Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-10-25

strong arms OF patriots now gone, and
no came to rally not only the old vete-
rams OF many O hard.fought field but the
younger soldiers in the line.
He came to discuss, rs best he could,
the living, burning issues OF the day,
and 10 lay bare the heresiesand fallacies,
sins, iniquities, and wickedness of the
Republican party.
REPUBLICAN POLICY AND REPUBLICAN, LAWS
From 1861 the Republican party has
had tho presidency with the exception Of
four years, when the reins of govern
ment were in the strong, firm, brave, and
patriotic hands of New York's illustrious
son--the almost peerless Cleveland,
whose great national heart knew no sec
ton, no subdivision, no class, but re-
stored Union with equal rights to every
State and equal immunities to every citi-
zen. For thirty years nearly the Demo
cratic party has been powerlsss to shape
the policy OF this Government At no
time in this long period-almost a gene-
ration-has our party held the Executive
and both branches OF Congress.
IL follows then as q necessary conse-
quonce that we are living to-day under
Republican policy and under Republi-
can laws.
If that policy be wise and these laws
be just the Republican party is entitled
TO the credit but if that policy be I'M
wise and these laws be unjust and OPP
pressive the Republican party must bear
the responsibility and meet the con-
domination Of the people.
We come now, he said, to discuss this
policy and these laws.
WHAT THE TARIFF Is.
Taxation is as old as civil government.
Government was organized for mans
protection. Kingdoms, monarchies, and
republics cover the face of the civilized
globe. Without code of rules and
penalties for violation We would be IN o
state OF barbarism where might would
make right, the stronger arm would
dominate the weaker, and there would
bo no security for life, liberty, or pro-
perty.
In this land we have adopted a re-
publican form OF goyernment-grand In
its conception, sublime IN its formation.
We have a national government with
specific powers granted in the Constitu-
tion, and then we have our various State
governments, with every power not spe-
officially delegated TO the national Gov
ernment reserved to the States To
maintain these governments money IS
necessary and it must be raised by taxa
ton of the people.
Each State raises its revenues by di-
rect taxation on property and each clti-
zen pays according TO his wealth, but
the national Government raises its reve-
nues upon the wants of the people, and
each citizen pays according to his pur-
chases of such things as his necessities
or his tastes demand.
The State governments levy tax on
real, personal, and mixed property &C
cording TO value; the General Govern
ment levies tax upon the purchase
price OF the implements OF the farmer, the
tools of the mechanic, the axe, shovel,
and pick of the laboring man, and upon
the clothing. the sugar and salt, the food,
and medicines Of all the people, and
upon almost everything that shelters
mans head, covers his nakedness, or
susta1ns his life. Thistax is called tariff,
and is imposed upon oil goods that come
TO this country from any foreign coun-
try. so that when tho foreign manufac-
turer pays the tax he adds 1t to the price,
and when the consumer buys he pays
the price Of the goods with the tax add
ed. But suppose we buy homemade
goods instead of foreign-made goods,
do we pay this tax Oh ! Yes. How ?
Why, when the foreigner raises the price
of his goods to cover the tax, the home
at once raises bis goods
correspondingly, so that whether you
buy the foreign-mede or homemade
goods you pay this tax.
MUST PAY THE TAX.
If you buy the foreign-made fabrics
the Government receives the tax, bat if
YOU buy the homemade fabrics the tax
goes TO swell the profits Of the manufac-
turer.
it necessarily follows, then, that the
heavier this tari1taX is the more costly
the goods are, and that every consumer
is affected by it and unless he is blinded
by preiudico or ignorance he must heart
ily wish for low tariff, low taxes, low
goods.
Stealthily and secretly this tax is being
collected every day, every hour, and
every minute. No human, however poor,
escapes its exacting hand, unless he Is
10y charity, and then charity
pays it for him.
The swaddling clothes of the infant
lust born and the shroud of the patriarch
who has Just breathed his last, the bap- |
tismal gown and the Grape on the door |
knob of death must pay tribute.
The book of inspiration, the coffin, and |
the head-stone must all meet the de-
mands of the Federal tax collector or
the greed of the monopolist. 1t Is
"More, more. moro,
Give, give, giye.'
II at every store-door or in every sale
room a tax collector were stationed to |
collect from every purchaser a tax upon !
his purchases, then every man would |
appreciate this searching and exacting |
system Of taxation. Now the only differ
ence is this the tax collector is behind
every counter he Is the merchant or
seller. He has paid the tax himself and
must collect it from you upon your
purchases TO reimburse himself.
THE DEMOCRATIC POLICY.
Now, said he. the Democratic party
declares that whatever money may be
needed to run the Government economi-
cally administered, raise it by tariff,
but not one cent more. 1t says what
ever is made by the brain or muscle OF
this people shall only be taxed for the
support of government, not to en-
rich the few that this is govern
ment of the people, for the people, and
by the people. with no hereditary
castes or favored classes.
The Republican party on the other
hand declares that the farmers, me-
chanics, wage-workers, and millions Of
Others not engaged in manufacturing
pursuits shall be taxed, not to raise
revenue for the support Of the Govern
ment, but to protect the manufacturers
against outside competition and enable
- III tla,r x.yarao az t,ripaa for in