Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-08-23
THE OLD ROMANS LOGIC.

In such Plain, simple Language that
Child May Understand 1t.
From Judge Thrman's Toledo Speech.
There are men audacious enough to say
men who are advocating high protective
duties or tariff-tbat high protective tariff
is for the benefit of the laboring man.
Why, in the name of sll that is common
sense and reason, how eau laboring man
be aided by the tariff that begins with the
crown of his head and extends to the soles
of his feet, and taxes everything that is be-
tween them? Applause and laughter j
That taxes him on his hat, taxes him on
his shirt, taxes him on his coat, taxes him
on his vest, taxes him on his pants, taxes
him on his underclothirg, taxes him on his
stockings, and taxes him on his shoes, and
even 20 the little necktie that is around his
neck, it levies tax upon it. How, In the
name of heaven, can it he that the laboring
man is benefited by such tax? No, my
friends, of all the humbugs by which men
are attempted to be deceived tn is
humbug OF the laboriDg man being
benefited by high protective tariff is the
greatest ever heard of. All, but says
some one, it enables the manufacturer in
this country to pay higher wages to HE
laboring men, and therefore is benefit to
them. Ny friends, did you ever know
any manufacturer that psid higher wages
to mis- hands because Of an increase OF the
tariff? If you did, you have met with
something have never seen. There Is
man named Bsrnum in this country, a
great Snowman, man who has gathered
together in his show more curiosities than,
perhaps, can be found in any other single
place on the face OF the earth, but among
all mis- curiosities he has never found such
a curiosity as the manufacturer who paid
higher wages to his hands because OF a
raise in the tariff, Laughter and ap-
plause. Nay, that il not 81 at all. do
not want to speak harshly of manufsctur-
els. but they are human beings, like other
human beings. Coughing. See what
a cold l have caught to-day. Never
mind; if caught that cold by making
a few Democratic speeches, l will get Tic
of it before make many more Laugh
ter But / must pass on. Another one
of the receptions of these tariff orators, or
high protection orators, is to say that the
consumer does not not pay the tax.
have shown you how he did pay it IN the
price that he gives for his articles; but /
want TO ask any man who tells me or tells
you that the consumer does not pay the
tax, if he does not pay it in Gods pane
who does? Who does pay il? How
comes il that the goods that cost but $40
before there was any tax upon them, after
that sell for the price of $40 and the tax
added, and the merchants profit upon
that, if that is not ultimately paid by the
consumer? But, my friends, that Is not
all. A nam who stands fair in our COM
munity, and who has face that would
license him as q preacher Of the gospel,
inst upon his looks-such man will get
up before his fellow-citizens and tell them
that a high tariff lessens,. instead of in
creases, the price Of commodities Why,
ny friends, il that is the case. if high
tariff reduces prices, please tell me why 1t
is that all the manufacturers are in favor
of a high tariff? Do they want to re-
duce the price of their own goods? Dc
they want to make less money? Why do
they work so nard to increase the tariff, II
10 increase it would reduce the price OF the
goods? This is another one of the absurdi'
ties Of these men VINO are going around
trying to persuade the people OF tbs coun-
try that q high tariff is for the benefit oi
the people. Now, my friends, there is
smother thing that these people say: They
come before you, and they draw glowing
picture of the wealth and prosperity OF
our country That is all very we'll, in
deed, although it would he little fairer
if they would give the other side of the
picture and show how the agricultural in
terests, aud the value of agricultural pros
perity, has so wonderfully decreased
since they had this high tariff in opera
ton. But let that pass. | want You to
ask any Of them who talks to you about
the country being made rich by
q high protective tariff, by what
kind of hocus pOCus Is
it; by what kind of operation, unknown to
science, unknown to reason, unkuowo to
experience, that country can be made
rich by this Government taxing its people
far beyond any necessity that the Govern
ment had for taxation? How can that be?
How can it be that you can be made rich
BY Uncle Sam thrusting his hands in your
pockets and taking from you far more than
il necessary for the support of the Govern
men,? But has it done 80? Why, my
friends, let me tell you one simple fact, ac-
cordiDg TO the very last accounts that |
have seen Of the state of the Treasury OF
the United States: there are now $l15,-
600, 900 locked mp in that Treasury of sur
plus revenue, as it is called; that is, money
that the Government has taken from the
pockets of the people beyond the amount
that the Government needed or'its ex-
penditures; Sis, 100000 lying perfectly
idle, doing no human being q particle OF
good, when, if it were in the pockets OF
the people, where it belongs, it could be
used by them in their business and for
other necessities which would make thou
sands and teus of thousands comfortable,
who are now in destitution and want.