The Plymouth Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1869-1941, 1870-01-27
"LOyalty" aud MonopOlies.

1t is a significant fact that the Republi-
can newspapers which are now most ear
nest and persistent in demanding a re-
ductIOn of taxation, tacitly admit that
our present tariff and internal revenue
laws are framed to favor monopolists and
Cypress laboring men and men with small
capital
One of the most prom nent Republican
newspapers in New York has recently
been pressing this fact upon the attention
of its readers in manner which has pro-
voked more than little harsh criticism
from the New York Tribune, and in the
controversy which has ensucd, Mr.. Gree
ley's political economy has met with some
sharp bullets The Chicago Tribune,
alarmed by the disafection which the de-
preston in business and a stringent money
market, joined to:heavy taxation, have pro-
duced, is also crying out against monOpo-
lists, and urging such an amendment of
our financial system as will release labor
from the unjust burdens now imposed
upon it. Whether the demand within the
ruling party for a reduction of taxation
will be sufficient to influence Congress to
grant the reform asked for, is question
now of such doubtful character that no
prediction can safely be made concerning
it.
The fact of greatest interest in the dis
cussion by the Republican press of a pro.
posed reduction of taxation, is the admis-
sion to which we have referred 1t is adj
mitted that our financial legislation is di-
rectly calculated to protect capital and mo-
nOpolics at the expense of labor.
This is the result either OF ignorance or
| design In Congress- it is not the result
OF ignorance, because the unjust distinc-
tlOns in favor OF certain classes are 50
plain that men OF the most ordinary in
tclligence can see them. Commissioner
Wells, in his annual reports, has repeat
edly shown that under the operation of
| our tariff laws, "the rich are growing
richer and the poor poorer" He has sub
stantiated this statement by les
drawn from all sections of the country,
and which he say. are as full and complete
as any ever gathered to establish fact
connected with the general condition OF
society.
Among advocates of the theory Of pro-
lection, rot directly interested in any OF
the branches of trade named below, it is
admitted that the duties on coal, salt, iron,
copper, and lumber are Ubiquitous, be-
cause they are imposed not to enable
producers Of those articles to bear up
| against fair competition, but to crush
competition and obtain absolute control
Of the market They are imposed to es-
tablish and perpetuatc monopolies, and
are especially oppressive upon the poor
| because they are taxes upon articles which
are consumed by every family in the
| country.
If to rob man Of his labor, and make
| him work for another withent paying him
| for it, reduces him to slavery, the majority
Of men in the United States are in a con
| dition of serfdom today. No Legree who
| ever ilourished whip above the back OF
sanity negro could be more inexora-
bic and tyrannous than the ax-gathcrers.
Will the "loyal" press which demands
reduction of taxation tell for what pur-
pose our financial system was made all
for the rich and all against the poor
What does the ruling party gain by such
a system? 1t has banded together the
capital of the country in its support
| Congress protects monopolists because
they are willing to scatter money freely
to sustain the party in power. To strike
a blow at monopoly is to- make war on a
power which is thoroughly enlisted in de-
fence of the Republican party. The party
exists by corruption, and depends on
classes instead of the people at large, fol
its triumphs.- Gicago Times