Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1886-11-19
THE IROQUOIS BANQUET.
John G. Carlisle Delivers q Free
Trade Speech Before the Tam
many of Chicago.
William Andrew Jackson Sparks
Tells What He Knows About
Farming.
A Democratic Jubilee.

CHICAGO, Nov. 1.-THE fourth annual
banquet of the Iroquois club occurred to-
night at the Palmer house. Among the
large number distinguished democrats to
whom invitations had been sent the follow
ing are among the most widely known who
accepted and were present: Hon. John G..
Carlisle, Hon. John B. Beck, Hon. Edward
s. Bragg, and Hon. j. Sterling Morton.
President Cleveland sent letter in which
he said that he regretted exceedingly that
business prevented him from being present,
After the banquet, at which between $50
AND 800 guests and members sat down, the
following toast was responded to by Hon.
Their Growth and Prosperity Cannot be
PROMOTED by Unnecessary or Unequal Tax
ation." Among other things Mr. Carlisle
said: "AlthOugh the toast justread, asserts
self evident truth, we cannot afford to ig-
more the fact that even in this age of phil
osophical speculation and practical know
ledge there are men in the front ranks of
ously contend that the government can
make its citizens rich and prosperous by tax
ing them. If these gentlemen should con-
vince the public that the farmer could be
made more prosperous by increasing the
taxes on his land, or that the manufactur-
ers could be benefited by compelling him
to pay high rate of taxation on his ma
chinery or his income, the absurdity OF
their position would be so apparent as to
excite universal ridicule, and yet such prop
osltions would be no more absurd or unrea-
sonable than the assertion that the prosper
ilty OF the people generally can be increased
by imposing taxes upon their food, their
clothing, their building material, Their
means OF transportation, and the tools and
implements used in their industries. Taxes
do not create wealth-they destroy. ALI
taxation, whether it be direct or indirect,
and no matter how it may be disguised, or
in what manner its payment may be en-
forced, is ultimately charge upon labor,
while its immediate and invariable effect
ton from the productive industries of the
people. That taxation for protective pur-
poses has resulted so far in continuous
waste of capital and labor in this coun-
try is conclusively shown by the
present condition of the so-called
projected industries, and by the history of
our legislation on the subject. Early advo-
temporary expedient to aid in the perma-
nent establishment of certain industries,
and insisted that after few years of de-
pendence upon the government and the
people they would be strong enough to
stand alone and compete successfully with
their rivals, not only in the home market,
but in all others. Under the influence of
this argument, the first protective tariff
was enacted IN 1916, and yet, after seventy
years nave passed., many OF the same in
dustries which then asked for temporary
assistance only, are now demanding more
than double the rates of duty at that time
deemed sufficient, and their accredited COM
mlttees and organs unanimously declare
that unless these ennrm MS bOunties shall
be- indefinitely continued, the industries
must cease to exist"
MR.. SPARKS TOAST.
w. A. j. Sparks, commissioner of the
general land Office, in speaking upon "The
public lands: the peoples heritage for
homes" gave his views upon the proper
policy to be pursued by the government in
regard to each class Of public lands. BY
the Northern Pacific railroad nearly 100000
coo acres of the peoples heritage for homes
was being unjustly withheld. An act
should be passed declaring forfeitures Of
grants, if only to the extent of portions of
the unconstructed roads at The time fixed
by law for their entire completion. Such
an act, while a measure of partial justice
only, would yet be one calculated of bene-
fit by restoring to the people for
settlement and free homes not less than
100000 of acres and would leave to the
companies at their average price of lands
more than enough to meet the legitimate
cost of the entire construction of their roads.
The manner in which the existing laws
operate in regard to swamp lands, pre-
desert lands was unsparingly condemned
nv SnarkS