St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-11-18

the s. 200 on the plea that an American Is
thus protected, when his goods were prob
ably produced by Huugarians. Italians or
other foreign paupers imported and employed
because they worked for 10 cents day less
than the American workmen demanded. That
case illustrates the protective system. The
same is true in regard to cotton. tobacco.
petroleum, hogs, provisions, etc. You AL
know IT, If foreign nations, England for
example. should adopt our protective policy
and tax our wheat cotton, cattle and pro-
visions, allowing them to enter her ports free
when shipped from her own colonies as we do
in our interstate commerce. it would strike
blow from which we would not soon rally.
When Germany cried triehinosis and pro-
hibited the Introduction of American pork
into that country, it simply meant that four
shiploads of Chicago bacon. then started or
about TO start for Germany, would not land
because we could not trade with her on fair
terms. The edicts and determinations OF
France and England against our cattle and
other products all mean the same thing.
Senator Beck referred to mis- record in con-
gress and said he was
NOT FREE TRADER.
Neither tree trade nor protection produced
revenue. The difference vas that free trade
gave the people cheap goods; protection
made them pay dear for their goods. But the
government must have revenue to carry II on
economically, and the speaker agreed that,
the remainder ought 10 be raised by tariff
taxation, uniformly laid and with view to
stimulating manufactures and removing bur-
dens from raw materials. Direct taxation
was more unequal and unjust than even bad
tariff taxation. Upon the subject Of our sur
plus revenue, Mr.. Beck said it was produced
by excessive taxation, and could only be
stopped by reducing taxation. Bonds should
not be bought at any premium which the
holders demand, in order to reduce II. If
congress had not sense enough 10 see this,
and the speaker feared it would not have, he
would propose to lend the surplus at say 2
pc rcenLto persons who would deposit United
States and AZ per cents. as security. The
speaker closed with resume of the financial
legislation of the country, the characterization
of silver. the date at which our bonded debt
natures, etc.
HON. JOHN G. CARLISLE,
of Kentucky, was received with great ap-
plause and spoke as follows:
Although the toast just read asserts a 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 government can make its citizens
rich and prosperous by taxing them. If
these gentlemen should attempt TO convince
the public that the farmer could be made
more prosperous By increasing the taxes on
his land. or that the manufacturer could
be benefited by compelling MIN to pay
high rate of taxation on his machinery
or his income, the absurdity OF their
position would be so apparent as 10 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 increased by impos-
ing taxes upon their food, their clothing. their
bedding materials. their transportation and
the tools and implements used in their indus
tries. Taxes do not create wealth, they de-
stro, il. All taxation, whether it be direct or
indirect, and no matter how it may be dis
guised or in what manner its payment may
be enforced. is ultimately a charge upon
labor, while its immediate and invariable
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 proceeds are
honestly used in defraying the necessary ex-
penses and meeting the just obligations of
the government, all are equally benefited
and no one has right TO complain; but when
a tax is imposed upon one part Of the people
or one class Of industries simply for the pur-
pose of
INCREASING THE PROFITS
of another part of the people for another
class Of industries, or when tax is SO laid
that its necessary effect is to increase the
others equally merItorious, the impoEcy and
injustice of the proceeding are too obvious TO
require q 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 attaiuable, but substantial
equality and uniformity are essential ele-
ments in every revenue 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 enforced in
a large degree at least, but when the power
is perverted and used to increase the profits
of private individuals and prevent the collec-
tion of revenue by the government, 1t is ln-
possible to regulate Its exercise by any rule
or principle except favoritism and sefshness.
In such a case equality and uniformity would
necessarily defeat the primary object of the
tax. because it is evident that if all were COM
PEELED to pay equal tribute to each other no
body would be benefited, and il is just as evil
dent that if all do not pay equal tribute some
body must be cheated. American Industries
and by these ] mean to include every honest
and useful occupation-cannot be promoted
by any system Of taxation or any policy of
legislation which discriminates between them
and compels one to contribute part Of its
own earnings to increase the profits or pre-
vent losses in another. There should be no
expatriated or prosecuted industries in this
country. There should be
NO RANKS OR DEGREES.
among the legitimate occupations of the peo-
pie, nor any road TO the favor or bounty
of the government not open to all
alike. Mining and manufacturing and the
occupations dependent upon them are great
and valuable industries, and should be cher
ished and promoted in every proper way.
They afford employment 10 many millions OF
capital and many thousands of laborers, and
.la-r
and comfort of the people, but they are not
by any means the only American industries.
In the households of the poor, in the fields
and forests, in the mines and factories,
in the stores and shops, on the
and canals and rivers, on the
high seas. everywhere there are American
Industries struggling with the mighty forces
of nature and subduing and utilizing the ele-
ments of the earth and the air. and any view
of our industrial system which fails TO CON-
prehend all these necessarily leads to partial
and erroneous conclusions. Taking that
broad view OF them which comprehends the
smallest as well as the greatest, and appre-
ciates the interest of the whole instead of a
part only, it is impossible to understand how
their growth and prosperity can be promoted
by taxation in any form. 1t is not difficult to
see how d system which prevents competition
and therefore increases prices may enable an
individual who has capital involved in a par
ticular industry TO Erealize profits instead of
suffering losses but it IS manifest that this
must always be done at the
EXPENSE OF THE CONSUMERS
of his products. who are Also as a rule, en-
gagged in Industrial pursuits. In every such
case the losses are precisely the same as if
had not been prevented and
prices had not been increased. but instead Of
being borne by the individual 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 loses. but
pay him a profit besides, thus giving him
bonus for investing his capital and wasting