The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1878-10-17

in l846 observes that the distress OF that
period 80 deepened in the manufacturing
districts as to render it clearly inevitable
that many must die, and multitude be
lowered to state of sickness and irrita-
blIity from want Of food while there
seemed no chance Of any member of the
manufacturing classes coming out Of the
struggle at last with vestige Of property
wherewith to begin the world again.
There seemed to be no class that was not
threatened with ruin. In Carlisle the
committee of inquiry reported that one
fourth of tie population was in state of
starvation, actually certain to die from
want of food, unless relieved by extraor-
binary exertions. In the western districts
of Wiltshire the allowance to the inde-
pendent laborer was not two.thirds of
the minimum in the work-house, and
the large population Of that day con
sumed only one-fourth of the bread and
meat required by the much smaller pop
ulation of twenty-five years before. In
Stockport more than one'haIf the mas
ter spinners had failed before 1912; 5000
dwelling houses were shut up; 5000 peo'
pie we're walking the streets in Compul-
sorry idIeness and the Burnley guardi-
ans wrote the Secretary of State that the
distress was far beyond their manage
ment. Rents remained unpaid, provis-
ion dealers were plundered by wol6sh
starving men and frantic women, with
dying children at their breasts; the goods
of the merchant remained unsold; mill
wrights and other trades were offering a
premium upon emigration to induce
their hands to go away and at Hinckley
one.third of the inhabitants were pau
peis. This was the condition to which
system of protection had reduced Eng
land, and it was the misery and distress
of the population at that period which
gave an impetus to the movement which
finally resulted in the emancipation Of
the manufacturing industries.
The above shows what projection"
did for England, and suffering and star
vation compelled her statesmen to aban-
don the infamous and narrow policy.
Since the abandonment Great Britain
has enjoyed a remarkable degree of
prosperity, far exceeding anything un-
der protection"
The mean part of the high taxation
lists is in nmisrepresenting the Democratic
position. The Democratic party has
ever advocated justice in adjusting du-
ties upon imports. No interest should
seek to put others at disad dvantage, for
the danger is the wrong will come home
ultimately to the recipients thereof. We
are experiencing this very thing now.
No interest in this country has been ia.
vored as iron has, and no interest has
suffered as the iron interest has since the
collapse of 1873. Men of sense and rea
son should think of all this, and govern
themselves with view to justice Equal
ity of rights before the law is the only
safe rule.
The tariff resolution of the Democratic
National convention, held at st. Louis in
1876, is replete with fact, truth and argu-
ment. Read it:
Resolved, That reform ia necessary In the sum
and mode Of Federal taxation, to the end that
capital may be set free from distrust and labor
lightly burdened. We denOunce the present tar.
piece of injustice, inequality and false pretence.
1t yields dwiDdling, not yearly rising revenue
1t has impoverished many industries TO subsidize
q few. 1t prohibits imports that might purchase
the products Of American labor. It has degraded
American commerce from the first to an inferior
rank on the high seas. 1t has cut down the sale
OF American manufactures at home and abroad,
and depleted the returns Of our people. II costs
the people five times more than 1t produces to the
Treasury, Obstructs the process of production and
wastes the fruits of labor 1t promotes fraud and
fosters smuggling enriChes dishonest officials
and bankrupts honest merchants. We demand
that all custom house taxation shall be ONLY
FOR REVENUE.
"The world is my country, to do good
my religion" wrote an eloquent author
and this broad sentiment is worthy of
Citizens of the same
country are entitled to the same rights
under the law, and should be willing to
accord to others what they claim for
themselves. The general prosperity of
the country is best for all good citizens,
and the object should be to Establish
justice, insure domestic tranquility" and
thereby promote the general welfare"