The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-09-05

form is substantially as follows: ''To ef-
feet all needfui reduction of the national
revenue by repeating the tax on tobacco
and upon spirits used in the arts and for
mechanical purposes" A revision of the
tariff laws that will tend to check imports
OF articles produced in this country, and
repeal OF the duties upon articles OF for
eign production Except luxuries) which
cannot be produced at home; and for any
further reduction OF the revenue that may
be necessary, the convention declared in
favor of the entire repeal of the internal
tax rather than the surrender of any part
OF 1.-THE protective system" From this
declaration it is very manifest that the
only real revenue reform which the re-
publican party proposes to commit itself
to is the repeal of the internal taxes for,
IN its judgment, no part of the present
tariff law can be dispensed
with without to some extent
surrendering ''the protective system"
And while the republican press and many
OF the speakers denounce the Mills bill
because it does not sufficiently reduce the
tariff on sugar, any bill materially affect
ing that product that did not tend to check
imports would be exactly in the teeth of
the Chicago platform.
The Chicago platform is a bold and I'M
equivocal declaration in favor of using the
taxing power of the government, not for
the purpose of raising revenue, but for the
purpose of reducing revenue by increas-
ing the burthen Of taxation. 1t declares
that taxes shall be levied with a view of
checking imports" and not with view
OF raising revenue. It may, therefore, be
said to be proposition to levy tariff
for protection from which revenue is in
ot1aptollx- Iav.s.-oI and &c of
the power OF taxation as conferred by the
constitution upon congress. While the
republican party has heretofore claimed
the right, in the exercise of a just
discrimination, to grade tariff duties with
view of affording what it terms reasona-
bic protection to American industries, it
has never before this time, so far as re-
member, taken the bold stand that the
chief object and purpose of exercising the
power ito lay and collect taxes, duties,
imposts and excuses" was, $50 far as inn
posts and duties" were concerned, to be
exercised for the purpose OF prohibit
ing imports from foreign countries,
and thus securing absolute immunity
to the American manufacturer in
what is called the home market. The
Mills bill, in its general scope and char
acter, contravenes this proposition and
confines its determinations within the
revenue standard. 1t also embodies
another feature, and that is, in selecting
the objects of taxation, it puts the chief
burthens upon the non-essentials and
luXurieS, relieving the necessaries OF life.
as far as possible, from the burthens of
taxation. For doing this, it has been de-
nounced by the republican party as free
trade measure, as If there were something
in the words free trade that was anti
American.
If the expectations G. the trainers of
the Mills bill should be 1ly realized as to
its reductional effects on the revenue,
there would still be raised under it an an
nualincome Of about Sl60, 100000. It's aver
age taxation upon dutiable goods is said
to be about 40 per cent. Now, how a
measure of that character can be charged
as free trade measure passes my COM
prehension; in fact, the objection l have
to it is that it does not 90 far enough in
the direction of what is called free trade;
but, under the circumstances, considering
that we have much involved in highly
protected industries, it is, perhaps as far
as 1t would be safe to go at present, but L
would be very glad to see, and hope it
may be done speedily as possible,
without serious disturbance to the
business interests of the country, the re-
duction go on until we should be back
again at the rate OF duty in existence at
the time the. republican party went into
power-namely, an ad valorem rate of
about 10 per cent. 1 believe that free
trade between nations as between indi-
viduals is the foundation upon which COM
merce should rest, and that the govern
ment which most nearly approaches this
policy consistent with a proper admins
tration OF its affairs will in the end bestow
the greatest benefits upon its people.