Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-09-14

EN- of internal revenue. We can only
stop this surplus by reducing one of these
.wo taxes. The democratic party says
lake the tax off the necessaries of life; the
republicans say that would not be pros
lection, take it off the internal revenue,
the tobacco and spirits.
Here Mr.. Worthington submitted some
interesting figures showing Rock Island
annual proportion of this IN
necessary surplus was $4,000. which
amount comes annually from the cons
sumers of this county. In other words,
the people of Rock Island county, under
the present mode of protection, are pay
ing into the stacks of unnecessary, idle
funds in the national treasury $50, 600 each
year that is not wanted President Cleve-
land had rightly said that unless the state
of affairs which produced this unjust
taxation which applied to the people ev>
erywhere was remedied, it would threaten
contraction of the currency, financial ruin
and bankruptcy.
THE TARIFF OF '46.
Mr.. Warrington dlsapproved the re-
publican assertion that abandonment of
protection meant destruction to every in
dustry save the interests of the sheriff
and Insurer. The speaker then discussed
the tariff question as case before jury,
permitting the latter to be republican
and submitting his willingness to abide
by its decision after it had considered
the evidence which he would introduce.
As his first proof and evidence Mr.. Wor.
thington reviewed the tariff for reve-
nue. bill framed in 1916, which
existed until 1856, when it was
lowered because of the unnecessary
surplus it produced, and which remained
reduced until 1861. He quoted from
Senator Allison's speech in congress in
1874. sustaining the tariff of '46 and Sc
and from Senator Morrills speech in 1861
taking the same view. He submitted
statistics from the United States census,
concerning the period included from 1916
to 1856, and to 1861 showing that during
that time of reduced taxation, the money
made in manufacturing increased 80 per
cent, wages increased 50 per cent, the
out put of the manufactures increased
s. per cent and the value of farm lands
increas' d lO3 per cent. The speaker
asked if these figures demonstrated
that the absence of protection ruined
every industry. Mr.. Worthiugton
quoted from James G. Blaine's Twenty
Years in Congress- on page 140, volume
one of which he read paragraph, in
which the author spoke of the tariff of '46,
as yielding abundant revenue-busine .
was fourishing and money became abun>
| dant.
| As another evidence of the fact that
| the absence of protection was not des.
trnctive to all industries, the speaker
stated that in 1857 the republican party
| for the first time controlled the lower
house of congress, and a proposition was
then submitted to cut off part of the re-
venue and decrease the then low tariff,
supported by every New England con
gressman-coming direct as they did from
the manufacturing districts of the
country-except two. Finally Mr.. Wor'
Ellington submitted as his most conclusive
testimony. the verdict of the people a.
represented in their political parties
After having passed through the ter
years of low tariff preceding 1855, three
great parties met in that year to nominate
But at none of these great convention;
WAS voice lifted in complaint of tn,
condition of tariff matters. The repub
lican party then nominated John C
Fremont, for president, but not wore
was said in the platform on which h
stood during that campaign, in favor o
going back to high protective tariff.
WHEN THE TARIFF WAS INCREASED.
The increase of the tariff came how
ever, when the country was grspplini
with rebellion, when a tax was put upol
everything in order to get money t
, protect the country and put dow
treason. The tariff lax was consequent
increased every year from 1851 to 81
J the advance being 40 to SO per cent, an
, including over 1000 articles. Then aftt
the war was over, the reduction of tn
tax commenced. First the income ia
, was taken off, then on whiskey and tC
, bacco, the corporation taxes, on manr
r factories, in fact it was cut off every
where where capital was invested, ar
reduced until it struck the tariff tax ar
, there is where we stick, and the prote
tive industries of the country ha'
banded together to resist its further d
f crease. When we ask that the war ia
e be reduced only seven per cent NOR
e they say it is free trade.
a The rank and file of the II
e publican party does not belize
: in high tariff taxes, but they have gott,
:, under the high protective wing of t
v party. The speaker alluded to the doctril
It that made the republican party in Sc.
n grandest declaration was that SLAYER
e should not pollute the soil of this cou
= try. 1t started out with three graz
It watchwords-free speech, free press, fir
v soil. How great the contrast now, a
IF what terrible drop to those three watc
= words under which the republicans Fl
" themselves bound together in the prese
( campaign-free tobacco, free whisky, fl
= beer.
10 NOT A COMPLICATED QUESTION.
i Mr.. Worthington declared that
J. tariff question was not complicated OF
r He urged upon his hearers a plan
thinking for themselves and study a
analysis of it, to take it up in detail a
es study it. He gave some telling ilhstl
r tons of the effect of the protective tai
We upon the people, to whom he plail
g. traced the import duty and from VIII