The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1888-11-02
HERMAN STUMP,
of Hartford Co.
The Question to be Decided Next Tues
day

The political campaign now drawing TO q
close has been remarkable one. For the
first time in many years the personal fitness
of the candidates has been but little discussed.
No candid man has any doubt of the ability
of either Mr.. Cleveland or Mr.. Harrison to
perform the duties of President. The cam
paign, therefore, has turned upon question
ofpolitical economy, and however much de-
signing men may seek to becoud ii, the ques-
ton is not, Shall we have free trade or pro.
tectiVe TARIFF but it is. Shall an unnecessar-
lily high tax be levied upon the common ne
cessites of life, that is, upon the whole peo-
pie, in order that persons engaged in manu-
featuring may have larger profits?
In community of farmers, who pay these
tariff taxes on every thing they use on their
farms or buy for the comfort of themselves or
their families, the question answers itself in
the asking.
Under the present tariff the government
collects more money than it needs for an eco
nomical administration, and an immense sur
plus is yearly accumuating. 1t Is argued
that this money comes from foreigners who
send their goods to this country. 1t does
not. The goods are imported by or own
merchants, who pay the duty and add that
amount to the price when they offer them for
sale.
Nearly every manufactured article can be
made as cheaply here as in Europe and the
tariff enables home manufacturers to charge as
much for their wares as the foreign article
costs, SO that whether farmer buys the for
eign article or the homemade one he has the
tariff tax to pay.
The Republicans have raised the delusiye
cry of free trade against the Mills bill, which
only proposes an average reduction of five
per cent. Henry Clay, the great apostle of
the protective system, advocated an average
tariff of 20 per cent, while the Mills bill pro.
vides for an average of 40 per cent. Ifthe
latter is free trade where does the theory of
the Sage ofAshland stand?
This slight reduction of five per cent. pro-
posed by the Democrats would be sufficient
to relieve the oVer-burdened treasury and
would be felt in the decreased cost of the COM
monest necessaries of life, on which the great
cat reduction is made. 1t leaves the Injuries
of the people, their silks, their wines, their
diamonds and other precious stones, their
whisky and tobacco, to bear the weight of
the burden of taxation. No farmer can rea-
sonably object to this
The Democrats further propose TO hermit
raw materials needed by our manufacturers
to come in free of duty. This, it is claimed
with good reason, would give great impe
tus to manufacturing and afford more con
slant employment at better wages to the men j.,
women and children employed in our factor.
les.
line Republicans have also recognized the
necessity fora reduction of the rapidly in
creasing surplus receipts of the government,
but their plan is to wipe out internal revenue
taxation on whisky, tobacco and oleo.
margarine. This would no doubt lessen the
surplus, butt would leave the necessares of
life 10 bear an undue share of taxation.
vote for the Democratic ticket.will not
mean free trade, but it will mean an en]ors.
ement of the Democratic principle ofcheaner
clothing, cheaper lumber, cheaper salt, cheap
or Tin, cheaper everything that the poor
man must buy.
vote for the Republican ticket will mean
perpetualion ofthe present system by which
the many are taxed for the benefit of the few
President Cleveland, by his bold and man
ly tariff message, forced this issue on the
American people, and it will not be settled
until 1t Is settled on the principle of equal and
exact justice to all.