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

Florida, too, had been acquired. Texas
annexed, and California, Nevada, Colo
RADIO, and the Territories OF Utah, New
Mexico, and Arizona had been made to
expand our borders and add their wealth
and give increased strength and power
to this Union OF States and lakes and
lands.
Two million two hundred thousand
square miles Of valuable arabic lands had
been acquired and paid for and turned
over to the Republican Administration
with tariff of lS per cent. and an ex-
isting debt of only about s58, 900.
Under the long and glorious rule OF
Democracy all this had been done and
taxes had been drawn from the people
only to meet the necessary demands Of
the Government.
Manufactures were prospering, labor
was receiving fair compensation, there
were no tramps, no strikes. no lockouts,
and the mistress OF agriculture was sit
ting upon her throne smiling with
delight over her peaceful homes and
happy, prosperous, and contented sub
lects.
.@.~~All this, he repeated, was when the
Democratic party, standing by the Con-
stitution and by the principles upon
which the republic was founded, was
leyying taxes only for the support OF the
Government and adhering to the doc
trine of "equal rights to all, special
privileges TO none"
War came, and the North became ar
rayed against the South. The tariff OF
Is per cent was found insufficient to
raise money TO arm, equip, and maintain
the Federal armies, and the Republican
party advanced the tariff first to 36 per
cent, and then TO Az per cent. and
added internal-revenue taxes on rail-
roads, transportation, express, insurance,
and telegraph companies on incomes,
CONS, gold and silver bullion, banks,
stocks, and bonds. and so on.
ONLY TO ENRICH THE RICH.
When civil strife ended the Republi-
can party went to work to reduce taxa
ton. How? Listen, ye tax-burdened
and tax-ridden people. Give ye ear to
the humane and righteous policy OF this
party of progressive ideas and sanity
morality.
With its soul burning with love for the
people it took the taxes off railroads,
corporations, incomes. coins, gold and
silver bullion, banks, stocks, and bonds,
and left them on the necessaries Of life
and the plow in the furrow, the wagon
on the road, the tools of the mechanic,
1, Il 1,I oil al
under the sun which WAS manufactured
by some "infant industry" Yes, some
"infant industry" with giants strength
and mastodon's size.
And from that day to this these tariff
taxes have been maintained, and but for
the Democratic party holding the House
of Representatives in number of con-
crosses this newborn, progressive idea
OF protection would have long since as
serted itself, and the tariff would have
been increased in accordance with the
demands of the monopolists.
But the year 1888 came, bringing with
it the opportunity long sought. The
Republican party knowing that it was
waning that hands were being clasped
and hearts were beng buckled in mu-
tual interests between the North and |
South, and that northern capital was
flowing into our borders seeking profta
ble investment, entered into a contract |
with the monopolists for the money |
necessary to buy the presidency and Con
gress, and in consideration of this |
moneyed aid the leaders of this party |
agreed to comply with the demands Of
their aiders and abettors.
The money was furnished, voters were |
bought in "blocks Of five," and the |
country presented with the spectacle ofa |
purchased presidency and bought Con
eress; and now in compliance with the !
contract the people are made to groan |
still deeper under an increased tariff !
and increased prices.
In the Fitch Congress the Demo- |
cratic party passed in the House Of Re-
representatives. the Mills bill, reducing Ia |
riff taxes. 1t was defeated in the Senate. |
In the present Congress the Republican |
party passed the Mckinley bill. adding |
largely to the already unbearable bur
dens and tie President in the exuber
ance of his soul over the opportunity TO |
serve his monopolistic benefactors with |
a well-inked pen and bold hand ap- |
pended his signature to this bill of
denominations, declaring that the ink |
should dry on the paper and no Dlotter
should suck 1t up.
1t was the boldness of desperation and |
the abandon of recklessness.
THE FIGURES GIVEN.
Let us now see how for this progress
i've party has gone in adding burdens
and piling up taxation.
He could, he said, only give few in
stances OF the many hundreds of articles
which the tariff had been increased,
leaving off fractions
Old Rate. New Rate. Increase. |