN power monstrous combination of cor
porations, monopolies, capitalists and combine
them all against labor. 1t was deep laid
scheme to make the poor poorer and the rich
richer and to draw line between them which
no poor man could ever hope to cross.
This tariff was made purely for the protect
ton of capitalists, and not for revenue. To
prove this look at the facts and figures.
Out of three hundred millions annually lev
led by the tariff, the government gets but $751;
100000. Where does the enormous balance 90
to . 1t goes directly into the pockets of the
manufacturers-the monopoists-the money
kings, who own banks full of bonds on which
they not only pay no taxes, but receive semi
annually six per cent interest in gold.
How is this Out of 40, 100000 bushels of
salt annually consumed, upon which there is
tariff of IS cents per bushel, there are i'm.
ported only 100000, yielding revenue of
$2,20O,0OO. The duty IS 30 high that it richly
pays the manufacturers to make $4,000. 900.
which they sell at the price of the imported
salt, duty added. The duty is Is cents They
add the Is cents and sell the salt to the con-
sumner, getting $5,94O,000 year extra on salt.
Do the manufacturers pay their laborers
more9 No, not SO much as they did before
the war, as q dollar now will not buy as
much bread and meat, clothing, shoes, &c, as
before the tariff.
The manufacturer is a compound of selfish
ness and avarice. He takes the advantage of
the laboring mans and the factory girls ne
ccssities. He knows that by this crushing
system of taxation thousands of poor people
are suffering for bread, aud that rather than
starve they will work for crust of bread and
bone from his table. If they occasionally
strike for higher pay, he sends to China for
coolies who will work for shilling day.
Salt is but single item. The rule is the
same on lumber, iron, cotton and wooden
goods, on everything we eat and wear Thus
it is that out Of S3OO,OOO,O0O levied upon the
people for the ostensiblc purpose of raising
revenue, only $75,000,O00 go to the govern
ment, while the enormous sum of 500, oOO, 900
goes directly into the vaults of the great cap
italists.
Who pay all the taxes? You, my friend,
the farmer; you, the mechanic, of whatever
calling. All of you who consume anything
whatever.
This infamous tariff was adopted by the re.
publican party against the votes and protests
of democrats. 1t hasproven not only failure
for the purpose Of revenue, but most griev-
GUS burden to the people-a monstrous fraud
upon society-and the radical republican par
ty refuse to repeal it. The Cooks Logans,
Fsrnsworths, Ingersolls, Schenks, and the
radicals big and little in congress voted for
and sustained it,
1t is time it was abolished forever The
people can do 1t by sending to congress men
of integrity, who are pledged to labor to that
end, and at this coming election, on Tuesday
the 9th, is the only opportunity the tax ridden
people will have tor the next two years. Will
ysu improve your opportunity