The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1884-10-01
WHY PROJECT MoNoPoLIEs a.?


If the tariff, ss saddled upon this country,
should be boldly entitled IAN Act to Protect
Monopolies," it would probably have opened
the eyes of the people to the iniquitles of the
system long ago, and yet the practical result
of the Republican policy amounts to Just
that very thlng-a protection to monopolies
and monopolists. The time was when
the march of reform ideas was slow
and toilsome. A somewhat quicker step
is observable in these latter days,
though even now the conservative
motto is, go slow" Evidently, it is not
best to be rash, but it is still more objection
able to hesitate when the demand is to "Go
ahead" The country is now burdened with
an ubiquitous tariff. The law, as it stands
upon the statute books, has few defenders or
apologists. The general verdict is that the
tariff policy, as it stands, needs general
overhauling; but when an attempt is made
to change any of the vicious features of the
law, objections are made and reform is post
poned. The people are confronted with the
fact that the sum of 800, 100000 annually
is taken from them and handed to the
Government for which the Government
has no legitimate use whatever. The Demo.
cratic proposition is to get rid of this in
iquitous taxation at the earliest day prac-
ticable. The wisdom and the justice of the
proposition are too self-evidert to requir
debate, since by no possibility can contin-
gencies arise which demand that the Gov
eminent is authorized to tax the people to
create an unnecessary surplus. Those who
favor the present tariff policy do not con.
slider either the welfare of the people or the
welfare Of the Government. To tax citizen
more than is just is robbery. To create an
enormous surplus in the Treasury is corrupt
ing. To rob the people for the purpose OF
continuing reign of prohigacy and demon
alization is proceeding which ought not to
be tolerated for single day, and no policy
can be too aggressive and no movement too
expeditions which seeks to remedy such an
evil.
But the infamy of the policy is brought
into the boldest possible prominence when
it is dicovered thas the present ubiquitous
tariff is sought to be perpetuated for the
benefit of few monopolists, who are will
lux W lHCIcdSc tuclI BdluS at tue G4pcuSc Ol
the people, and that those who most stub
bornly oppose the tariff reform are simply
the champions of monopolists, who, to main
tain their position, resort to the demagogical
cry of 'infant industries" "pauper labor
and similar clsptrap.
The people are beginning to fully com.
prehend the tactics of the monopolists and
those who champion their cause. They see
themselves robbed annually, directly, of 500.
100000, which the Government does not
need, and they are asking, Why this stu.
pendous iniquity? And the answer they
find is, to support monopolists. When the
inquiry is made: Do these protected mo.
nopolists, for whose benefit we are taxed,
seek to maintain living prices of labor? the
answer is: In no single instance. On the
contrary, they are the first to reduce wages
that their gains may be increased. Hence,
it is found that the tariff, as it exists, de.
moralizes the Government, Expresses labor
and only benefits the favored few-the pro
tected monopollsts.