Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1890-10-29
Tarsney at the Opera House.

Tarsney at the Opera House.
Timothy E. Tarsney, formerly member
Of Congress from the Saginaw district,
discussed the question Of tariff reform In
the Opera House last Saturday evening.
Nearly every seat in the parquet and
gallery was occupied, and the speaker
interested his large audience so well that
but few left until he had finished his re-
marks. Mr.. Tarsney was not in good
condition for public speaking as he had
been travelling all day, had only a lunch
for supper, and on his arrival here at
eight o'clock in the evening went to the
Opera House and began his remarks.
Mr.. Tarsney began his speech by show
ing the two systems Of government that
were created when the American nation
was founded. One was the Hamiltonian,
or aristocratic system, adopted by the
Republicans, and has for its object the
ruling Of the country by the few. The
other was the Jeffersonian, or Democra-
tic system Of government Of the people,
by the people, and for the people. He
then gave short account of the tariff
laws prior to the adoption of the protcc-
tive tariff.
The former tariffs were revenue tariffs
which were at times increased by reason
Of the governmental wants growing out
of wars. At the commencement of the
war OF the rebellion, it was absolutely
necessary to carry on the war to impose
heavy war taxes, but when the war was
over and there was no further need of
such high taxes, and the people demand
cd relief, then the system Of protection
to American industries became the law
of the land and has since continued to
rob and impoverish the people. The
speaker fully explained how the pro-
lection robbed the people for the benefit
of the few. First he showed how the
taxes had to be raised to maintain our
system of government. The direct or
local taxation was one familiar to the
people. When they paid their city, town.
ship OIL county tax, they not only under
stood what q burden 1t was, but they
knew what it was for. The remedy for
unjust local taxes was in their hands and
could be easily applied with beneficial
effect. But their tax receipts did not
chow one enormous tax they paid, and
which was collected from them 10y the
government to pay the immense expenses
OF the nation. This tax last year averag-
ed As per cent. 1t was paid when they
purchased the necessities of life. In adj
dition to the average tax of As per cent.
collected by the government on foreign
made goods purchased by the people,
they were also forced to pay an amount
Of protection tax, equal to the national
tax, to those capitalists who had their
money invested in protected manufactur.
les. The protective tariff laws gave those
capitalists the power to force the people to
donate about 40 per cent. on an average
onall American protected manufactured
articls they were obliged by their necessi
ties to buy. The latter is bare faced
robbery. Itforces the poor to contribute
to the rich. The result has been the
creation of thousands of millionaires.
Mr.. Tarsney then related the attempts
OF the Democratic members of Congress
to reduce the taxes, but could not do sc
on account of the opposition of Republi
cans who controlled the Senate. The
Republicans had created tariff commits
sion, composed Of Republicans, and this
commission had recommended that the
tariff could safely be lowered 25 per cent
Democrats tried to have the tariff reduc-
ed 20 per cent. The Republicans refused
and their new law, which went into effect
on the sixth Of this month, had actually
increased the tariff duties IS per cent
Here then he said was one great difference
between the Democrats and Republicans
The Democrats were in favor OF lowering
the taxable burdens Of the people 80 per
cent. as compared with the Republican
tariff system now law in the land
After 30 years Of protection to the infant
industries they were still In their infancy
and still needed the government nursing
bottle. He thought an infant 20 years
old ought to be able to take care Of It.
self.
MIR. Tarsney produced a copy Of the
new Republican tariff tax, and showed
from IL what an immense increase hat
been made in the taxes on man ufactured
goods thatare n necessity in every family
The facts given by Mr.. Tarsncy ought
TO set every man who heard them think.
ing seriously on this great question
The interests and welfare OF his family
demand that he should no longer sc
blindly support such legalized band o.
robbers, who, for thirty years have beer
plundering the laboring people and farm