St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-12-04
TARIFF Is A TAX.
Uncle Sam Assists the Trusts i
paunnrszsnU tho NfaSSaS

TARIFF is A TAX.
Uncle Sam Assists the Trusts in
Pauperizing the Masses.
Still congratulating ourselves upon
the wealth and prosperity Of our coun-
try, and complacently contemplating
every incident of change inseparable
from these conditions, it is our duty as
patriotic citizens to inquire at the pres
ent stage of our progress how the bond
of the government made with the peo-
pie has been kept and performed. III
stead Of limiting the tribute drawn from
our citizens to the necessities OF its
economical administration, the govern
stance of the people millions which,
unapplied and useless. lie dormant in
its treasury. This fragrant injustice
and this breach of faith and obligation
add to extortion the danger attend
ing the diversion of the cur
rency of the country from the
legitimate channels of business.
Under the same laws by which these re-
suits are produced the government per-
mitS many millions more to be added to
the cost of living of our people and to
be taken from our consumers, which
unreasonably swell the profits of a
small but powerful minority. The
people must still be taxed for the sup
port Of the government under the opera
ton of tariff laws. But to the extent
that the mass of our citizens is lnOrdI-
nately burdened beyond any useful pur-
pose and for the, benefit of favored
few, the government. under preteXt
of an exercise of its taxing power. enters
gratuituously Into partnership with
these favorites. to their advantage and
to the injury of vast majority OF our
people. This is not equality before the
law. The existing situation is Injurious
to the health of our entire body polite.
1t STILES all patriotic love of country
greed and grasping avarice. Devotion
to American citizenship for its own
sake and for what it should accomplish
as a motive to our nations advance
ment and the happiness of our own
people is displaced by the assumption
that the government, instead Of being
the embodiment of equal ty, is but an
instrumentality through which especial
and individual advantages are to be
gained. The arrogance of this aSsump-
ton is unconcealed. 1t appears in the
sordid disregard of all but personal in
tereStS. in the refusal to abate for the
benefit of others one iota Of selfish adj
vantage, and in combinations to per-
petuate such advantages through efforts
to control legislation and improperly in
tluence the suffrages of the people.
THESE ARE THE SUFFERERS.
Some Day the Scales Will Drop
From the Eyes Of the Victims Of
the Tariff.
The grievance Of those not included
within the circle of these beneficiaries,
when fully realized, will surely arouse
Irritation and discomfort. Our farmers,
long-suffering and patient, struggling
in the race OF life with the hardest and
most unremitting toll, will not fail to
see. in spite of Misrepresentation and
misleading fallacies, that they are
obliged to accept such prices for their
products as are fixed in foreign markets,
where they compete with the farmers
OF the world; that their lands are de-
clining in value while their debts in
crease; and that, without compromising
favor, they are forced by the action of
the government tOp pay, for the benefit of
others, such enhanced prices for the
things they need that the scanty returns
of their labor fail to furnish their support
or leave no margin for accumulation.
Our WOrkingmen, enflanchised from all
delusions and no longer frightened by
the cry that their wages are endangered
by just revision of our tariff laws,
will reasonably demand, through such
revision. steadicr employment, cheaper
means of living in their homes, freedom
for themselves and their children from
the chain of perpetual servitude, ard
an open door to their advancement be-
yond the limits of labOring class.
Others of our citizens, whose comforts
and expenditures are measured by mod
crate salaries and fixed incomes, will in
SiSt upon the fairness and justice of
cheapening the cost of neceSSarieS for
themselves and their families. When,
to the selfiShness of the benefciarieS of
unjust discrimination under our laws,
there shall be added the discomfort of
those who suffer from such discrimina-
ton, we will realize the fact that the
beneticent purposes OF our government,
dependent upon the patriotism and con-
tentment of our people, are endangered.
COMMUNISM OF CAPITAL.
1t Is as Dangerous as the Com.
munism Of Oppressed Poverty
and Toll.
Communism is hateful thing, and
menace to peace and organized govern
ment. But the communism of combined
wealth and capital, the outgrowth OF
overweening cupidity and seIfishness,
which insidiously undermines the JUS
tice and integrity of free Institutions, is
as dangerous as the communism of OPP
pressed poverty and toll, which, eXas-