Milford chronicle., 1888-04-27

This tax to government. this tribute to ruonop-
olists, ,pursues us at alltiines and everywhere.
If the farmer wishes to buy plow, a reaper,
a dress for his wife, or new hat for him
self, or if he wishes to ride on the railroad,
this tax and this tribute accompany him in
every inch Of his progress permeates every
transaction and increases the cost Of every
purchase. One thousand millions Of dollars
is taken every year, directly and indirectly,
from the people of this country by this rob
Der tariff Think of it-neariy $40 from
every man, woman and child in the broad
limits of the United States Public Golfers
filed to oyerhowing; private pockets-ex-
cept those belonging to the protected and
favored few-pitifully limp Behold the far
mer selling his wheat with the fierce compe-
tition of the world beating down the price to
the lowest point, and compelled by law to
buy his clothing, implements and tools from
the factories shielded by law from competi-
/ ton He must sell cheap and buy dear.
4 And more; the only market he can rely upon
for the sale OF his surplus products of his
fields is the great world. aud this market the
tariff to a large extent, closes against him.
The ability and willingness of foreign ma
tiohs to trade with us, are measured by the
volume of our trade with them. If we will
not buy their goods, neither will they buy
ours If they can help it. The farmer then is
compelled, you see, to both buy and sell at
a heavy disadvantage, and is denied even the
poor privilege of an open market for the
hard-eamed fruits Of his toll. And so it has
come to pass that that great pursuit which
engages more labor than all other pursuits
combined; in which is invested fully three
fourths of the fixed capital Of the country
that which is the foundation rock, the chief
corner stone or our industrial system, is de-
pressed beyond all former precedent. By
unwise laws the channels of trade are choked
so that the farmer cannet find sales for the
products of his soil
The rank and file ofthe people of our coun-
try haYe learned that this prolonged war
tariff is not necessary for protection or rev.
enue, and they will no longer endure tayi6
for surplus. The people are stronger than
mouopolies, and the policy Of abolishing
needless war taxes after twenty-three years
Of peace will carry the country. The wedge
has been driven, so let the splinters fly in
whatever direction they may. The issue is
joined, on with the fight The Democratic
party could not have more popular issue
than the one with which the President has
supplied it.
It is not free trade that the President
favors. It is lighter taxes aud FREER
TRADE. In this hl does not differ from the
position Of both the great parties as ex
pressed in their later platforms. The Presi-
dent has made winning issue for the next
campaign. The people Of this country are
bent upon stopping the surplus, instead of
squandering or dividing" it. They believe
that the only honest place, as we'll as the best
places for every dollar not needed for the
legitimate expenses of the governments is in
the pockets Of the man who earned it. Mr..
Cleveland stands for this purpose Mr.
Blaine comes forward as the champion of
the opposite idea. When the war broke |
out in this country in 1861, everybody was
compelled to take sides " President Cleve- |
lands Message promises to have the same
effect
While writing this article, picked up one
of the Dover papers and there I found three
columns under the heading of Tariff Re-
port" In that report" the question is asked:
why does not the President use the surplus
to pay off the existing debt?" Why Be
cause Jack" Sherman's laundering funding |
Of the public debt forbids bonds to be called
or paid except with his own premium to
the bond-holder until 1891, when S23o,544,-
600 become due and payable at their face,
and i'll 1907, when S732,44o, $50 become due
and payable at their face. You seel
The sum and total ofthe Democratic plat
form as suggested by our President is Of
with the needless taxes on clothing, fuel,
shelter and food. Let alone the taxes on
whiskey, beer and tobacco.
The Republican platform as strongly urged
by their leader, Mr. Blaine, is Off with
taxes on whiskey, beer, and tobacco, so as to
keep the war taxes on clothing, fuel, shelter
and food. LE.H.
HARRINGTON, April rs, 1888.