The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-09-18
REFORM OF THE TARIFF.
A MONSTER MEETING AT RIDeEvILLE.
Senator Turpie's Mastery Argument-A
Large Mass Meeting at Miami, Ad-
dressed BY Congressman Mar
tin and Other Dem ocrats.

the farmers and their families from miles
around. The occasion was picnic given by
the Tariff reform league of Randolph county.
The picnic was held in the grove adjoining the
town. The exercises of the day began at
O'Clock, when Mr.. Joseph Edger, the chairman,
stepped to the front of the speakers stand and
in few well-chosen words explained the OBJ
ject of the meeting and then introduced the
orator of the day, u. S Senator David S. Turpie,
who Immediately began his speech by an ex-
PLANTATION of the words levy" and collect
duties" as defined by the constitution of the
United States. He claimed that no man should
be taxed for private benefit. Taxes should only
Ze levied for public purpose. He denounced
the present protective system because i. I'M
poses prOhibitory duties upon many articles;
duties which yield no revenue to the govern
&nent It is very clear that when rates are
made so high upon certain commodities as to
prevent tho collection OF any revenue from
them, the rates upon other articles must be
levied in such manner as to yield greater
amount of revenue; or, In other words, larger
sum of taxes than otherwise they would be sub
jected TO. The friends of this high tariff policy
saw they do levy pTOhlbltlve and exclusive rate
upon certain commodities and very high rate
necessarily upon others, but they say their OBJ
ieet is to build up and protect home manu-
features, to employ home labor, to encourage
the use of homemade articles and TO prevent
the admission, use and purchase OF foreign
goods by our people. Now, this high tariff
policy has been in force long enough to be
Judged by it's fruits. The report to the secre-
fary of the treasury on foreign commerce for
June. 1850, the close of the last fiscal year.
shows that the value of our imports OF foreign
merchandise for the last year was S745, 121 .476.
For the year Immediately preceding they were
s723.957.114, being an increase of 81. 1882.
The Morrill, tariff, substantially the present
law except as il was affected by the revision
OF 1883, which neither reduced rates nor rev.
enue In any material way, took effect in 1861.
The amount of foreign importation for that
year was $3.50 250,542. For 1866 when the
high tariff law had been in force five years, the
value of imported goods was S445,-
5I2I5S, and in 1876, when this high
tariff policy had been in force
during ten years of uninterrupted peace and
had its full effect upon the commerce and the
business of the country, the amount OF foreign
goods imported was S46O,74l, 100. In 1856,
when the same policy had been in
force twenty years, and when, II
the effects claimed by its friends
were real and actual, and when there ought to
have been, if that claim true, a very great
diminutiOn in the quantity OF foreign commod-
tiles imported, the figures show the amount of
foreign importation to have been $685., 436, 1876.
in 1SSS-S9, as has just been shown, twenty
three years after the adoption of this high
tariff system and SIX years after the revision,
correction and amendment of the tariff law by
its own friends, the amount Of imports was very
nearly S10O,G00,0O0 larger than it was in 1856.
II this policy bad done what it was claimed
that il would do twenty years ago, our impOr-
tations would be comparatively very small.
They would consist only OF tea and coffee,
drugs and chemicals and some other articles
which are not produced or grown in this coun-
try. These facts show that whatever may have
been the effect of high prohibitory tariff, it
has not diminished the use of foreign goods
nor excluded or prevented their and sale
by our people. The truth is as to certain lines
of commodities exclusion has been almost total,
while to certain other lines not coming within
the purview scope of the corporations which
derive advantage from this prOhbitOry legisla-
ton these have been wholly neglected. The
mOnopolist, secure in his profits by the pro-
hibitory rate which protects him from compe-
titiOn as to his own goods cares nothing about
where the people get their other supplies
whether they come from abroad or not. He
Is not concerned in any way about home labor,
home material or home products, any further
than they relate to his own line of manufac-
lures. These he insists shall be exclusively
home made and furnished az his own price.
The senator spoke on this line for an hour
and half, and was listened to with the greatest
attention during the delivery Of his speech.
The audience was composed OF almost an equal
number of democrats and republicans. They
were nearly all farmers who had come
out to listen to a fair and comprehensive
review of this question. Mr.. Turpie was nigh
ly complimented by all.
The committee in charge deserve a good
deal of commendation for their efforts to make
the occasion a success.
MIAMI, Sept. 10. - Special "A rousing
tariff reform picnic was held here to-day. BY s
o'clock the roads leading TO Miami were dotted
with vehicles carrying people to the picnic.
At 10 O'Clock fully 5000 people were the
grounds, which were about half mile west of
Miami In a beautiful grove. A large delega-
ton had been expected from Peru by special
train, but owing TO the Obsequies of the Hon.
Harvey Shirk of Peru, the societies which
were 10 have given the excursion stayed in
Peru. The day was beautiful but warm, the
roads were very dusty and coming from the
heated highways the shady grove was very en-
iOyable and tended 10 produce decided feel
ing of cOntentment
Mr.. Martin was introduced amid great ap-
plauEe, and said:
Mr.. CHAIRMAN. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN
did not come here to-day with any idea in view
but the greeting of old friends and the making
of new ones. II seems at first glance strange
that all should meet TO study on this tariff
question. and yet il is not strange, for il is the
question having most TO do with your every
day affairs. This question is of taxation Of the
things you from day to day and where it is
so done beyond the actual needs of the govern
ment 1t is in conflict with our constitution.
Whenever a tax is levied it should be for pub
lie use-not taken from you for the benefit of
some person, party or corporation. The idea
OF taxation is to meet expenses either town
ship, county or state. Taxation is not for one
or two peoples benefit nor is it
for two or three people to pay. Should go
into the tax collectors Office 10 pay my tax the
bill he presents is tax upon my real estate i'm
provements, or my personal property. Should
my property be assessed at 1000 aud my tax
bAx0, know that is my share of the town,
~ sndlstaie's expenses for being owner OF
80 see my neighbor Brown is judged to
be worth -, 600, and look to see if his tax is
NNdouble mine, his capital is, and finding it
DO am satisfied, for this looks fair. Now, my
friends, not one cent of this direct tax goes to
pay the expenses of the federal government.
The expense incurred by paying off the ma
tOnal debt both interest and principal; of
keeping that great machine-the government
In operation; IN paying our soldiers and our
sailors and all the multifariOus details of the
national afiairs-these expenses are raised by
two kinds Of tax, both indirect-the internal
revenue and the tariff. There is a revenue to-
day from liquors, tobacco and oleomargarine
Last year the tax paid OH liquor was a little
over so, 100000, on tobacco $4,000 600 on oleo-
margarine about q, 100000, making total of
over l22000O00 OF direct tax on things we
use. Now, although we use these things daily
strictly speaking they are Injuries. IL is very
nice 10 smoke your cigar or pipe-whichever
you prefer and your means will allow; very
nice to have your glass of beer. But still they
are not necessaries by any means. Then next
comes the question who pays this tax Well
in the first place, the manufacturer; but, when
you buy, the cost of that tax has been added TO
the previous price, and thus the consumer pays