Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1888-10-17

his reelection would powerfully tend to strength
en- that feeling of fraternity among the American
people that is so essential to their welfare peace
and happiness, and to the perpetuity of the Union
and of our free institutions.
Iapprove the platform of the St. Louis conven-
ton and cannot too strongly express my dis.
sent from the heretical teachings of the monopo.
lists that the welfare Of our people can be pro.
NOTED by a system of exorbitant taxation far in
excess of the wants of the government The idea
that people can be enriched by heavy and un.
necessary taxation, that mans condition can be
improved by taxing him on all he wears, on all
his wife and children wear, on all his tools and inn
plements of industry is an obvious absurdity.
To fill the vaults of the treasury with an idle
surplus for which the government has no legiti.
mate use, and to thereby deprive the people OF
currency needed for their business and daily
wants, and to create powerful and dangerous
stimulent to extravaganza and corruption in the
be policy at variance with every sound prlnci-
pie of government and political economy.
The necessity of reducing taxation to prevent
such an accumulation of surplus revenue and the
consequent depletion of the circulating medium
is apparent that no party dares to deny 1t; but
when we come to consider the modes by which
the reduction may be made, we find a wide an.
tagonism between our party and the monopollStic
leaders of our political opponents.
We seek to reduce taxation upon the necess-
tiles of life; opponents seek to increase them.
We say, give to the masses of the people cheap
and good clothing, cheap blankets, cheap tools and
cheap lumber. .,
The Republicans by their platform and their
leaders in the senate, by their proposed BILL say,
increase the taxes on clothing and blankets and
thereby increase their cost. maintain high duty
on the tools of the farmer and mechanic and upon
the lumber which they need for the construction
of their modest dwellings, shops and barns, and
thereby prevent their obtaining these necessaries
at reasonable prices.
Can any sensible man doubt as to where he
should stand in this controversy
Can any well-informed man be deceived by the
false pretense that system so unreasonably
and unjust is for the benefit Of laboring men?
Much is said about competition of American la
borers with the pauper labor of Europe; but does
not every man who looks around him and see and
know that an immense majority of the laborers
in America are not engaged in what are called the
protected industries?
And as to those who are employed in such in.
dusries is it not undeniable that the duties pro-
posed by the Democratic measure called the Mills
bill, far exceed the diffepence between American
and European wages, and that therefore, If it
were admitted that our workingmen can be pro.
tected by tariffs against cheaper labor, they
would be fully protected and more than protected,
by that bill?
Does not every wellinformed man know the
increase in price of home manufactures produced
by a high tariff does not go into the pockets Of
laboring men, but only tends to swell the profits
of others?
1t seems to me that if the policy of the Demo-
cratic party is plainly presented, all must under
stand that seek to make the cost of living less
and at the time increase the share of the Ia
boring man in the benefits of national prosperity
and growth.
am very respectfully, your obedient servant,
ALLAN G. THURMAN.