The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1890-09-17
senator Kenna ON the TariG:

On the list inst, in the Senate OF
the United States, Senator Kenna
delivered an elaborate speech on the
Tariff question. Below we present
one extract from his admirable dis
cussion of tho subject, and in which
he summarizes his objections TO the
pending bill. Mr.. Kenna said:
Mr.. President, the discussion of
the pending bill, as far as it has pro-
crossed, has been able and exhaus-
tive. 1t has demonstrated among
other things:
1. That the demands of favored
class and not the public necessities
or the public good are the inspira-
ton and purpose of this measure.
2. That the increase of the public
burden by the raising of tariff duties
is to be the actual, if not the ac-
knowledged, effectJof the bill.
3. That just in proportion to the
exclusion of the foreign articles
which these increases of tariff duty
will accomplish, the American con-
sumer will pay his taxes to the
manufacturer and not to the govern
ment.
4. That thus the public revenue is
to be reduced not by reducing the
burdens of the people, but by COM
pelling them to pay to the manufac-
turers, through the increase cost of
the articles they consume, what tLey
now pay through the retail and
wholesale dealers and custom houses
to the Treasury of the country.
3. That this extraordinary scheme
is for the protection chiefly of sin
gle class of citizens of the nine States
of the Union, which own more
wealth than the o:her thirty three
States combined.
6. That this scheme will enable
the American manufacturer to con-
tinue to sell, as he does now, his
plows and reapers and n thousand
other articles to Mexicans and South
American Indians, from % to 80 per
cent. cheaper than he does to our
own citizens.
z. That, therefore, and to that ex-
tent this is bill for the protection
of MeXicans, Spaniards and half
breeds and South American Indians,
at the expense of the farmers, labor
ers and consumers of the United
States.
8. That the duty on hundreds of
articles is largely in excess of the
entire labor cost of their production
and often multiplies it many fold.
8. That protection to the product
and free competition in labor re-
duces labor to the simple PROPOSE
ton of supply and demand. while it
enhances the cost to the laborer and
his family of the production of their
own hands.
10. That the home market is to be
reserved for the manufacturer, but
the markets of the world shall sup.
ply his labor.
IL. That we are to refuse to buy
from anybody else, and nobody else
can, therefore, buy from us.
II. That our surplus cereals are
to rot in their barns, and our far
mers to starve to enable our surplus
manufacturers to find profitable
markets in foreign countries with
so per cent. off.
Ii. That the proposed reciprocity
with South America is intended to
establish Il market there for our
manufactures and market here for
South American products of the
farm.
IA. That the enormous largesses
levied upon our people were made
possible by the consequences of war,
and have been made profitable by
the manufacturers who have been
thereby enabled to maintain the
prices of war in time of peace.
Is. That the farmer and laborer
are plundered by war taxes under
the specious guise of protection to
both.
16. That England, like Carthage,
has made herself mistress ofthe seas
by the vastness of her commerce,
while we are impoverishing- our
people by denial of intercourse
with the commercial world.
IL. That we have no ships to
float our productions and our mails
are carried under tho British flag
1S. That the system which this
bill is intended to perpetuate has
given half the wealth of the country
to three hundred men and is reduc-
ing the masses of the people to vas
salage and to bondage.
10. That the men who are the
most clamorous for this kind of pro-
lection are the millionaire and
monopolists.
20. That Mr.. Carnegie's million
dollar castle in Scotland and Mr..
Gould's five million private fortress
in Mexico are twin illustrations of
Republican protection to labor.
81. That this bill involves rapid
rush in the transition, already far
advanced, from free people to a
condition of landlordism and tenan-
try throughout the Republic.
%. That the depressions and pam
les, the wants of enjoyment, the
commercial disaster, the lockouts
! 4 -. A. n : Il