The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1890-03-06

population He who strives for this is not the
Zoe Of temperance. but Is the friend Of State
too grand In its natural advantages: too broad
In the diversity OF its interests; too widely at
variance in the education, habits and customs
of It's people 70 be- appropriated By any single
class or sect.
Among the prcrogatives OF sovereignty IL the
conceded right to exact from each citizen his
just proportion Of the expense Of maintaining
the government that protects him. In theory the
problem Of Just taxation is simple. In practice
most dif1cult. No system has yet been de-
vised that distributes its burdens with impair
tial hands. Thousands Of people in our own
State pay taxes on property they do not own;
thousands OF others fail to pay on that they do
own.
We extend the field OF inquiry. National IS
well as State governments must be supported
By taxation. Not Q dollar enters Q public
from the substance OF the people. No matter
under what system IL Is collected-by what
name that system Is called-it Is, in fact. .
tax which the government exacts from It's
subjects on the theory that it Is necessary
for It's own support. II levied In the form of
direct tax that ID paid to collector. all realise
that much Tor public use II collected in the
form Of customs or tarin levied on imported
goods we are compelled to buy: We can readily
tax which We pay for the use OF the Gov
eminent in the enhanced price Of the goods We
purchase. II by reason OF this tarin. which In
manufacturers are enabled to exact . like price
for like products on which no duty is paid Il Is
plain we pay in the increased price OF these
goods not . tax for public use but contrt
button to the manufacturer, which he approprt
etes to his own use.
ANY system OF taxation the effect of which
necessarily partial and unequal distribution Of
public burdens. II such Q system Is necessary
because none can be devised that Is absolutely
fair TO all classes II is apparent its inequalities
oh hf1 r. net }anl limit
This can be done by contining its operation to
the one purpose OF raising absolutely necessary
revenue and In no other way.
THE PROTECTIVE TARIFF.
1T IL probably true that the burdens Of an
exorbitant protective tarih fall more heavily
upon Iowa than upon most Of her sister States.
Such . tariff is necessarily in conflict with the
best interests OF the one great industry
which Is the chief hope and sustenance
Of her people. II increases the cost OF
nearly every thing. We buy and dimin-
ishes the price Of almost every thing
we sell. 1t obstructs our own ports against
the importation Of products we are compelled
to use and foreign ports against those We proj
upon business In the throes OF adversely for
the benefit cf another that produces million
aires by the thousand.
between few men TO increase By artificial
means the cost OF the least Of our necessaries
and encourage by National law vast monop.
oily that defies the laws OF trade and regulates
in its own interest the price Of nearly every
thing we are compelled to buy. We have fol
lowed this delusion Of . protective tar56
to the most deceptive Of arguments, believing
In the most patent Of failacies. We have been
willing TO believe We could enrich our workmen
| by making millionaires Of their employers; !;
| that We could increase the farmers profits by :
system OF legislation that clogs the outlets for
his surplus products that must 60 abroad or
smother the market we would nourisn. we have
been clay in the .potter's hands, nodded
/ to suit his selfish will, until, with granaries
| 0verfiowing, with flocks and herds that man
can scarcely number, we are still poor, because
| by artificial means the profits of our own great
| industry have been depressed below their
| normal condition that those OF another might
be elevated above its own.
"And yet In the light OF our experience, We
| are confronted by National policy for which
4 we are as much responsible as any one, that 10
draining the National treasury by extravagant
| expenditures that . war tariff may be main
| tanned In times OF peace: that threatens TO re-
| move the tax on the worst OF luxuries that II
may be retained on the greatest Of necessities.
| policy, but 1t Is time to at least do this.
Let II be understood that the people OF this
State demand cheap clothing, cheap fuel, cheap
ries. That they are not interested In cheap
whisky or cheap tobacco and that il compelled
/ to take the latter cheap and the former denr
they will surely resent the injury, and our labor
/ CONCLUSION.
There are some things Iowa's public ofl1cers
owe TO her, others tha. she owes TO herself She
is entitled to the most faithful, most economic.
1 al, most painstalsing administration OF all her
affairs. II one servant OF hers omits his duty in
this respect he deserves nothing but her scorn.
/ For her own good name she is bound to b
absolutely fair and just to each ono q
her subjects; to foster education with {
| liberal hand; to honor her old sol.
| diers and perpetuate their memories; u
/ care for her unfortunates, and. finally, TO en-.
i courage by all just means in her power every
one Of the great industries which are the hope
/ and dependence OF her people. II true to her.
| self: il liberal in her statutory enactments and
ust N .nclr appica.lon; Nc s,a,e 70 tnis y Inio1 @
| for which nature designed her the blame there
for will rightfully descend upon those who make
| and admin ster her laws