Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1888-09-14
A Wave of the Bandana.

pctCH vi Ailet1 VI. uullildii, 1T tlitl-
tenham Beach, Illinois, before an audi
ence estimated at from 10000 to 90
600 people, ii few days ago
"Now. what is the tariff? 1t is moth
ing in the world but a tax. 1t is a
tariff imposed by the General Govern
ment upon goods, wares and manufac
lures imported into the United States
for sale. The effect of the tax is to
raise the price of everything upon
which it is put, and not only to raise
the price of the articles upon which it
is put, but to raise the price OF similar
articles that are manufactured in this
country. 1t does not raise the price
upon the beef that is packed in Chica-
go, because we do not import beef. 1t
does not raise the price on the pork
that is packed in Chicago, for We do
not import pork. 1t does not raise the
price on the wheat that is sold in Chi
cago, for we do not import wheat; but
on what we do import and on similar
articles manufactured in this country
that tariff raises the price and makes
them cost more to the men who con-
sumo them. And yet this tax is said
to be a benefit to the laboring man +!
Why. in the name of all that is reason
able, how can a laboring man be bene-
flied by Il tax which begins at the
crown of his head and goes down to
the soles of his feet, and taxes every
thing that is between the one place and
the other? CAmen, he cant.O That
taxes him on his coat, on his vest, on
his brecches, on his boots, on his un-
derclothing, on his necktie-in word,
that taxes him on everything he wears
and on everything that his wife wears
If he has the good fortune to have a
wife-and upon everything his chill
dren wear, if God has blessed him with
children-how can it be that Il tax
upon all these things can be for the
benefit of that man? (Applause.) But,
my friends, that is just like another
false pretense of these protective advo-
cates-that the country grows rich by
means Of IA tax, this tariff tax, as II Ii
were possible that the people OF a
country. could be made wealthy by
their being taxed far more than the
necessities of the Government require.
! So far as it is necessary to raise money
to carry ON the Government, to pay
the pensions of the gallant men who
fought for its preservation--so far as
that it is necessary for that, the people
willingly pay the tax; but when you
tax people far more than the Govern
ment has any occasion to demand, you
are simply robbing the people OF the
money that belongs to them and ap-
propriating it, either keeping it useless
| in the treasury OF the United States,
or expending it wastefully upon objects
not worthy of your support.
"Why, how is it now? hold in my
hand the report, the last official report
of the Secretary Of the Treasury OF the
United States, and without taking up
your time to read much of it, although
it would be profitable reading, single
sentence may suffice: During 1883,
the surplus taXes'-that is, the taxes
over and above the necessities Of the
Governments will amount to one
hundred and thirteen million dollars
"Just think of that; that the Gov
ernment should take from your pock-
cts one hundred and thirteen millions
of dollars a year, for which the Gov
ernment has no earthly use, but which,
If it were left in your pockets, you
would employ for your benefit and Tor
the benefit OF all who are dependent
upon you. And what is the result?
This collection of the surplus revenue
has been going on for some years.
(Judge Thurman here displayed his
bandana, which was Justify cheered by
the auJience) This collection of sur
plus revenue, that is, the money that
the Government has no necessity for,
has been going on for years, and, al
though the surplus thus collected has
been to some extent reduced by buying
the bonds OF the Government at an
enormous premium, paying from 20 to
% per cent. more than the face of these
bonds, yet, according to the very last
account l have seen, the amount o'
surplus revenue in the vaults of the
treasury of the United States is $115,
100000, in round numbers. There
they are, $1l5, 900 600, four times al
the expenses of the Government in th'
days of Mr.. Jefferson and Mr.. Monroe
and of John Quincy Adams; $4,000,
QUO lying there perfectly idle, doing nj
earthly benefit to any human being
but depriving you of the currency yo'
need in your business, and deprivin,
you of the profits to be made on tina
money if it were back in the pocket
of the people, where it belongs, ant
gentlemen, endangering the well-bein
of the country; for, gentlemen, ho'
will you have an honest Government
i when it has this immense amount {
l. money in the treasury for which it ha
no legitimate use? Then everybod
& that can rake or scrape up Il claim o
the Government, however dishones
e everybody who can suggest SON
# scheme for spending this money, OF
r OF which he expects to make prof
~ goes to work to do it. Appropriation
,t are made that are utterly disgIaceiu
20 that are utterly wasteful OF the publ
T. treasure-and the people are the su
TO fereis.
e. ave once had a Governor in Oh
id who Was a very plain-spoken man, al
III who spoke what he thought with SOM
~ times singular force and used figures
speech that might shock tender cal