The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1886-08-31

ing address OF American Free Traders
has been published:
To Friends Of Freedom:
The inability Of the large Democratic
majority in the National House of Re
representatives. 10 pass bill for tariff re-
form, looking only TO the removal of
the heavy burden of taxation from a
few great industries, and the refusal of
representatives Of the Republican party
and their allies TO even consider the
abatement Of tariff taxation in any
degree, img eratiyely calls for ag-
gressive and uncompromising political
action by friends of Constitutional
freedom. There can be no doubt that
majority of the American people at
present acting under unison with one
or the other of the two great political
parties. are convinced of the practical
bility and necessity of tariff reform,
and the abandonment of the hitherto
dominant policy of high, discriminate
ing and unnecessary taxation. a clear
statement of the issue between Protec-
tionisls and Free Traders is of itself
demonstration of the truth Of this as
sertion. On one side advocates 4 pro-
lection start with the assumption that
under q free and Republican form OF
government the power of taxation may
be lawfully used to aid private enter
prises and build private fortunes
on .alse plea, now demol-
ished by the bare logic of facts,
that such legislation betters business
and raises wages. For a long period
they have reduced this assumption u
practice oy imposing heavy taxes on
articles necessary TO the processes OF
great domestic industries for the bene-
TT II special interests, Of very small rel
alive importance to the aggregate indus
trial interests of the whole country.
Thus, for years past, our fiscal policy
has been practically dictated by manu-
factuIers of pig iron and growers Of
wool, although The aggregate value OF
the annual product of pig iron and wool
is not the equal of .he value of the annual
egg and poultry crop of the country
and not TO be compared with the
value of the annual crop Of either
hay, wheat, corn or cotton. Embold-
ened by long liberation, the demand
of these special interests increase III au-
dacity, rs shown in The recentsprOpoSi-
ton OF Samuel J Randall, Q cir repre-
sentative. to advance the duties on tin
plate from 10 ~ cents per pound
This article is used largely for the pre-
seryation, by canning, OF an excess OF
our meat, vegetables, frnit, fish and
oil prouuCfs, which, withou. such
treatment could not be marketed but
would be wasted. The present duty,
freights and commi- sions added, con-
stitntes a bounty, which would cover
the payment of the double wages paid
in the tin plate industry in Great
Britain. But as foreign manufactures
are conducted at minimum profit the
81. 80
known in history, the present tax
is regarded rs insufficient, and
Randall proposed, III spite OF an over
| flowing treasury, TO increase this tax
from six 10 an aggregate u Sl5 100000
and collect II by adding 10 the cost OF
the preservation of meat fresh fruit,
decreasing our export market, accord
ingly; mia pans and pans Of every
farmer. the cooking utensils and dinner
pail OF every workingman, and the con-
struction OF every dwelling house and
railroad car in the country AL Tor the
benefit of a few iron manufacturers and
capitalists in Pennsylvania.
On the other side the principle Of free
traders may be simply stated rs fol
lows:
First-They demand that the whole
system of federal taxation be recon
structed and readjusted. so that all
taxes which the people pay shall be re-
ceived by government without the di-
version OF any part for fostering pri-
vate interests.
Second-rhat the promotion and
true protection Of domestic industry is
to be found on the removal Of taxes
from articles which constitute the
foundation or are necessary to
the process OF our various indus
tries; and that incidental taxation be
restricted as far as possible to
articles which are ready tor fnai. con-
sumption. and which is voluntarily
other than necessary.
Third-They claim that the aban-
donment of the present hish dis
eliminating and unnecessary tariff
tional revenue on a comparatively
few articles, on which taxes can be col
lected with the least interference with
freely chosen pursuits of the people. are
necessary steps to gradually insure to
the country full industrial employment
and high wages, abundant production
and low cost, extended markets and
permanent revival OF commercial
activity. Trade competitors Of the
United States are not loaded down
with debt. with the support OF great
standing armies. which in turn entail |
the burden Of taxation so heavy as 10 |
impair their resources, cripple the ener- |
gies Of their people and increase the |
cost OF their products. To successfully /
make race for trade with nations thus |
hampered. tits only necessary that the /
people OF this country adopt tax pol
ICY Numerically opposite. Other ma
tons must then disband their armies
aad set their soldiers 10 work X |
ter wages and better subsists ~ than |
they now have TO afford III any |
chance for competing with a country so |
rich In resources, intelligent and active /
IN respect TO population and so free in |
respect 70 government as the United /
States. II is for such q result that the !
American Free Trade League invite I
the cooperation OF patriotic men Of all I
political VIr'i-- ~. --.-- p % az /
strength IL JO--f-ss sassAs 49,. fne .
change in single district in half OF the |
States from the side Of prot ctioEists y ]
the side Of FREQ traders. is all hat Is re- |
quired 70 reform the revenue system Of I
government In more than this mum Z
Der OF districts a change OF less than /
per cent. IN the vote will change the dis I