Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-11-18


support OF government, the principles Of
equality aud uniformity can DO recognized
aud enforced In large degree az least,
but when the power Is perverted and used
TO Increase the profits of private indiyidu-
ais and prevent the collection of revenue
by the government, II Is impossible to
regulate It's exercise by any rule or .prin-
oiple, except fayoritism and selflshness.
In such case equality and uniformity
would necessarily defeat the primary
object OF the tax because II IL evident
that II all were compelled TO pay equal
tribute 70 each other, nobody would be
benefited, and II Is just as evident that n
all do not pay equal tributes, somebody
must be chested. 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 dis
eliminates between them aud com.
pels one To contribute part
OF It's own earnings TO Increase
profits or prevent losses In another
There should be no expatriated or perse.
cuted Industries In this country. There
should be no ranks or degrees among le.
gitimate occupations OF the people nor any
road 10 the favor or bounty Of the goy-
ernment not open TO all alike. Mining
and manufacturing, and the occupations
dependent upon them, are great and valua.
BILE indus .ries and should be cherished
and promoted in every proper way. They
aford employment to many millions OF
capital and many thousands OF laborers
and their products contribute largely 20
the wealth and comfort OF our people,
but they are not by any means toe only
American Industries. In the households
OF the poor in the helds aud forest, in
mines and factories, In stores aud shops,
on the railroads, canals and rivers, on
the Aigh seas, everywhere there are Amer.
lean industries struggling with the mighty
forces of nature and subduing, combining
aud utilizing the elements of earth and
air, and any view Of our Indus
trial system which fails 10 eompre-
bend all these, necessarily leads to
partial and erroneous conclusions. TAX
ing that broad view OF them, which com
prrhends the smallest as wen as the
greatest, and appreciates the interests of
the whole instead Of part only, II Is Inn
possible to understand how their growth
and prosperity can be promoted Nv taxa.
ton IN any form. II is not dihlcult TO
see how system which prevents com.
petition and therefore increases prices,
may enable an individual who has capital
involved IN particular industry 90 real
ile profits instead Of suffering LOSSES
but IL Is manifest that this
must always be done at the expense
OF the consumers Of his products, who
are also as u general rule engaged IN in
dustrial pursuits, In every such case
actual losses are precisely the same as II
competition had not been prevented and
prices had not been increased but instead
of being borne by the individual who car.
ries on the business they fan upon the
purchasers OF the product and are paid
out OF the earnings of other industries
The other industries, therefore, not only
make good hts losses, but pay him
4 profit besides, thus giving him
la bonus for investing his
capital and wasting his skill and labor In
an Improbable business. That taxation
for protective purposes has resulted so
far In continuous waste OF capital and
labor In this country, is conclusively
shown by tho present condition OF so
called protected Industries and by the
history OF our legislation on the subject.
The early advocates Of the system pro.
posed II only as temporary exppdlent to
aid In the permanent establishment OF
certain industries, and insisted that after
few years OF dependence upon the
bounty OF the government and 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
arg ument the hfst protective tariff waR
enacted in 1916, and yet after
seventy years have passed many Of
these same Industries which then asked
temporary assistance arc now demanding
more than double the rates Of duty then
deemed sufficient, aud their accredited
committees aud organs unanimously de-
clare thai unless these enormous bonntlcs
shall be indefinitely continued these In.
dustriIs must cease TO exist. According
10 iheir own showing, the policy inaug-
IRA ga nearly three'quaTtere Of century
ego for the purpose Of rendering them
Independent aud staining has mad |
exactly an opposite effect It's constant |
tending has been and Is now, TO impair |
their ability TO compel with the products
OF similar industries elsewhere aud 20 |
make them more and more dependent
upon bounties and special legislation for
their support. IL has added largely TO
the cost Of production by increasing the
piANt VI nptuihNlJ anu mAtellulH huu
Of life II has confined the
products Of so.caled protected industries
TO the home market exclusively, so that
The amount OF production must be
regulated by domestic demand alone and
must be suspended when that
demand be satisfied. II has 05stFueted
exchanges, thus partially
excluding the products Of our other In
1ustres from profitable markets abroad,
their earnings and ar
resting their growth and prosperity.
II has provoked other governments
10 resort TO retaliatory measures,
against our products and
trade In their own markets and giving
preference 10 the products and trade Of
our most formidable rivals, and here At
home, by encouraging capital aud labor
10 rely upon legislation for profits rather
than tneir own capacity, II has greatly
impaired that spirit OF Independence and
which Ia absolutely indis-
Densable to successful prosecution Of
business IN this age Of Improvement
aud pr gress. These are only few Of
The evils which the existing system Of