Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1883-02-17
THE TARIFF.

To the Hon. Samuel j. Randall:
Amongst the dscordant elements of what
was once i'll fact, and is now in name, the
democratic party, you are, perhaps more
than any other one mau recognized as a
leader.
lnquestionably you are endowed in an
eminent degree with many of the best, with
some of the dangerous elements of great
leader. The prominent party position which
You have won in the contest with so many
able rivals, sufficiently attests your great
ability you have often displayed great
power of organization and unrivaled tact
and skill in marshaling your forces to the
defeat of superior numbers, in party con-
tests on the floor Of Congress; and in the
recent debate upon the tariff you evinced
courage even to adventurous daring in
saying, Il recognize the fact that there can
not be free trade between nations whose
scale Of wages differs" After which | will
enquire into the evidence of the existence
of such "fact"
Your skill in "darkenng counsel by
words" you exhibited in saying"I want to
make the tariff SO that we can cover the
gap between the scales of wages and we
| need 90 no further In its order shall
try TO find out what this means and how il
is TO he effected.
You adroitly close up your rear by saying
Il want this bill so made as to give incl
dental protection TO my people"
In due season shall enquire what is Sin.
cidental protection and to which of YOUR
people it is to be given.
But let us first clear of the difficulties in
the way OF clear understanding of the
subject by correct definition of the mean
ing of terms.
The tarlti is not 4 question Of trade and
has no more TO do with it than tax upon
my horse or my wheat. Thele is nothing
i'll the law which prohibits me from trading
when, where and with whom | please. OF
this more hereafter.
The term "iree trade" in its origin had
no reference TO, nor connection with any
tariff, or system of taxation. 1t meant OPP
position to the orders in. Council OF Great
Britain and the Berlin and Milan DEGREES
OF the first Napoleon, when each undertook,
IN violation OF the laws of nations, TO pre-
vent us by force from trading with the other.
Applied TO the tariff it is nonsense. A tax
Of ten per cent. upon importations is no
more Il free trade tariff than one of fifty per
cent.
The tariff is not question OF trade; ii is
u question Of taxation; and taxation is 4
question Of morals-a question OF Justice be-
tween man and mana question as to the
right use, or the abuse of the most danger
ous power committed to the hands of man
a power justly characterized by ChicfJts-
tice Marshall as the power to destroy"-a
power which has been more fatally and cx-
tensvely used for the decentralization, cor
ruptlon, degradation and destruction of the
human race than all others-a power that
appeals more strongly than all things else
to The basest feelings of our nature in favor
oil It's abuse, because ii presents the readiesl
the most extended and the least tlanoerus
mode of procuring the means for their graf
ilcation.
From the press, from the pulpit, from the
legislative halls, from the judicial bench
and from the political stump, it is rung in
our ears, that the liberties of the county de-
pend upon the intelligence of the people.
III Is our standing boast to outside barbara
ans That we are the freest, the most intelli-
gent and the most enlightened people on
the globe; yet here is this terrible power,
winch treacherously assuming the garb and
making the professions of friendship. insid-
uonsly seizes upon us with the first breath
we draw, clings TO and robs us at every stcp
OF life, and will follow us into the grave:
which before the new born babe can he
clothco clutches part of the swaddlnp
bands, which all through life, before we
can put food into our mouths or raiment
upon our bodies, has helped itself and be-
iore we can lie down in our graves, has lev
leu It's contributions upon the coffin and the
Sliroud ana strange to tell, not one Of these
fiity millions of free, intelligent and enlight-
ehed people can guess with any approach to
accuracy, what his interest and his duty re-
qulre and his rights entitle him to know with
absolute certainty the portion of bis proper
~ or OF the proceeds of his toll of which he
IS annually robbed by his masters. who in
The bitterness of irony, call themselves his
servants, under the preteNt of supporting
government Tor the protection of his rights
nut IN fact, to supply themselves the means
OF lnuulsIng in luxury, extravaganza and
righteousness; 10 bride wealth, talent and
religion to keep him in ignorance aud teach
him submission and if need be to hire rur.
llans with sword and bayonet to hold him
in subsection.
Can you give any good reason Mr.. Ran.
dali, why any citizen should not know how
much he is compelled by law to pay for the
support of his government? Don't YOU
think 1t is his rightto know? Do you think
II Is right TO adopta system of taking his
! hoiEl when fenders IL impossible that he
should know. This is what your protect
ton does, and rs that sterling democrat
Cox said, lit is robbery" Mr.. Wise to the
contrary notwithstanding.
will not say Mr. Randall that no man
believing that what is called protection" is
right, but do say, there is notin the United
states an honest man. who owes half dol.
lar above the requirements ofthc absolute ne
cessities of life, who does believe that it is
right And will prove it SO clearly as not
to leave loop to hang doubt upon"
You will perceive that | have cut ONT \
good deal OF work for the future. In addi-
tlon shall have something to say of your
administration rs speaker and gifts fruits.
JAMES n. BE.rHlrNE.
WARRESToN, Feb. l6th 1889.
The Ground Hog.-Wiggins, & Co Court. Dav.