The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-10-07
A WOLF IN SLEEPS CLOTHING.


A WOLF IN SLEEPS CLOTHING.
There is project now on foot and it Ia
assuming large and important proportions
from day to day, especially in Pennsylvania,
Massachusetts,, Ohio and the other heavy
manufacturing states. We refer to that
looking TO the abolition Of all the national
internal taxes. The proposition on the part
Of its adherents Is that the government is
now collecting more revenue than it re-
quires and hence it can very safely and ought
to reduce taxation. Very cheerfully con-
cedingthe correctness ofthe proposition, the
question arises how best shall this reduction
be effected. Wequickly perceive why the
manufacturing states prefer and urge the
abolition Of the internal revenue, viz; be-
cause they would quite naturally object to
see the duties on foreign articles struck off
or lowered, as this would interfere with
their own business. We are willing 10 adj
NIT that these internal revenue taxes are of
harsh and inqustorial nature, and of the
nature of spoliation system not at all in
accord with the genius Of true republican
government. But when we consider that
the existing foreign tariff imposes tax on
tho leading articles Of life, ranging from IS to
topper cent, such as on cotton and wooden
goods, farming implements and machinery,
CUTLERY, etc, etc, the cat in the projections
lists meal bag begins to show up. In tho
agricultural pursuits and In those Of profess
sional and personal service, we have in this
country nearly 70 per cent. of our people
engaged. All of these have to pay that enor-
nous tribute to northern and western man
ufacturers. On wooden goods the advalorem
mpost ranges from 80 to 70 per cent; on
cotton, from IS to 63 per cont; on iron and
steel, from 30 to 80 per cent. What these
figures mean the farmers and per.
sonal service people Of these states,
especially in the SOUTH may
readily understand by little
reflection. Let us see: A pair
of iirst-class foreign-made blankets
can be landed from Europe
into New York for $500 The import duty
ia 800, Therefore the consumer must pay
$500 for them under the present tariff.
Now let us note as to some of the taxes on
other necesSaries of life. On rice the adj
valorem duty is IS per cent; on calicoes
from S. to 60; on iron from SO to 90; on
mOlasses and sugar from SO to 70; on tlan-
nes from IS to 05 on salt IS on oils from
20 to 305; on spool thread 70 per cent; and
so on through the list Again, when we
further consider that the amount invested
in agricultural pursuits alone exceeds the
manufacturing as 4 to /, and
that the unprotected industries
are as 70 to 25 we comprehend
at once the injustice OF the system. Add
to this the other glazing fact that 90 per
cent, ofthe entire internal revenue tax is
levied upon articles of luxury, only 10 per
cent. being derived from the commercial
transactions of the people, and we com.
monce TO appreciate the brazen oflrontcry
ofthe proposition to reduce taxation by
wiping out these internal revenue duties,
and allowing the foreign importation tax to
stand. But these protectionists tell us that
the annual cost of collecting the internal
revenue, is some Sj,0O0,O0O Granted.
But then the cost of the duty on pig iron
alone is some $3o,OO0OOO just six times the
amount of the little 100000 saving pro.
posed by them, and of that S2G,0OO,O0O
annually SO into their pockets. Now,
when We further rocollect that by a due re-
duction Of this same foreign duty iniquity,
some $2oo0Oo,00o to $25OOOQOOO would be
saved to the entire people Of the country the
shameless game Of those people, with their
pet project, can be seen with tho green
speCtacles OIL. Do they think that the
masses can no thus hoodwinked, that the
people of the south ore stone blind, aud that
the farmers are ioOls' And yet they are
wonderfully rich in pocket, ~ well as for.
tile Of device and bold of proposition, and
there is no telling but what they may sue.
cessiully play their hand, and the wishes of
the majority he thwarted thereby, Just as
is now tho case, when the majority orthe
people select one man for their president,
and yet another by the electoral college
machinery, is indicted into Office in his
stead. AZ any ratio, let US watch with open
eyes and work with persistent intelligence
to thwart wrong,