The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-08-14
FROM MRS. w. III. FELTON,.
Tho Best Methods of Taxation for the
Republic."

~N--NNNNy
classes in the north ana northwest plainly declares
that there is some in theory as well as serious
mistakes III practice, in our system of administering
the government of the United States. The creation
ana distribution OF wealth appears to aggravate and
grlhd down the masses, whose necessities and CON
| sequent poverty are ever present and compulsory
ANY suggestions upon this complex and difficult
| subject looking to q solution of the difficulty
should be received in the true spirit of inquiry I'M
mixed with partisan bias. The truth is what we
| need. All inquiry which campers with the truth is
unworthy of consideration. Those who take their
sentiments on trust are not expected to give aten-
uon TO the abstract truths of this subject Party
preJuoices and passions are now dealing with tariff
| ana tree trade, and have reached point where n
man VIII find to be true exactly what he wishes To
be true-and any just and proper conclusion, if
reached through such channels, will be the result of
aecldeht, rather than of method and Investigation
Scientists and political economists have q great
| crSWa OF maxims relating directly to this great
soc al and industrial problem--but the masses have
never considered either the mRXins or the conclu-
sons derived therelrom--aud the necessity Is upon
| US 10 meet this great national question now with
ignorance and prejudice at the ballot box The over
WheImlnS Importance of the issue to the whole
country is my apology for presuming to enter THE
| CONSTITUTION with this Taper. 1t sometimes hap.
pens as the good book tells u.s. that the great things
| OF we world are COMPOUNDED" by smallness and
Weakhess-Wth simple truth for their real strength
inc government of great nation or common
wealth Is very much like the government OF fam
lily. There must be legal head responsible for its
guidance and direction, to whom the minors and
dependent members owe respect and confidence
me government, like the family, must be supported
lis necessities supplied and its accounts paid on de-
mand Its protection from ontsido foes is equally
10 be considered with its privileges TO inside friends
a nation which considers either loss or gain, free
trade or tariff to the exclusion of lis oppressive fen.
tufe,Wll be III regulated and 'op sded" In Its move.
lnent 10 ADJUST the equilibrium sis the demand of
the hour,
The great question before the country today is
whether the producer or the consumer is the more
valuable citizen to the republic The free trade
aoeunaires tell US, "don't tax the nation for the
benefit OF the producing class. Take care of the
consumer and let the producer take care of him
scE''
Another MAXIM 1.-THE interests of individuals
ana the interest of the public, which is but an az.
grt CATION of individuals coineide.n Again; ITO
raise the wages OF labor is to I'M pair the fund out of
which wages are paid" Again: 'All commodities
should be rendered as cheap possible" Again:
"The distress of the country is owing TO taxes and
the expenditure ofgovenment."
This presents the free trade view of the subject
under discussion, in its essential features Let us
examine these ideas or dogmas in detail.
lslt true that the producing class isselEpfStecting
IN TINS country and needs no help from the govern
mentP To state the case in these words would np.
pear to indicate its fallacy. The advocates of a
protective tariff meet the argument by the follow
ing statement; "a nation, whether it consume its
own products or with them puEchase from abroad
can have 10 more value than it produces" There
fore, our supreme policy would be to cultivate the
producing powers of our country at nil haznrds-
under all circumstances. Take ireland for yarnple
80 long as Ireland was able to place duty on its
own manutaetures-notably its linen goods--so
long did it prosper. As soon us home
rule was abrogated, and free trade became the
dominant policy in Great Britain--then Ireland
COLLAPSED. bpQDmp no
tons OF the earth. Compare ireland with the little
state of Belgium, with its diversities OF manufacture
and general production. Statistics 90 to prove that
Belgium with protective tariff made q paradise of
sandy SOIL while Ireland with unexcelled fertility
Is the poorest nation or people on the continent Of
Europe. We told that the custom duties of
Turkey have ever been low. / would aek II the
dominions OF the sultan illustrate satisfactory free
trade poliey2 Germany was free trade country IN
It's former decay, but reylying prosperity was coeya
with the adoption of protective policy
There is another illustration would like to call
to the notice of American citizens, namely The I'M
cXanpled growth of the United States under a pro-
tective policy 1t is II question yet unsolyed
whether any manuiac uring country could reach
success without Il protective policy. AS you care
fully watch young plants, young animals, aye,
young children. SO must we watch the infant indus
tries OF the nation.
Next is it true that the interest of the partlcular
individual always comedies with the Interests of
the general public? Is 1t not fact to the contrary
that private Interest private enterprise looks only
to the present and not TO the future good? Isl not
also true that public interests Often porhapsalways
such as railroads, public works. etc. require pres
ent sacIinee sefdenia for the future good? Snip
pose Egypt in the time OF the Ptulomies had
opened the door to all foreign goods and left the
land OF the Mic to take its chances In tho general
scramble, would the pyramids be known to us2
Suppose the Egyptians in the age of Joseph had
said to the Isaelites walk up and possess the
land" who would have owned Egypt in the
next century, Who should govern America?
AS III family, so in state. The father who bought
shoes tor all the neghbors children aud let his own
brood lake chances IN the general scramble for their
own would be called an indifferent father--to say
the least of him. Likewise the nation, which makes
no choice IN its helping capacity, and allows the
producers on this side Of the water to contend with
the pauper horde OF freer trading countries will not
only be oyeFrun by this pauper horde, but will de-
grade our labor to the same low estate. II may be
present good 10 buy a suit ofw0olen goods at q low
figure, but after American wooens are driven out
the free traders in England via raise their prices to
meet necessities; and, as In the case Of our cot
ton, we may refuse their goods get out OF
the way for their East Indian inporta-
tons take their selfish prices In silence
The purchase OF foreign commodity signifies the
power 10 produce another merchautable commodi-
". In the last analysis IL means gold and silver
principally the more valuable metal. In our own
country the purchasa stands for trade and barter
silYer dollar or greeuback dollar will buy much
as gold dollar on American soil. When our home
markets are broken down by foreign production
and competition, then IT win be the gold only or
the shehf's hammer Who is ready for this
changer aver tbnt the interest Of every American
citizen is my interest In time Of war my neighbors
strong arm is pledged 10 my defense. IN time Of
peace his labor Is assessed Tor the preservation of
good government. II must make choice, /
choose my friends. " must favor anybody,
throw the balance OF trade in their favor II must
make sacrifice Of my dine, labor or property /
prefer u help nay neghbor hrst-aiterward the out
side world. Lastly IL true that the distress Of the
country is owing 70 taxes, aud the expenditure of
goyeInment2
Just here opine, we find "the fly IN the oint-
Inent." If saw mo free traders or the tariff de-
Tenders reducing public expenses relieving taxes
demanded for the support of the horde Of public
officials, who feed ut the public crib, then should
be more ready to buy IA the cheapest market" no
matter who WIS helped or burt. This government
requires vast OF money to pGy the office
holders Their name is legion. They are the flush,
fat people 0f the land. Their money must come by
the month If the rest Of feed on busks and ever
old, neyereeasing promises for reform and retrench-
ment. The question that concerns M, ON tho
outside, (whoSe labor fOOts this enor-