Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-07-03
HE DON'T LIE BUT HIS MIND
WAGDERs

HE DON'T LIE BUT HIS MIND
wANDERs.
When Mayor HEWITT, Of New York, refuses TO
support President CLEVELAND because CLEyE-
LAND Is Free Trader running on a Free Trade
Platform, his position commands equal respect.
-IatsE gsner.
Descending all side issues, il seems TO
me that there is really only one question to
be decided by the people in the coming
election. Both platforms concede that the
national revenues are largely in excess OF
the expenditures required for the econo,
mical conduct of the government. This
was the case four years ago, and both
parties then pledged themselves to take
steps to reduce the revenue by revision
of the tariff. The pledge thus given has
not been fulfilled, because the Republic
cans have successfully thwarted all the
Democratic efforts to revise the tariff.
In 1888 the Democratic party renews its
pledge to reduce the revenues by reducing
the taxes; but the Republican party, hav-
ing resisted all efforts looking to this end,
has been forced by the memorable logic OF
the situation to declare in favor Of reducing
the revenue by increasing the taxes. Here
we are confronted with an issue entirely
new in American politics, and indeed in
the fiscal history of any civilized nation.
1t is perfectly feasible to reduce the
revenue by raising the duties on imported
merchandise, but it is not possible to in
crease the duties without increasing the
cost of the article to the consumer, whether
il be made at home or abroad. Hence the
Republican party is confronted with the
rsiuctio al sbsurdum, that high taxes
are blessing to the consumer, recalling
tia time when ID was insisted that a
national debt was national blessing
The plain issue thus presented to the
American people cannot be obscured by
any sophistry or by any pleas for special
interests or favored asses of the people.
Does any sane man believe that country
can be enriched by raising the taxes? Is
it not plain to the dullest understanding
that if consumers pay more for their sup
olies they must be Unidentified, if indem-
uified at all, by higher price for their
products?
Bat how can the farmer get a higher
price for his products when the prics for
them at home is made the price which he
gets from the surplus sent abroad? The
farmers constitute one-hslf Of the popula-
ton of the country. How can they be
benefited by any increase in taxes or in
the price of manufactured goods? Robbing
Peter to pay Paul is no novelty; but II
Peter submits to it low, it will be his own
fault, for he has a majority Of the votes
aad can use them for his own protection.
/ have made this statement in as simple
language % 1 can use without indorsing
any particular measure for the reduction
of taxation. The Democratic party is
pledged to make this reduction in spirit
Of fairness to all interests The MILLS
bill may or may not fulfill this pledge,
but if it shall appear that it discriminatea
unfairly against any considerable existing
industry, il violates the Democratic pledge,
aud should be amended so as not to put
the occupations of the people in peril IN
any direction whatever. The raw ma,
rerial and waste products OF industry
should be free in all cases, because the
revenue collected from them is deducted
from the fund available for the paymen!
of wages Such duties increase the cost
to the consumer and diminish the earnings
of the producer. They constitute use,
less distraction to the growth of industry
and the employment OF labor. The MILLS
bill is detective in not applying this prin'
cip!e in all cases, and should be amended
80 as to make this fundamental principle
the basis Of tariff reform.
In the coming election, therefore, the
issue is, lot between tree trade and pro-
lection, but the burning question il, shall
the revenue be reduced by the reduction
of tariff taxes, or shall it be reduced by
the increase of these taxes? Both plans
are feasible, but both cannot be right. Ii
We do not allow this issue to be obscured,
the common sense of the people will in.
sure an overwhelming triumph to the
Democratic party in the coming election.
Mayor HelriH's Letter TO the NeV York
County Democracy.