The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-08-23

Wnut is meant Dy the tariff. And vet II
may aid us today il give clear and pre-
else definition OF what tariff is. A tariff,
my friends, is nothing in the world but a
tax; tax levied by the general govern
ment upon every article OF commerce that
comes into the United States, and that is
intended for sale within her borders, and
which incidentally raises the price and
therefore becomes tax or n burden upon
every article OF domestic manufacture OF a
like nature with those who pay the tariff
tax. Now, we have at this moment, ac-
cording to the last advices | have seen,
about Sis, 900, 900, called surplus revenue
that is, taxes collected from the people
beyond the necessities OF the government
Those dollars, ll5,000,000 of them, are
lying perfectly idle in the vault OF the
Treasury of the United States--oi no SER
vice to any human being, drawing no in
terest, earning no profits, but taken from
the pockets OF the people where
they properly belong, and where,
II they were now found, thou
sands and tens of thousands and
hundreds of thousands Of the people Of the
United States would put them TO good use
and improve their condition and prosper
ity. Now, the Democratic party says that
this is wrong condition OF affairs; that
the money ought not 10 be like the talents
OF the man we are told OF in the Scriptures,
buried in the ground; that this is q very
poor use to make Of the money OF the peo-
pie, and therefore the Democratic party
says that this surplus revenue which is
produced in the main by these tariff taxes,
ought 10 be reduced, and that the taxes
shall be reduced so that this surplus will
not continue to accumulate. Applause. ]
OUR OPPONENTS, ON TIE OTHER HAND, SAY
II is better TO LET the surplus accumulate,
II is better TO take the money from the
pockets OF the people, il is better to pile il
up in the vaults OF the treasury depart
ment, although il does no good whatso-
ever, and II is a great harm; IL is better to
do that than TO touch the tariff laws of the
United States. We say, on the contrary,
TO relieve an over-taxed people is to re-
duce the taxes. We say that the way TO
treat people honestly, fairly and wisely
is 20 take no more taxes out OF their pockets
than the government actually needs for its
expenditures. Applause
The issue then is fairly made up be-
tween us; II is between high taxation on
the one hand and reasonable taxation on
the other. IL il between taking the money
OF the people out Of their own control, out
Of their own pockets and burying il in the
cellar or the treasury department, or il is
between leaving the money where il be-
longs-in the pockets Of the people to be
used by them as their wants require and
as their intelligence and honesty direct
Here n gentleman ON the platform
raised an umbrella 10 keep the sun from
the speakers face, but was unable TO do
so.
Judge Thurman-Well, never mind;
the sun never hurts Democrat any way.
Laughter and applause.
Now, my friends, in the long political
life that have led, ! have heard a great
many false pretences preached TO the peo-
pie. A great many intended 10 deceive
and dclude them; but in all my life
GHAyE NEVER WITNESSED sucH AUDACITY
as have noticed this year on the part Of
the advocates Of high protective tariff,
never before. And there seems 10 be u
singular disregard Of the truth that has
afflicted them. ! do not intend TO call
people hard names. have all my life en-
dcavored 10 keep civil tongue in my
head, and intend TO keep II as long rs
live, but do say that some people some
times lose their senses ~ that they cannot
see the truth, and often unfortunately can.
not speak H. Laughter and applause.
Now Just think Of Il ior one moment. We
are told that high tariff makes the country
richer, rs II Il were possible 10 make a
country rich by opprcSsiyely taxing It's
people. Applause. Amt that new
way 10 make u man rich? To run your
hand into his pocket and take out what
you find there, and that without any just
reason for doing ~? Isn't that singular
way 10 make anybody rich? tApplausc.
And yet this Is precisely the plan that
these people tell MS Is the plan 10 adopt "a
enrich this country. That this country IL
| 90 bc made wealthy by means Of high tax
alton. Again they have the audacity "a
say that this tariff Is not paid boy the con
consumers Of the article which Is taxed
| Why, II the consumers Of these taxed ar.
ticlcs do no: pay the tax, | would like e
know who does. DO these protcctionist
orators pay Il? DO the manufacturers pay
H. Who pays II II the people who con
sumo the articles that are taxed do no
pay III No man can answer that qucs
| ton 20 the satisfaction
Here note was handed 30 the speaker.
Judge Thurman Gentlemen / an
afraid there are some high
rRorEcrioNisrs ~ TINS AUDIENCE,
for n note Is sent up for me 20 read, n
follows ~ lady has Just had her poke
picked and she thinks Il rs these mgl
ianiI scoopcrs.'
| believe Il il, OF some such word.
hope that high tariff fellow who has takci
that laly's money will be caught an,
made 20 refund before he leaves Por
Huron. Great laughter aud cheers
Now, my friends II YOU will reflect for
moment, YOU will see that II Ii ncccssaril,
the case that the tarid taxes are paid b,
the consumers Of the articles OF like kin,
which are manufactured In the Unite,
States For Il Is curious fact and one O
the worst things about this tariff tax u
that while the government gets n rcsul,
ing from the tax, the domestic manuiac
turcrs get s., ~ II Is best estimated, tina
never goes into the treasury at NIL
[Grcat cheering.l Well. how does thi
happen2 A man, called an importer
brings goods into the United States 10 b
sold He cannot sell yard or q poun
until he pays this tariff tax. lie pays th
tax therefor, and then sells 30 the Who'll,
sale merchant. OF course ho must get th
tax back in the price for which he sell
or hc would lose money and his businc,
would break up At once. lie would sto
H. And therefore lac puts tho
TAX on TO TnE ORIGINAL COST
Of the goods and with that price addc
and with the cost Of transportation IN
} his reasonable commercial profits, lac sci
| ihnNe RoDla 10 tho Mholesnle merchnn