Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-11-18

Liberty" Hon. James r. Doolittle;
Democratic Party" L. ]. Kline; ''The
Young Man in Politics" Hon. F. W.
Lehman; American Industries -Theil
growth and prosperity cannot be promoted
by unnecessary or unequal taSstion, "
Hon. John G. Carlisle.
NR. CABLIsLE's SPEECH.
Mr.. Carlisle was received by the Iroquois
club this evening with great applause and
spoke rs follows;
Although the toast just read asserts q
self evident truth, we cannot afford to
ignore the fact that even in this age Of
philosophical speculation and practical
knowledge, there are men in the front
ranks of literature. politics and business,
who seriously contend that the Govern
ment can make its citizens rich and pros
porous by taxing them. If these gentle
men should attempt to convince the pub
| lie that the farmer could be made more
prosperous by increasing the tax on his
land, or that the manufacturer could be
benefited by compelling him to pay high
rate of taxation on his machinery
or his income, the absurdity of their po-
sitiOn would be 50 apparent as to excite
universal ridicule; and yet such PROPOSE
/ tiOnS would be nomore absurd orsunreasOn-
able than the assertion that the prosperity
of the people generally can be increased by
| imposing taxes upon their food, their
clothing, their building materials, their
means of transportation and the tools and
/ implements used in their industries. Tax
es do not create wealth; they destroy it.
All taxation whether it be direct or indi-
rect, and no matter how it may be disguis
/ ed or in what manner its payment
may be enforced, is ultimately
a,charge upon labor while its immediate
and inyariable effect is to withdraw the
full amount Of the eXaction from the pro-
ductive industries of the people. When
it is equitably imposed
FOR PUBLIC PURPOSES ONLY
and its proceeds are honestly used in de-
| frayIng the necessary expenses and meet
/ ing the Just obligations of the Government
all are equally benefited and no one has
right TO complain, but when tax is I'M
posed upon one part of the people or one
class of industries simply for the purpose
ofincreasing the profits of another part of
the people or another class of industries.
OF when q tax Is so laid that It's
necessary effect is to increase the profits
/ in some industries at the expense of
Others equally meritOrious, the impol-
| icy and injustice of the proceedings are
| too obvious to require comment AbSO-
lutte equality in the adjustment of the
rates OF taxation and in the designation of
| the articles upon which IL shall be i'm
posed is not to be expected, in fact is not
attainable, but substantial equality and
uniformity are essential in every just re-
venue system. So long as the power OF
taxation is exercised only for the purpose
of raising revenue for the support of the
Government, the principles of equality
and uniformity can be recognized and en-
forced in q large degree, at least; but
when the power Is perverted and used to
increase the profits OF private individuals
and prevent the collection of revenue by
the Government, it is impossible TO rcgu-
late its exercise by any rule or principle
except
| FAyORITIsM AND sELFIsHNESS.
In such a case equality aud uniformity
will necessarily defeat the primary object
of the tax, because II Is evident that If
all were compelled to pay equal tribute
10 each other nobody would he benefited,
and it is Just as evident that if all do not
pay equal tribute some must be cheated.
American industries, and by these
mean 70 include every honest aud useful
occupation, cannot be promoted by any
system of taxation or any policy OF legiS-
tatiOn which dlscriminates between them
and cOmpels one to contributed part of its
own earnings to increase the profits, OF
prevent losses in another. There should
De no expatriated or prosecuted industries
in this country. There should be no ranks
or degrees among the legitimate
occupations of the people, nor any TO the
favor or bounty of the Government not
open to all alike. Mining and manufac'
turing and the occupations dependent
upon them, are general and valuable iu-
dustries and should be cherished and pro-
NOTED in every proper way. They afford
employment to many millions of capital
and many thousands of laborerS, and their
products contribute largely to the wealth
and comfort Of the people; but they are
not BY any means the only American In
dustries. In the households of the poor,
in the fields and in forests, III the mines
and factories, in the stores and
shops, on the railroads and
canals and rivers, on the high
seas, everywhere there are American indus
tries struggling with the mighty forces OF
nature, and subduing, combining and util-
izing the elements OF the earth and the air,
and any view of an industrial system
which fails to comprehend all these, nee
eSsarily leads to partial and erroneous
conclusions, Taking that broad view OI
them which comprehends the
smallest AS WELL AS THE GREATEST
and appreciates the interest OF the whole
instead of part only, it is impossible u
understand how their growth and pros
peritv can be promoted by taxation i 4
any form. 1t is not difficult 10 see how q
system which prevents competition
and therefore increases prices may enable
an individual who has capital involved IN q
particular industry to realize profits in
stead of suffering losses but II is manifest
that this must always be done at the eX'
pense of the consumers Of his products,
who are also, as q general rule, engaged
in industrial pursuits In every such
case the actual losses are precisely the
same IS if competition had not been pre-
vented and prices bad not been increased,
but instead of being borne by the iDdiyid-
ual who carries on the business they fall
upon the purchasers of his products and are
paid out OF the earnings Of other industries
The other industries therefore not only
make good his losses but pay him profit
besides thus giving him bonus for invest
ing his capital and wasting his skill and
labor in an improbable business. That
TAXATION FOB PROTECTIVE PURPOSES
has resulted so far in a continuous waste
Of capital and labor in this country is con
clusively shown BY the present condition
Of the sO-called protected industries, and BY
the history Of our legislation on the subject
Early advocates of the system proposed
il only as temporary eXpedient TO aid IL
the permanent establishment of certain In
dustries and insisted that after a few
l.