The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1884-10-24


sary and onerous amount of taxation through
the high tariff on the necessaries of life.
1t has been found, in the experience of
nations, that the least burdensome method
of providing for the expenses of the govern
ment is by means Of tariff upon imported
articles, and this, when properly adjusted,
also served to foster and build up struggling
industries, enabling them to compete success
fully with articles of the same kind made in
foreign countries.
During the civil war the tariff duties were
found to be insufficient to pay the current
expenses of the government, and the tariff
was accordingly extended to many articles of
general consumption, which were free before,
and the rate on others was increased. Ger
tain industries were particularly favored by
high rate of tariff, which prevented foreign
competition. The men engaged in those in.
dustries became enormously wealthy. Their
profits, of course, came out of the pockets of
their fellow-citizens, who were obligedto buy
their goods. The high tariff rate, first i'm
posed on account of the necessities of the
government, has been kept up, and naturally
the manufacturers who have grown rich
through the system, object to any movement
which would decrease their profits Almost
to man they are Republicans, mainly for
the reason that that party has always upheld
the monopolists of the country-those who
can and do contribute the most money to-
wards carrying elections in doubtful States.
The war tariff, in these times of peace now
produces at least one hundred and fifty mil
lions of dollars over and above the legitimate
expenses of the government, including the in
terest on the national debt. Every cent of
this comes out of the pockets of the people of
this country, and the most of it from the hard
earned wages of labor. This immense sum,
annually accommodating In the Treasury at
Washington is a temptation to INSCRIPTIONS
and dishonest men and standing menace to
the liberties of the country, by exciting the
ambition of daring men to seize the reins of
power by fraud or force
The Democratic party holds that taxation
should not exceed the legitimate needs of the
government economically administered and
that the tariff should be so adjusted that the
burden should fall as lightly as possible on
the people, while at the same time, it should
not deprive American labor of the ability to
compete with foreign labor.
The Democratic party is committed, as
fully as party can be, to a reduction of tax
alton. This principle is laid down explicitly
in the national Democratic platform and in
Governor Cleveland's admirable letter of &C.
ceptance. At the same time, as the platform
expresses it:
"In making reduction of taxes it is not
proposed to injure any domestic industries,
but rather to promote their healthy growth"
1t is urged by those who are directly en-
riched through the operations of the high
tariff that it enables them to keep their fac
tories open and thereby give employment to
labor. If the high tariff has this effect, why
ia it that the iron furnaces, cotton factories
and other large manufacturing concerns are
closing their doors, throwing thousands of
men, woman and children out of employ
ment? 1t has been seen that when high
tariff was put on the importation of copper
ore every copper factory on the Atlantic
coast was closed, and monopoly was given
to the copper manufactures of Lake Supe-
rior So with other industries. Through the
operations of high tariff on raw materials
those who could in measure control those
materials have been enabled to monopolize
their manufacture completely and to the det-
riment of the interests of the bulk of the peo-
pie.
Why is it that the United States which
was formerly the great rival of England as
maritime nation has sunk SO low that scarce.
ly vessel flying the American flag can be
found Oh the high seas? 1t is argued . at for
eign nations can build ships cheaper tnan we
can Why can they2 Not on account OF
cheaper labor alone. We have an abundance
of all the materials necessary to construct
ships, but on account of the high tariff the
cost of them to ship builders is increased to
such an extent as to prevent competition with
foreign nations in this branch of industry. Re-
duce the tariff and the sound of the ship.
builders adze and the caukcr's mallet would
be heard at every port along our Atlantic
coast.
A change in the policy of the government
is needed, and 1t can only he secured by eject.
ing the Republican party from the control of
the national government. The present tariff
has been adjusted solely in the interest of
few thousand manufacturers, who have in
creased their wealth by its means, while it is
directly against the interests of the millions
of farmers and working men, whose produce
and labor is in 20 wise protected or encour-
aged. Let us have change, in which the
farmer can have chance.