The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-12-04
A REFORM OF THE TARIFF.
THE GREATEST NEED OF THE HOUR
Mr.. Cyrus Il. Davis Issues an Address to thu
People of the second Congressional
District-Speedy and Thorough
Organization Urged.

The Hon. Cyrus E. Davis, vicepresident OF
the Indiana tariff reform league for the Second
district, has issued the following address:
The writer desires 10 address you on a sub
lect in which he believes You take like inter-
est with himself. and the state organizations
under which he acts. We believe that the most
Opportune time in which to agtate the policy
OF tariff reformers is during the unimpassioned
months. between political campaigns. when no
party contest clouds the mental vision with Its
dust and smoke, or inilames the passions OF
men with its appeals TO hatred, prejudice and
party pride. Once concentrate the impartial
calm thought OF our cOuntrymen on the great
wrongs of unnecessary taxation and class legis-
lation and they viii vanish Ike an April snow.
system that appeals 10 the prejudices of the
unniOrmed aud unthinking by denying the
fundamental and time-tried law of trade that
all indirect taxes are in the end paid by the
consumer and claiming instead that our ma
tional burdens are borne by foreigners and not
by ourselves; system which causes the cost Of
living to more than destroy any advantage that
natural conditions have given the tOiler IN the
price of his toll; system which diverts much
OF the cost of production which should go 10
increase the wages OF labor TO the payment IN
stead of an enormous tax on raw material, OPP
Grating in this way at the same time TO so in
crease the price of labor's products as TO ex-
clude them from the markets of the world;
system which seeks the support Ofthe consumer
by claiming to reduce the prices of commOdi-
ties, while asking the support of the lab0rlng
producer by protesting 10 increase those prices;
a system which seeks 10 restrict by tariff laws
our commerce with foreign nations while at the
same time its advocates demand the subsidy OF
steamships, and concede the advantage of in
ternational railways, inter-oceen canals and all
American congresses for the purpose OF in
creasng the very trade which By tariff laws
they wish artiicialiy 10 restrict; a system
which rests on the assumed dependence of
manufacturing industries, on legislative help in
a land blessed by laborng class whose supe-
rior intelligence and productive power more
than reimburse the employer for the higher
wages that he pays; in land whose accumu-
lated capital, natural resources, commercial
advantages, restless energy ana ingenuity OF
population far surpass the like endOwments OF
any other land; in short, q system which at
tempts an appeal TO human reason through q
cOnglOmeration Of self-betraying fallacies, silly
Inconsistencies and palpable falsehOods cannot
long abide the light of investigation and the
enliGntening power OF popular agitation. We
believe the following propositions are as well
established as any rule IN physical or social
sclence-tll the consumer pays all indirect
taxes; 20 manufacturing and agriculture in
America can never mutually supply each
other with a sufficient home market since both
branches now produce a surplus and any IN
crease in the force engaged in either, without a
foreign outlet would only cause an increase in
the enormous Over-production which already
hampers them both; 81 a good foreign mar
ket is thus absolutely necessary for the health
ful development of both these branches Of in.
dustry; "a any legislation that tends to
check the importation of foreign goods, tends
in the same ratio to hinder the expectation OF
domestic products. and thereby curtails our
foreign market; 90 as a general rule meas
ured by Its superior productive power, Amer
lean labor is the least expensive labor in the
world, and other things being equal its products
can successfully compete with those of the
labor of any other land.
These great truths once understood the sys-
TEN which Expresses us all viii have nothing
upon which 10 rest in the popular judgment.
The method of agitation which the Indiana
tariff reform league has proposed is by awak-
ening investigation and difiusing instruction
through local organizations. These OrganiZa-
tons are desired in every precinct In the state.
The president of the state league. Mr.. Edgar 4.
Brown OF Indianapolis, has recently made,
through the columns of THE INDIANAPOLIS
DAILY SENTINEL, a request that the organiza-
ton of the state be complete by Jan. l. 1890.
Ii is made my duty as one of the vice-presidents
of the league to look after these organizations
IN the Second congressional district. We be-
heve central organization has been completed
in nearly, If not quite, every county in the dis
trict. The county organization should proceed
at once TO organize the precincts throughout
the county, and let each supporter of the cause
in every precinct feel personally solicited TO
take part in bringing about an organization OF
his precinct at once. If desired, and two
weeks notice is given me. / will endeavor TO
procure a speaker to address your first meeting
In each precinct and assist In your organization.
Let the grand work 90 forward promptly.
CYRUS Z. DAVIS.
Bloomfield Ind, Nov. 90