Evening journal., 1888-05-25

4 aNoh1tfAA ANFbl 01A
grandiloquently labeled revenue Re.
form" has provoked the admiration Of
the free traders of the world. Indeed,
so boisterous was the approval Of the
English free trade journals, that their
recognized leader was impelled 10 ad-
wise caution, lest British jubilation
might provoke Americn suspicion and
antagonism But. inasmuch as presi
Dental defenders may claim that they
ought not to be held responsible for
British assumptions, and as the Presi-
dent and his friends insist that they
are only very mild-mannered "reve-
nue. reformers," and not free traders,
we, for the moment, waive any argu-
ment as to John Bulls ability to iden-
tify freet raider ON sight, that we
may consider some homo evidences
that the Presidents policy rests upon
free trade as its chief cornerstone.
twill not be disputed that a cause
is to be justly estimated by the delib-
crate declarations concerning it's sub
stance from its officially appointed
leader. If there bo duly authenticated
leaders in the development OF the
Presidents policy, they must include
spenker Carlisle and his appointee,
the chairman Of the Ways ard Means
Committee Of the National House OF
Representatives, Hon. Roger @ Mills
Of Te1aF. this appointment to leader
ship having, Of course, been made on
tho basis Of the public record Of Mr.
Mills, and the question is therefore
pertinent, what is that record?
We shall herein make no reference
to AIr. MillA's unofficial utterances at
any time, in Texas or anywhere else.
but only to his words spoken in the
Capitol at " ashington in his capacity
as Representative in Congress.
AS to his general estimate of the
eystem Of protection TO American in
dustry, we find him. officially, on
record in these words:
"It(protection) is worse in its in
huence than the depre, iation of the
currency AID perhaps all other vicious
agencies combined. In 1861,
after her commercial people had re-
noun ced 1t, the Congress Of the United
States cpened it's arms and took to it
bosom his impersonation IF poIiti
cal heresies
"If to day we could sweep away all
restrictions from our commerce and
make it as free as tho air, in one year
our trade with foreign countries
wou amount to two billions instead
of one, aud in ten years we would have
the largest commerce and the most
pr spernus people in the woIld."
We find Mr.. Mills just at present in.
tensely anxious to extend the free list.
ostensibly in the interest of free raw
for manufacturers. but the
Congressional Record bears evidence Of
his advocacy Of the abolition Of the
free list, in the interest Of tariff for
revenue only, and a uniform ad valo-
rem duty Of 25 per centum on all inn
materials and finished pro-
ducts alike-and, foreseeing a deficit
"a needed revenue on that basis, he
proposes, among other plans for in
creased revenue, direct tax Of SIC, ,000,-
300 on manufactures. That is to say,
bis love for home industry, which has
of late been 80 demonstrative, is illus
rated by the following plan, viz
manufacturers to be taxed
% per cent on all imported supplies,
protected by only 25 per cent. on fin
shed products, and compelled to pay
IN annual direct tax of $40, 600, 900.
In the same connection Mr.. Mills
his love for such working
men as are wicked enough to have
placed money in savings banks by
to direct tax on all these
deposits. Mr. Mills is on record as
ienouncing the government taxes
upon whiskey and tobacco as Gin
famous revenue laws" although he
now defends the Presidents plan for
heir retention, infamy included.
He severely criticised the "Wood
Tariff Bill" because, according to his
it was a protective
.ariff" bill. He 10, OF course, entitled TO
he proud distinction Of being the only
public man who ever dreamed thai
Iuch was its character, but this fact
simply illustrates the keenness of his
scent for protectionist heresy.
From bis speeches during the discus
sion of the Wood bill we give a few
extracts as follows:
"The committee ought to have
adopted an average ad valorem duty
of 20 per cent, and gone more fire.
Iuently below than above it,"
I'VE should not strive 70 find out
he lowest duty that will bring the
highest revenue, but falls as far below
hat as possible, and in doing SO,
whatever loss to the revenue may
,ccur should be supplied from some
'ther source. We should remember
hat the lower the duty the greater
will be the imports"
sour policy should be to take the
smallest amount of taxes that we can
oy customs, and we should gradually
decrease the amount until our customs
axes come along from non competing
articles entering our custom houses"
Our last quotation from the gospel,
according to Mills, bears date April IS,
1884, when. after intense adulation cf
he English system Of industrial ecoa-
'my, and delineating the blessings to
snure to this country upon her adop-