The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-10-02
VOORHEES, ON THE TARIFF.
a MATTER THOROUGHLY REVIEWED.
IndIana's Senator Points Out the Iniquities
of the Present system and Demon
strates the imperative Necessity
of an Immediate Reform.
At scottsburgh. recently, Senator Voorhees,
spoke thus:

At scottsburgh, recently, Senator Voorhees,
spoke thus:
My FELLow-CTzESs-I once heard a very emil
nent man In public life remark that the highest COM
pment he could pay % an audience was in the care
fu preparation Of what he had 20 say, and have, 10
extent least acted on his suggestion at this
time. also feel IL due 10 the enterprising repre-
sentatives of the press 70 relieve them in advance of
all responsibility for any mistakes which may occur
in my remarks. IL is additional labor. but at
times, and under certain circumstances, IL Is best for
public speaker 70 report for himself II he can.
The only authority Tor tariff taxes laid on mer-
chandise imported into this country for SALE and by
which their price 20 the consumer Is increased 10
that extent, is to be found in the eighth section OF
the first article Of the constitution, wherein,
among other enumerated powers, II Is de-
power 10 lay and collect taxes, duties imposts and
excises.' This is provision solely for the financial
support OF the government, and IL in no sense war
rants class legislation, authorizes congress 10 pro-
tect industry at the expense OF another, or TO
Iced monopolists, usurers, trusts, and powerful
manufacturing combinations out OF the daily labor
OF your hands Our present system OF tariff has long
since ceased 10 be within the plain and well known
meaning OF this clause of the constitution. tariff
in the United States only be in harmony with
that great instrument while IL remains a measure
for revenue. II Is constitutional only as method
for collecting n sufficient sum OF money and not a
dollar more, with which 20 meet the actual expenses
OF the government. When it becomes a means, n
vast, elaborate. and intricate machine, designed TO
take the labor OF one man and give II 10 another
without compensation. 10 tax the workingmen,
women, and children Of the whole country, and TO
turn the proceeds not into the treasury already too
full but into the protected and boated pockets Of
the idle, privileged, arist0cracy Of igOtten wealth
then il as foreign 10 the intent the purpose and
the powers Of the constitution the daily and
nightly avOeations OF the professional pickpOcket
the burglar, or the highwaymen.
The original purpose OF this government was to re-
quire from IFS citizens not dollar in taxes beyond
what is needed for its economical administration.
The policy OF the republican party on the contrary
Is now, and has been for many years, TO wiring IS
from wants and uneesaiflps nv high urOtect-
i've tariff and while putting 81 Of IL into the
ury give the other four 10 those whom choose to
designate the Carneges, the OppressOrs Of labor
the lat robbers o the farmer the mechanic and the
wage-Eorker. This Is the kind Of protection die
tatsd by the millonaires and through their servie
agent, the republican party, placed our statute
books. there q blight the prosperity Of the people,
and to disgrace the American republic before God
and man. When our fathers created this govern
ment they dedicated il to liberty aud to
equality before the law, and yet you
stand here to-day, industrious. patriotic,
ana. more an equality in rights in burdens
with the protected monOpolists Of this country than
the slaves Of the South thirty years ago with
their owners and masters. Those who abuse me
most for this statement know that il is absolutely
true.
The organs Of unholy avarlce and legalized greed
well know that In the collection OF internal
enue Of say 900, which goes into the U. =
treasury under the tariff not less than $500 000 900
monoPolists by reason OF the high prices they are
protected in charging up 10 you, and 70 all the labor
ing producing classes OF the whole land II is this
monstrous perversiOn OF the powers Of the govern
ment this reaction against the principles Of equal
and justice to ALL and exclusive privileges to
none, which is now so keenly and powerfully in
oensing the public mind. and arousing not only the
opposition, but the determined resentment OF honest
thinking people The action OF the republican
national convention at Chicago last year has also
largely aided 70 awaken, alarm and intlame public
indignation in this great question. While
the leaders Of the republi al party have
enacted laws for protection independent Of
The necessity Tor since the
passage Of the Morrill, tariff in March 1861 yet they
never dared 70 ayOw such principle OF plumber
who surrounded and dominated the Chicago cOnven-
tOn in losS 1t only in the last year Of the FIRST
century OF our existence as government under the
constitution that any political party or convention
OF men found with sufficient hardihood, brazen
audacy and lust Of gain to declare in favor OF con-
tnuing and in fact increasing tariff taxation on all
the vital commodities Of life not as a measure
O revenue for the support OF the government but as
measure for the still further enrichment Of a
moncyed aristOcracy out If your daily toll Such an
atroci0us doctrine this fail TO arrest the at
teniion and deeply move the American people. IL
changes the tari issues OF the last hundred years rs
presented and discussed in American politics IL
leaves NO room for conservative opposition such
lawless demand the hail OF the TObher on the high
way 10 stand and deliver admits only of heroic argt-
ments in reply. am not for the first time de-
fning my position this point. and am repeatin
rather than stating something new.
On the floor OF the senate and in the hearing of
Der 70. iSss:
For the first time in American history the mask
Of the manufacturer Is thrown aside and all disguise
abandoned He has heretofore least pretended that
all the protection he needed and asked could DE Sc
cured a. an incident 20 purely revenue tariff The
greatest minds ever engaged in the conduct of our
public affairs have willingly conceded all the Incl
dental protection which wise legislation framed for
the purpose Of revenue could afford 20 the domestic
manufacturer. The protection, however. now boldly
demanded is tn enormous tribute which the con-
sumner is compelled TO paw directly the tnonopo-
list ia manufacture and in trade, no part OF which
reaches al he .raf at Ill
This tribute eXacted for the sake Of protection per
So and with no reference 70 revenue is the increased
price which high rates OF duty, keeping foreign im-
ports from our shores, enables the manufacturer 10
put on his goods without fear of foreign competition
This Is the naked and avowed plumber OF class OF
American citizens for the sole benefit and enrich
ment OF another and 10 will not long be borne"
There was no answer then from the ablest leaders
Of the republican party, looking and listening
they were there will be no answer now. There will
be SANDER aud abuse. but the facts present can no
more be answered by the mOnopolists and their or
gans han the thief taken in the act can make answer
for the stolen goods in his hands
4 few weeks ago / submitted some observations at
bloomfield on the subject Of a tariff for plumber and
not for revenue, and vehement torrent Of incon-
sistent and ineoherent falsehoods contra
dieting and devOuring each other, has
assailed me ever since. The outcries OF
the pampeTed looters, and legalized fnan-
cial brgands is sweet music TO every earnest man
who is enlisted for their overthrow, and the more
they rave the more certain we are that our fire is
reaching their stTongholds. In my remarks at
bloomfield pointed out, amongst other iniquities
ire AK now collected on every one OF the various
tices OF WOODEN goods and wooden wear from n mans
overcoat 10 his stockings and from wOman's shawl
20 her skirt, and from the big bed-cothes Of grown
people 70 the soft cradle blanket for the newborn
babg, and inquired how any rational head OF
household could support a party which took his
money a tax such articles and give il 10 the
manufacturer; not 10 the government but 10 the
protected manufacturer In answer % this question
certain stpendiary organs Of dishonest laws and dis
honest avarice-such the journal at Indianapolis
the Press at ihiladelphia and others Of like mind
have declared with angry emphasis that good wooden
clothing, and wooden goods generally, can BE- pur-
chased cheaper in this country than In any other
country in the world. and then proceeded to de-
nounce me Tor making appeals TO the pas
siOns and ignorance Of my hearers
This may be cited ~ fine speci-
men ofincoherent and self answering niendacity for
n the American manufacturer Of wOolens can put
his goods on the market here al \ lower rate than the
foreigner can his after paving transportation what
possible reason can exist IN any sane mind for high
tarn duties, any duties all, 20 keep the for
eigner away, and to shut OIL the competition OF his
cheap priced goods.
THE MILLS BILL.
What II Proposed to DO and why It Was
Defeated.