The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1888-02-16
But it is claimed, in order to promote
the general welfare of the country, it is

| hNASA feo w POAAAO OlAb AOm OuCl q
ton would promote the general well
dent protectionist say, why, it would
STIMULATE home production, and make
a home market for your farm produce,
and the home competition would re-
duce the prlce." \ eS, but how ls the
general welfare affectedp Is it not a
fact that such,a policy has brought
RUIN TO MANY LABoRING PEoPLEp
| by unduly encouraging production
in certain industries 80 that rush is
made to engage in them until over pro
duction is the result, then labor is
thrown out of employment and want
and destltution ensues, and the high
ways and byWays are thronging with
tramps. Yet many of our people still
hug the delusive phantom Of protec
ton, not realizing that no one has been
protected but the few lords OF the fa-
| Vored industries, who have become
millionaires at the expense of the com
munity. No, protection, so called, does
not protect in such way as to pro-
mote the general welfare as required
| by our fundamental contract entered
into by all our people, and it has been
characterized by our statesmen who
are the beacon, lights of
LIBERTY TO THE WORLD,
as nothing more than alegalized a sys-
tenn of robbery. The claim then, that
the prosperity of our country is due to
a high protective taIiff, is unfounded
in truth, and that in spite of such a
tariff our prosperity is due to the natur-
| al resources of the country and the in
dustry, ingenuity and enterprise of our
people 10 say that tax other than
| that which is necessary to defray tile
legitimate expenses OF the government
is benefit to the people, is an absurd
ity, and is so characterized by all scien-
titic teachers of
w. POLITICAL ECONOMY.
| This question has been a matter of
controversy in all ages, and in oul
country since the formation of our
government, growing out of the dispo-
sition of some of our people to tax the
community for their special benefit,
under the plea that it is necessary to
the development of our country, anu
the encouragement of American labor,
and to prevent competition with the
pauper labor of Europe. This stupen-
dOus fallacy is so adroitly manipulated
by those interested, that many of our
laboring people actually believe that ii
high protective tariff is necessary to
their prosperity, never realizing that
where they get one dollar by virtue OF
such policy, it takes indirectly from
them, ten dollars, which go into the
pockets of
THE FAVORED FEW.
This indirect mode of taxation called
protection, is the main source from
which emanate the labor strikes and
social disc0rd Of our country. The
hypocrisy of those who shout the loud
est against the competition of foreign
pauper labor, is Goncluslyely demon
strated by the fact that the same par
ties representing and conducting GER
tain industries who by this policy have
robbed labor of it's just reward and re-
duced their employees to want and des-
titution, and when they dare to ask for
justice are answered by dismissal and
the importation of foreign labor to fill
their places.
THE FOREIGN PAUPER LABOR
about which we hear so much in con-
nection with this question of protection
is the result of this indirect mode of
taxation, devised and practiced by the
crowned heads for ages until the wealth
has been concentrated in the hands of
the few, who by virtue of the special
privileges arrogated to themselves are
enabled to keep labor impoverished,
and consequently pauperism prevails.
Shall we, who have agreed to be just
to all men, follow such system until
we arrive at the same result? No. In
the language of an eminent scholar and
philanthropist, "This country is the
chosen theatre of God for the free, un-
biased development of humanity, and
the settlement of the highest questions
regarding its
PRIVILEGES, CAPACITIES AND DUTIES,
in social, political and religious life"
What part then shall we play on the
stage of this chosen theatre of the Most
High? Shall we exert our influence in
favor of the unbiased, development of
humanity?" Or shall we as a class
demand special privileges and seek to
compel other avocations to become
tributary to us? AS agriculturists
what relation do we sustain to the
community generally, and what is our
duty as citizens? 1t is conceded that
agriculture is the most general occu-
patton of man. More, people are en-
gagged in it than in any other occupa
Tlon. The people of our country are
engaged in various occupations, and
together constitute
A VAST MACHINE,
with many intricate parts, each per-
forming its proper Office in the affairs
of the country. Agriculture is the
grand central master wheel of this i'm
mense machine, upon which tRs,harmo-
NOUS fraternal movement of tie whole.
depends. When agriculture fails all
other interests lag. Agriculture feeds
the world. To satisfy hunger, next to
the preservation Of life, is the greatest
desire of mankind. The relation there
fore of the agriculturist to the COM
munity is of the most primary and vi
tai Importance, and is entitled to due
consideration by all other advocates
without any discrimination against it,
The duty then of, the agriculturist
is to gAA lpo -f'yt0IF
ACT THE PART OF PILOT
and helmsman on the ship of state, so
that she may proudly pursue the vow
age of prosperity, with all interests
safely on board, demanding no special
privileges and granting none, and en-
couraging no industry which is not
adapted to our com Try.
Taxation by tariff or otherwise.
should be limited to the actual needs of
the government, judiciously and eco.
nomically administered; and should be
laid in a spirit of justice to ali interests
without discrimination in favor of or
against any, that our people NAV be
lightly burdened, and that labor NAV
enjoy the products of its toll to the
fullest extent. To say that a country
which has annliad the staam nnninH