The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1883-06-06

wages and discharged American hands
the moment the tariff on their products
was Increased. The monopolists corrupt
legislators, and practically deny to their
WOrkmen liberty Of speech and the free
exercise Of their votes.
The American farmers, constituting
more than half of our voters, bearing
with the working men the burden of all
the taxes, pay for protection, and get
none OF II; they sell in an unprotected
market and buy In a protected one.
Protection taxes the poor man far
more heavily than the rich; 1t restricts
the farmers market by shutting out
those would exchange with him; 1t bur-
densth manufacturer by adding to the
cost OF his materials without increasing
the amount Of sales, and 1t reduces the
wages Of wOrkmen In every line OF bus
mess. The true interests of America
are bound together in free trade, equal
taxation, farmers rights, manufacture
ing prosperity and higher wages. The
Government Of the United States has no
constitutional or other right to Impose
taxes on the people, except with the
intended result of getting sufficient
money into the public treasury to pay
the public debt, provide for the COM
mon defense, provide for the general
welfare; and all tariff taxes called pro-
tectiye, laid with different intent and
result, ought to be abolished, and we
favor the promotion Of reciprocity and
the repeal Of the navigation laws which
have destroyed our merchant marine.
WedO not council the immediate fOrma.
tiOn OF new party, though we reeOg-
nizei that many Republicans and Demo-
Gratis, losing faith In their own parties,
desire to unite politically for genuine
revenue reform. But In case existing
parties In their utterances, their candi-
dates or designating their leaders In
Congress, persistently. oppose needed re-
form, we advise revenue refOrmers to
prepare for Independent action. Mean
while we call upon those who think
with Jus to make the existing public
sentiment visible by organization, to
extend 1t by discussion and other edu-
cation, to make 1t practical at the polls
by Questioning candidates for Congress,
by voting in Congressional campaigns,
in which this Is already the supreme
question, for candidates who will best
serve tariff reform.
This address is issued in behalf of
freedom, the most precious result of pO-
litical action, and in behalf of prOsperi-
ty, whose broad and only lacting basis
is fOnnd in perfect freedom of human
activity, bounded only by the equal
privileges of all men.
The conference then took recess till
evening. .s.. lr..n. ............ ...
After the afternoon session the mem
bersiOf the American Free Trade League
held a meeting, and, after recOnsidera-
tiOn. elected the following officers:
President, Hon. David A. Wells, of Nor
wich, Conn; Vice Presidents, Thomas
Holland, New York, Charles Francis
Adams, Jr., Boston; AnsOn Phelps Stokes,
New York; w. P. Wells, Detroit; w. p.
Fishback, Indianapolis; j. Sterling Nor
ton, ArbOr Springs, Neb.; John Phelps,
Springfield, Mo-; b. +. Cue, Des MOines,
Ia; B. r. FOrman, New Orleans; Charles
p. Garfield, Lawrence, KS; Secretary,
r. r. BOwker, New York; Western SecTe-
tary, II. j. PhilpOt, Des MOlnes, Ia.
Treasurer, George 7. Peabody, New
York.
An executive committee was named
as follows: I. G.. Shearman, Brooklyn;
William G.. BrOwnlee, Detroit; A. L.
Earle, New York, H. r. B. Stapler, New
York; r. G. Taylor, Kansas City; Il. NJ.
Sheppard, Brooklyn. One vacancy was
left to be filled by the committee. The
committee will have power to name the
members of the National Free Trade
Committee from the States in which
there are no State Free Trade League.
The conference reassembled this even
ing and was addressed by T. G.. Shear
man In lengthy and carefully prepar-
ed speech. He was followed more brief
ly by Hon. William M. Springer, of IlIi-
nOis, after which the conference finally
adjourned.