Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1888-07-25
DODGING THE ISSUE.


both parties squnrely to the issue in
tolved i'll the campaign, and permit
neither to charge the other with posi-:
tions it has not now aud does not pro-
pose to assume. Thus early both par
ties are making charges that have no
foundation in fact, and, rs ON independ-
ent und impartial paper. the Weekly
News Cannot ignore it. The Republi-
Gun press is full of arguments depicting
the tetrots Of flee tfude, and By 49,
Bertlon AMI implication charge the
Democratic party with being q free
trade party. This il wholly untrue.
The Issue is: Shall the present sur
plus in the treasury be reduced by re-
duction of customs duties ON q large
GLASS Of IMPORTS known as raw materi-
ais, which enter into universal con-
sumption in this country. or shall it be
reduced by taking off the internal-reve-
hue taxes ON tobacco aud whisky?
The question of flee trale is not iu-
volved in the contest, md is advocated
no more by the Democratic than by the
Republican party. There are individual
free1traders iii both parties, but neither
party advocates free trade in this coun-
try, while both parties do advocate d
reduction of the surplus, the RepubliE
cans by reducing the internal-revenue
taxes on tobac5o and whisky, and the
Democratic party by admitting to the
free list certain articles of universal
consumption among the people. On
the other han 7, the Democrats charge
that the tariff duty is tax added to
the price of the article which the con-
sumner has to pay, which may or may
not be the case. If the duty is levied
on on article we do not produce, like
tea or coffee, such il the caHe; but on
the generality of articles which we pro-
duce and with which the foreign pro-
duoer has to compete in our own mar
kets, 1t Is not TRUE. In very many
cases the duties are paid ny the foreign
producer, by a reduction in price, for
the privilege of trading in our markets.
The attempt therefore, to make people
believe that in all cases the tariff is n
tax paid by the consumer is as unfair as
to declare that the issue is protection
vs.. free trade. which il false. MIR. Gar
field and muny other Republicans were
protectionists because they believed
That in this country, AZ i'll England, pro-
to :tion led naturally to free trude; but
no party in this country believss that
we are rendy for free trade now. or that
we are ready to make thut experiment.
There is enough 10 the question at is
sue. fairly stated, to occupy the Atten-
tion;of voters and the time OF speakers
without reSorting to false issues or nm
fair statements ON either side.-t Oh.
cngo News
We do not ngree with the proposition
that "un -mntty articles which We
produce and with which the foreign
producer has to compete in our own
marketN," the consumer does not pny
the ddty IN nh enhanced price Of the
goods. An we'll argue that the Nevada
cvnsu uer of goods does not pny tho
freight charges of the Central Pacific
Railroyd. "tn very many cases the
duties are paid Ivy the foreign pro-
ducer," argues the News; and iii many
cases the snu Francisco Wholesale nier-
chant pays the freight for the privilege
Of trading with Nevada merchants, but
does anyone suppose for u moment that
TIE freight Is uui I'D led to the cost OF
Gle goods t. th" retail merchant The
tQ.eiIn pro- Ro,.r locs not >"ll guojs to