The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1878-03-14
rARIFT MONOPOLY 1LLusrRArnp

Some of our nelghbor journals herea-
bouts are just now proclaiming them
selves favorable to tariff for Protection,
and denouncing free trade" or rath er
denouncing the attempt now being made
by the Wood Committee of the House at
Washington, to re.arrange the tariff on
principles more nearly approximating to
justice.
In regard to tariff for Protection, count
us out. We desire that all citizens shall
be equal before The ldw, This Government
was organized as the Constitution says,
"To establish justice, insure domestic
tranquility, provide for the common de-
fense promote the general welfare, and
secure the blessings of liberty"
A tariff is a tax levied upon goods and
articles imported into the country. The
law is enacted, or should be, to bring
money into the treasury of the govern
ment But when the protective feature
prevails, for every dollar got into the
treasury Of the government, one, two or
more dollars is thrown indirectly into
the pockets of some capitalist or capital
lists, OF fCourse these dollars are got from
the people. Now we Democrats say our
government has no right to enact laws
for the purpose of taxing the people Of
the country generally to benefit few.
This is not equality before the law it is
robbery under the law and this system
has had much to do in plunging the
country into its present bankrupt Condi'
ton. 1t acts on the country like liquor
on the individual, and stimulates to ul-
innate ruin.
But let us illustrates In the United
States are about dozen type foundries
Some of these have one or more branch
es in other cities, making probably twen-
ty in all. The reason there are so few is,
that these establishments invent styles
of type, job, card and all kinds of fancy
types, and take out patents therefor.
This, of course, gives these establish
ments patent monopoly on their in.
ventions.
The tariff also is fixed up for their ben
eft, being placed so high, about a humid
red per cent for years past, that no type
of any consequence can be imported
into the country. Hence the few type
foundries in the United States have the
field to themselves, and when we con.
slider that there are not less than twenty |
printing establishments in the
country, we may judge what monopoly |
these type founders have. In Canada,
type can be bought at least fifty per cent
cheaper than this side the line; but our
tariff tax prevents importa-
ion, and delivers over all the printers in
he United States to the tender merCies
If the few type founders who have this
outrageous monopoly.
Here, then, are not less than twenty
thousand printing establishments paying
enormous tribute to these few lords of
ype makers every year. What right has
government to enact laws thus to rob
thousands of people in honest business
o benefit dozen or two? And this il.
ustrates the whole tariff system. And
et papers hereabouts proclaim they fa-
or Protection" 1t is not projections"
is robbery. For one we advocate re.
1rm. Let us do away with this Chinese
ystem. Let every citizen stand equal
efore the law. Put down monopoly,
pd set free the human mind and indi-
idual action. Let justice prevail, and
lbor be protected from robber monopo-
7.
Equality of rights is Natures PLAN
And following Nature, is the march of man /"