The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1888-07-13
The Logic of Facts.

The old school of political econcm-
lists is still arguing how prosperous this
country has been because OF its high
tariff. This is the style of reasoning in
dulged before Bacon's time. Having
theory we'll prepared, facts are fitted in
to il wherever found, and those that
will not fit are discarded as useless. The
modern method of reasoning goes on
the principle of securing facts where
ever they can be verified and accepeting
the logical conclusion. This method
applied to the doctrine of Profession as
preached in this country leads to the
inevitable conclusion that the country
has prospered in spite OF the war tariff,
not because of it.
Germany has high tariff and its
people are most economical and philo-
sophical race. Still it does not prosper.
Spain has its tariff and its depression.
Russia has very high tariff, but gov
eminent and people are alike pJor.
England has free trade and is the most
prosperous of the nations named.
France has a moderate tariff and while
recovering from great war debt is still
prosperous. The average of wages In
England is 20 per cent. greater than IL
France, 40 per cent. greater than IN Ger
many and more than double that OF
Russia.
The Russian tariff is greater than that
OF the United States. and IL Is the only
one of the European powers in which
conditions are similar to those existing
in this country, in that il has vast un-
developed resources and practically un-
settled tracts of land. Every industry
is protected TO the point of prohibition,
and few articles of commerce produced
in Russia are imported But Russia IS
bankrupt. Her treasury is empty and
her national debt increasing. Her peo
pie are paupers, groveliDg in the depths
of misery and poverty. The reason IS
not far TO seek. The mass of the peO-
pie are uneducated and terroriZed by an
autocratic government. Their methods
of production are crude and faulty their
incentives to effort few and far between.
A huge standing army takes the best
brains and Drawn of the country from
the pursuits OF peace aud progress and
eats up all the production OF the people.
Germany bears its burden of taxation
because OF the intelligence and thrift of
its people, who make the utmost of
everything they have. But with the
taxation burden removed their progress
would be wonderful. The German gov
eminent does not tax the people purely
on the theory of'protectOD, but because
the revenues are needed 20 maintain the
pomp and circumstance of war in time
of peace. France thrives under mod
crate tariff, because the people are in
dustIiOus and Intelligent and the
country fertile. The system is that of
a tariff for revenue only, for France,
like its neighbors, supports drain on
its resources in the shape OF big
afn I'll hos h.-ar aa.TT., s.fT
huge war indemnity TO Germany.
England suffers equally with The
otEer European powers in the mainte-
mace or a reproductive and consuming
army and navy. Its territory is limited,
and it is great importer OF crude ma
terials from protected" countries, yet
its mills and factories pay the highest
wages. Its internal taxes on necessa-
ries in the absence OF tariff duties are
burdensome because OF the enormous
expense of the government.
The United States has Intelligent pop
ulation, wonderful natural resources,
improved appliances and everything
favorable to cheap production. There
| is no buTdensome standing army or
/ royal revenues to provide for. II would
| be surprising if the country did not
/ prosper. Blu: 1t prospers in spite of the
! high tariff. not because of it.
The enormous revenues Of our present
/ onerous system of taxation lead To an
unequal distribution of the fruits of in
heIeCt prosperity, because the burdsn OF
taxation falls on one portion Ot the peo-
pie and the enhanced profits of protected
industries rebound to the benefit of an
other and much smaller class. Ii the
nature OF the case this small benefited
class combines to perpetuate the system
and to increase its features of specia
favor, while the great mass struggle:
and grlnds itself poorer.
What is wanted now, and cortempla-
ted by the Democratic party, is not free
trade, but a reduction and equalization
OF the burden OF taxation. y system
that will not perpetually cause the rict
to grow richer and the poor poorer, un
til society is divided into Classes will
no feelings or instincts IN common, anC
The idea OF government of, by and fo
the people becomes an impossibility b.
cause of the duality and seperate inter.
ests of those people. Such revision anC
equalization of the tariff is a necessity
and as the party guaranteeing such re
form the Democracy is certain of sue
cess.-PitSburg Post.