Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1890-11-07
CARL SCHURZ SPEAKS.
a Vigorous Address on Present Is
sues before the Massachusetts Re-
form Club.

In his speech Monday at Boston on
the political issues at the present time,
Mr.. Schurz discussed with his ac-
cuslomed vigor the tariff, the force
bill and the autocratic powers assumed
by Speaker Reed during the session of
Congress just closed; Reviewing the
history of the tariffs since 1889, Mr..
Schurz showed that our Mckinley
tariff, averaging 60 per cent. on dutia-
BILE articles, is higher than any tariff
ever imposed on the American people,
1t is higher than the war tariff. In
1861 the average rate was Is per cent,
and every branch OF industry was pros
porous. To meet the vast expenses of
the civil war great burdens were i'm
posed on the people. But the war
tariff rate, even in 1864, was but Al
per cent. 1t was put go high at that
time to compensate manufacturers for
the internal taxes they had to pay on
a great many articles used in their in
dustries, and also to enable them to
pay the high wages caused by the alb
sence of great many workmen who
were in the army. The arrangement,
however, was intended to be n tenn
porary one. 1t was SO pescribed by its
advocates. Bnt the so called tenn
porary" burden has lasted to this day,
and the Congress just adjourned has
increased it. The internal taxes, for
which the tariff OF 1864 was meant to
be compensation" have been re-
pealed from time to time, with the cx-
ception of the internal tax on spirits,
beer and tobacco, but the AZ per cent.
tariff taxes of 1864 have been increased
to GO per cent. in 1890. This is be-
cause the exclusion OF foreign compe-
tition and the consequent high prices
in the home market are to the advant-
age of certain classes of manufacturers,
and they have put enough tarifl-gained
money in politics to control congress
sional legislation. The influence of
the tariff lords in politics at present
Mr.. Schurz regards as the greatest evil
OF the day. Mark by words I" he
says "No people governing them
selves by universal suffrage can have
series of general elections, the stake
in which consists in scores upon scores
of millions Of gain for a strong money
power, without becoming utterly de-
moralized and corrupted III their po-
litical life. 1t is high time that every
American who loves his country should
open his eyes to this incontestible
truth. Here indeed is the greatest
evil brought upon us by our high tariff
policy, and nothing can cure us but
the removal Of that stake from our
election" The natural resources of
the United States are great We can
stand great deal of unwise and un-
just taxation because our soil, our
mines, our forests and streams are the
most productive in the world. But
the effect of method OF taxation
which transfers AS earnings to BIS
pocket, while not preventing the
growth of wealth, cannot but end in
the corruption of the body polite.
There is little danger, says Mr.. Schurz,
e that this nation will not be rich, but
there is danger that it may be rich and
rctten." Elections cannot be bought
over and over with impunity. Each
purchase of the Presidency or OF con-
troll of Congress brings us perceptibly
nearer the precipice. But despite the
practice of corruption, the people, Mr..
Schurz thinks, may grow restive under
their increased burdens. The Nc
Kinley prices may prove a convincing
object lesson. In other countries in
ventions and discoveries are cheapen-
ing the necessaries of life, and our
people may after while demand that
high tariff wall shall not stand be-
tween them and the enjoyment of this
blessing. This country should not,
they will see, be excluded from the
benefits of industrial progress by laws
that artificially put up prices. As re-
spects the Lodge force bill, Mr.. Schurz
describes it as "the most unstates-
manlike, reckless, aye, wicked measure
of legislation he had ever known"
The conscience and intelligence of the
country are evidently in revolt against
the measures of the dominant party.
1t will soon be seen whether old preju-
dices suffice to stihe conscience and
intellect when they require the voter
to give his ballot for candidate of
the opposite party.
UNDER the new tariff bill Louisiana
sugar planters will receive bounty OF
two cents pound on sugar produced
by them. The bounty is to take the
place of the duty hitherto imposed on
imported sugars, and will probably en-
able Louisiana planters to continue in
the sugar business. From an econo-
mic standpoint the bounty is prefer
ence to the duty, but it is doubtful but
the people will think so when they
see Louisiana planters drawing several
million dollars next year from the
United States treasury as a subsidy to
their sugar MISUNDERSTANDING Spokes-