The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-05-10
NOT FREE TRADERS.

The Republican organs always re-
fer to the Democrats as free traders
They wish to make it appear that
"tariff for revenue only" is free-trade-
ism. Even the San Antonio Express,
in lengthy reply to what it asserts
amounts to nothing, broadly states
that the STATESMAN declares for free
trade, which it knows well enough is
not true. Free trade means no tariff,
and the Democratic party and the
STATESMAN are for tariff for
revenue, and for tariff for nothing
else. The people are not to be de-
ceived by such stuff, for they know
well enough that a certain amount of
revenue is needed for carrying on the
machinery of government, and this
they are perfectly willing to pay, but
beyond this sum they wish to be held
exempt from taxation. 1t is hard
enough to pay legitimate taxes; it is
burdensome to pay that which is un-
just and which is imposed not for
public benefit but for private
gain. The people know that
vast sums of money have been annu
ally collected in excess OF the necessi-
ties of the government. They know
that this money comes out of their
pockets. The demand is, therefore,
for a reduction of taxation. In MAX
ing this reduction the people demand
that the prime necessities of life
articles in universal demand-shan
bear the lightest burden of taxation,
and that luxuries shall pay the higher
tax. Tariffs SO framed as to reverse
the will of the people, like that which
has been in existence for a quarter of
century, and still exists, is a curse
upon the people, and they will change
it. They will not abolish the tariff,
they will not demand free trade, but
they will abolish tariff taxation,
which compels them to pay tribute
to monopoiists under the plea that the
welfare of the government demands
such perfidious practices, as it is pow
erfully put by contemporary. Their
demand is not free trade, but a de-
mand for trade emancipated from
mercenary yillainy; from protective
robbery; from monopoly piracy; clean
cut and undisguised rascality. If the
government. for the purpose of meet
ing Just demands upon its treasury,
requires that the necessities of life
shall be taxed, the people will cheer
fully pay what is required. To that
extent let the tax be levied. 1t is not
free trade; it is common sense, a pa
triotic devotion to the welfare of the
country. But to frame tariff which
compeIs one man to pay tribute
to another man, to tax the many
to enrich the few; to make the
rich richer and the poor poorer; to
create and maintain monopolies, is an
outrage which cannot be perpetuated
and must cease. The clap-trap
about protecting American labor
has lost its hold upon the peo-
pie, and working people have
discovered that protective tariffs do
not protect them. They have discov-
cred at last that monopolists pay the
lowest wages and are invariably the
most heartless taskmasters.. The cry
of free trade has lost its scare. The
lowest possible wages for work, and
the highest possible prices for the ne
cessities of life, is the protection
tariff programme, and it is not popu-
lar. To abolish the tax on dia-
monds and maintain the tax on
salt and rice is free trade in the
wrong direction; it emancipates the
luxury and burdens the necessity.
WHAT'S unavoidable must be accepted
and borne with philosophic composure.
An iniquitous tariff creates million
aires and paupers, while an honest
adjustment of taxation, if it does not
Danish from society these extremes of
opulence and poverty, will at least
have tendency to mitigate the evils
which they inflict.