Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1888-01-14
aud the absolute peril at hand: wha,

Tor thirty ye2rS-tNat policy being To
build up domestic industries by reason
eign productions. He wishes to APP
proach the questions presented by the
president with a sincere respect for him
and his high Office, but with a conscious.
ness that senator's and representatives had
the responsibility of acting upon such
matters, with fuller information and Il
broader view of the interests Of their
constituents, than any executive %ofacer,
however elevated, could have. He agreed
that
THE REVENUE SHOULD BE REDUCED.
1t would be a pleasing and grateful task;
and, the moment the house of represen-
ton Of the subject matter, the senate
would be ready to share in that duty as
it had done ~ many as six times since
the close Of the u And II the secre-
tary Of the treasury would, from time to
time, only do his part of applying the
revenue to current appropriations and to
the judicious purchase ofthe public debt.
the delay > of the Democratic party might
he repaired, and taxation reduced with
out Gripping industry. He did not at
tribute either to the president or the Sec
rotary of of the treasury an intent to pro-
|duce the dangers and difficulties by
which the country was threatened; nor
| did he call in question their integrity or
fidelity; but when they tried to alarm
the country SO as to induce congress to
break down great industrial interests, lie
pointed them to the neglect of a public
duty entrusted to their discretion az the
fountain of their woes. fowl como to
the republic by this surplus it was their
fault. They had tho powor now, and q
power neglected was often as great a
crimo as Il owe u%surped. An artificial
scare could not DO made to v the
faults and defects Of the administration.
The country had two distinct systems Of
taxation, one upon tho American pro-
ductipn of spirits, tobacco aud beer; and
the other imported goods the products
president had dismissed with q single
sentence, saying that none Of the articles
were necessaries, that there seemed to be
no just complaint of such taxation by
consumers, n that there seemed to be
nothing so well able to bear the burden
without hardship to any portion OF the
people. 1t might DO that there were nc
complaints of consu!.ers; bit could that
be said of h producers O fthese articles?
They were ali the product of the farm.
Their chief cost was in tho leaf tobacco,
the corn, the rye, the wheat and the bar
ley. Did not The farmers complain Of
the tax? If the president thought they
did not lie was greatly mistaken. To-
bacco manufacturers, distillers and
brewers might not complain because the
necessary requirements Of collection
the farmers, who had to sell to licensed
dealers alone, did complain. The tax on
whisky to q certain extent restrained the
use of whisky as y beverage; but the tax
on beer and tobacco did not. The tradi-
tions and policy of the American people
we're against internal taxes. They we're
. necessity during the war: but now, if
continued, they should be reduced, and
the tax on tobacco should BE- RENTED.
Though not . necessity, like bread and
meat,
THU USE OF TbDAuoo
was so general that its tax was a burden
to tho farmer and to the consumer. The
special q X o. on rectitiers, special dealers,
to be repealed, and their imposition left
to the states; and the tax OH spirits and
beer might be 30 modified that the states
could make taxes on tho consumption of
these articles q bounteous source OF rev.
snue and a proper means of relief from
the burdens of local taxation. But the
president proposed to continue these
taxes without diminution, so thai he
might strike "a more effective blow at the
- " sCa ep~A PAVA
tions. The presidents message, fairly
construed, was u sever indictment OF all
engaged in manufactures-a sweeping
accusation against the policy Of pr0Lec-
ton as supported by the great mass oi
his countrymsn and recommended by
his most illustrious predecessors. 1t
showed that he favored q public policy
which would leave American manufac.
turers and kmen to the hard, sharp
| and GRINDING rntnnotitiNp nf tba ronifol
and labor of the world. During tho As
cal year ended June 80, 1887, the total
value Of foreign iinDOrtatiOns was SjS3,-
0O0, 00O-S233, 600, 0OO of that amount being
free of duty; SO that, as to over One.third
Of all articles Of foreign production %
suned in this country, there was abso-
Lutte free trade. They were mainly such
articles as by reason Of climate could MOI
be produced here, an d did o come into
competition with domestic industry.
They sought to place taxes upon articles
now free. such AZ tea and coffee, in order
that a greater reduction might be made
on articles that did come into colnpetl-
ton with home industry. After deduct
ing the free list, the value of imported
goods last year was $3.50, 000, 900. ON which
duties were levied. Should there be a
uniform rate of duty on tho goods1 No;
but there should 30
| a CAREFUL DISCRIMINATION
and classification Of rate, depending
up..l the nature and quality Of the goods,
upon whom were to bo the consumers,
and upon the effect which the rates pro-
posed would have upon domestic ind u.s.
try. Therefore, articles OF voluntary
USE. OF luxury, ornament OF appetite,
no i'll common use among the people,
and which are purchased almost oxclu.
sively by the wealthy, should bear 3
higher rate of taxation-the highest rate
collectablo without excluding them or
inducing smuggling. This was founded
/ upon the admitted maxim of political
economy, that x should be assessed
upon those best able to pay. This ap-
piled to wines, liquors and cigars, sup
posed to be superior in flavor to the do
nestle article, and to silks, satlns, broad
cloths, innumerable articles of dress or
nament. to porcelain, statuary, painting.
glassware and the like. As to these ar
tcles the price was u matter OF inditfer-
ence to tho consumers and the rate OF
duty was very much like tho price fixed
by the manufacturer-that is, as much as
could be got. This was the policy OF the
better than had been hoped. The value
of such articles imported was not less
than 3l20, 0O0, 600, and the duty collected
on them not less than $50, 600. 700, nearly
ons-half OF the whole amount collected.
1t certainly could not be said of these
duties that "they imposed a burden upon
those who consumed imported srticles''
(using the presidents language. On the
contrary, these duties had imposed the
chief burdens of taxation upon articles
Of voluntary luxury, ant had still in
cited American artists and mechanics tn
compete in those branches of industry
with the skilled artisans of Europe and
Asia. In this way remarkable progress
| has bean mala in thaSa oxaansira S.A.n