Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1886-11-25
cARLIsLE's SPEECH.


The first toast was; ssAmer1cA INDUS
tries-Their Growth and ProsperAy g ral
not be Promoted by Unnecessary or on
by Hon. John G. Carlisle, who spoke as
follows:
CARLIsLE's SPEECH
Although the toast just read asserts self.
evident truth, we can not afford to ignore the
fact that in this age Of philosophical specula-
ton and practical knowledge there are men in
the front ranks OF literature, politics and
business who seriously contend that the
Government can make its citizens rich
and prosperous by taxing them. II these
gentlemen should attempt to convince the
public that the farmer could be made
more prosperous by increasing the tax on his
land, or that the manufacturer could be ben
flied by compelling him to pay high rate OF
taxation on his machinery or on his income, the
absurdity of their positions would be so appar-
emit as to excite universal ridicule, and yet
such propositions would be no more absurd or
unreasonable than the assertion that the
prosperity of the people generally can be in
creased by imposing taxes on their food, cloth
ing, building materials, their means of trans
portation and the tools used in their industries
Taxes do not create wealth-they destroy it. All
taxation, whethes it be direct indirect, and
no matter how it may be disguised, or in what
way its payments be inforced, is ultimately u
charge upon labor, while it's immediate and in
variable effect is to withdraw the full amount
of the exaction from the productive
industries of the people. When it is equitably
imposed for public purposes only and its pro-
ceeds are honestly used in defraying the neces
sary expenses and meeting the just obligations
of the Government, all are equally benefited
and none has right to complain. But when
tax is imposed on one part of the people or one
class of industries. simply for the purpose of
increasing the profits of another class of indus
tries, or when tax is so laid that its necessary
effect is to increase the profits in some indus
tries at the expense of others equally meritori
Gus, the impolicy and injustice of the proceed
ing are too obvious to require comment.
Absolute equality in the adjustment Of the
rates of taxation and in the designation OF the
articles upon which it shall be imposed is not
to be expected, and, in fact is not attainable;
ut substantial equality and uniformity are
essential elements in every just revenue syS-
tenn. 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 urged and enforced, in q
large degree at least, but when
the power is perverted and used to in
crease the profits of private individuals and
prevent the collection of revenue by the Gov
eminent. it is impossible to regulate its exer-
else by any rule or principle except favoritism
and selfishness In such a case equality and
uniformity would necessarily defeat the
primary object of the tax, because it is evident
that If all were compelled to pay equal tribute
to each other, nobody would be benefited, and
it is just evident that if all do not pay equal
tribute somebody must be cheated
American industries-and by these terms
mean to include every honest and useful occu-
pation-cannot be promoted by any system Of
taxation or any policy of legislation which dis
eliminates between them and compels one to
contribute part of its own earnings to in
crease the profits or prevent losses in another.
There should be no expatriated or prosecuted
industries in this country. There should be
ranks degrees among the
legitimate occupations of the people, nor any
road to the favor or bounty of the Government
not open to all alike. Mining and manufact-
uring, and the occupations dependent upon
them. are great and valuable industries, aad
should be cherished and promoted in every
proper way. They afford employment to many
millions of capital and many thousands of Ia
borers, and their products contribute largely to
the welfare Of the people. But they are not
by any means the only American in
dustries in the household of the poor.
In the fields and factories in mines and facto-
ries, in stores and shops, on the railroads,
canals and rivers on the high seas-every-
where, there are American industries strug-
Cling with the mighty forces of nature and
subduing combining and utilizing the elements
of the earth and the air; and any view Of our
industrial system which fails to comprehend all
these necessarily leads to partial and erroneous
conclusions
Taking that broad view of these various in
dustries, which comprehends the smallest as
well as the greatest, and appreciates the inter
ests of a whole instead OF part only, it is i'm
possible to understand how their growth and
prosperity can be promoted by taxation in any
form.
With fertile soil and a friendly climate;
with inexhaustible stores of coal and iron-the
two most powerful material agencies in our
mo a extent n
occupied and undeveloped territory; with free
institutions and an intelligent, industrious and
enterprising population, we ought to be OK
empt frem the social and political diseases
which affict the crowded nations OF the old
world, and We will be exempt from these when
we tax all alike and protect all
alike. Living in such country
and surrounded by the marvellous
achievements Of the most wonderful half
century in the annals of the human race IL the
people continue unprosperous and discomfort
ed; if wealth continues to accumulate rapidly
in the hands of the idle few, while hunger and
nakedness increase in the very homes OF In
dustry: if invested capital remains uneasy and
labor dissatisfied, it will be burning disgrace
to the craftsmanship of the age, and terrible
weight of responsibility will rest upon those
who reject all means of relief and cling with
stubborn tenacity to the worst features of the
system under which these evils have originated
and obtained their present proper tons.
But gentlemen, no matter who may desert
or who may falter the great fight for reform
will go on. This country does not belong
either to the monopolists or the communists,
and the people will save it from both. Between
the two there stands a great and powerful body
of enlightened, conservative and patriotic citi
zens who respect equally the rights of capital
and labor: who obey the laws and preserve
the public peace. and who in spite
of all combinations and conspiracies will ulti
mate1y see that the true principles of justice and
equality prevail in the legislation of the couD-
try. Even to prevent the continuance of long
existing and intolerable evils, they will not
rush from one extreme to another, but will pro-
coed carefully, deliberately and resolutely to
correct inequalities, remove unnecessary bur-
dens and open the paths that lead to peace and
prosperity.
While free trade is impracticable. industries
and commercial emancipation can and will be
accomplished by wide and moderate measures
of reform without interference with any private
enterprise or injury to any public interest. To
this policy some of US, at least. are irrevocably
pledged. not only by the traditions and re-
peated declarations of the political party to
which we belong, but by sense OF personal
and official duty which can not be disregarded
without betraying the confidence reposei in us
by the people.
Whether in public or private life, I shall
abilities and opportunities contribute in every
honorable way to the early and complete tri-
umph of revenue reform.
A Singular Accident.
NEW YORK, Nov. 17.-Mrs. John Jacob
Astor was being driven in an open car
,fx,, ,i,,th str C