The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1883-03-17

Euoanrows. March 10, 1883.

$3.50 rrtN fAfN - 80
tariff. 4 fire. aud fair discussion O
every question Of public interest is n
y surest and safest way to ariive at Jus
{ conclusions The legislation Of III
republican party ID congress has e
Z sablished : high protective tariff upo
fall articles manufactured ii this conn
+ Try and The material Of which The,
are made not imported from othe
countries. These laws have % dis
erimiaated asto always II the inter
at IF the manufacturer at the expens,
of the great mass If producers and
lsborers, the result of which llas been
to foster monopolies and throw the
Jennings Of thepeorer Glasses into the
pockets 81 sseomparatiyely few indi-
vldnals, making them exceedingly
rich. and where do these unequal
fortunes come from. except out ofgthe
! pockeisof the csmmonp people, through
the class legislation and protective
tariffs Of the republican partyl All
the Laws Of that party touching the
financial question, from beginning 70
lend, have been framed hy and for the
moneyed class, to make them richer
and The toiling class correspondingly
poorer, until to-day were it not for the
vast extent of onr domain and its al
most unbounded resources the labor
ing classes would be in worse conii-
ton than the poorest of European
counties. This, coupled with the in
iinence of the democratic party, Al
though in q minority, TO check in va
rious ways many IF the most extreme
measures, is lie reason Of the degree
of prospecting we now have. The
country begins 10 revolt at the conse-
qnences and even the better part Of
the psrty in power are calling upon
congress to modify the tariff laws
Congress- IS hammering away at them
but making very slow progress. "A
majority Of the republicans ID congress
do not waat 10 repeal the laws, while
making showtto satisfy the demands
ot the people aud accuse the demo
cratic members of dilatory measures,
lie cover uptheir intentions, in order
tothrnw the blame Of their want Of
comprehension, and lack Of good
faith, on the opposite party while
the opposite party are Indifferent,
knswlng that this congress, At the
most, will only make a botch of ii,
while it viii devolye upon the next to
make q thorough and equitable adjust
ment Of the whole matter. And SOFT
goes. But to the subject: There are
three propositions on this tariff gacs
ton. The first is free trade, by which
we understand no duties are to be
paid on ANYTHING imported into our
country. The second is tariff for rev
enne only, whichine duty on Ink
nries, or articles consumed chiefly by
the richer classes, while those articles
M more common use shall be free.
The third is a high protective tariff as
it exists at present, whereby a few
manufacturers and monopolizng cor
Porations coin money tot the peck
cts of the consuming masses. This
may be 70 some yexed question, but
selBshness IS the foundation u the
whole difficulty. Honesty, fair deal
ing and justice 70 All parties would
soen settle il. One man wants a
Tariff on lpmher because he is uni-
herman, and Tree trade on everything
else. There is money in it .you see,
10 him, Another wants it on cotton
goods, be produces the goods and
there il money ii il 10 him. Another
wants i on wool, he is a dealer in the
article. Another wants il on some
thing else, because it is TO bis interest,
and 80 on, "a the end But why pro-
ieet one man more than another?
Why protect the interests Of a few in
divianals while the large mass are not
only unprotected, bat have to pay-fur
the protection IF the few? Where is
The justice? where the equityq i
take the ground that one man is just
y good y aDother if lie behaves him.
self if moi, he must Dc made behave. \,
But this tariff question makes one
man as good as another If lie has {
money, otherwise not. 1t IS a prin-
ciRle OF orr government based On the 4
thai laws should be So
framed as 10 promote the greatest !,
GOOD to The greatest number NowI !
gill ssk any candid, unbiased man, If
congress should enact laws giving en-
ire free trade % the country. wonld
snst ultimately operate as The great
~ geod n the greatest nnmberl N
-oek 1T the vast number If consuplers
lpd the epormeas iaz ihe5 pA0 81 keep /
" this unequal ard unjust tariff sss
sln. And where docs i ~ 10 ia +
gtospe pockets Ut Afew favored jn- i
llsidaals 70 make Of them luiliepalres #
snt 'he egani'y doespet demand free I
ride, unless i Is forced ID % % Is :