Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-08-01
TARIFF Is A TAX.
MKINlsY HlMsRLY SAYS THAT'S ABOUT TIE
SIS OF IT.
A Laborious Argument in his Usual Style Hads az
Lakeside to Offset Gov. 0ampbsll's Happy
Rit-No Enthusiasm to Amount
to Anything


| for the Mckinley meeting at the Lake
side encampment yesterday the affair
proved to be but commonplace event.
Enthusiasm was predicted which would
stir the very depths of old Erie. The
| unyarpished truth in the matter is that
what enthusiasm there was consisted OF
of the usual applause which is given 10
every speaker here and few tigers oy
some OF the Canton statesman's admir-
ers, who are blind TO everything but the
iuggernaut before which they bow.
The Mckinley debut occurred in the
afternoon. The hour of the show was
| changed TO o'clock so as to give the
major two full hours and allow him 10
! catch the o'clock boat. Mr.. Mchln-
J ley was introduced by ex-President
Hayes, who reviewed Major McKinley's
military career, stating that he made
the majors acquaintance over thirty
years ago when he was a Lao OF seven
teen and that he has known him lntl-
mately since. He paid glowing tributes
to the major and yet wishes all to
understand that he does not de-
part from his resolution TO take
no part in politics. He compli-
mented Governor CAMPBELL and con-
graduated the people upon the clean
campaign which they are to have, and
the State OF Ohio. which is fortunate TO
have such candidates. When Major
Mckinley took the platform he said he
could not trust himself TO res pond to
the generous words Of the Ex-President,
and ne proceeded at once to discuss the
subject assigned TO him, that of the tar
i'll. He was glad that the Lakeside as
ISOLATION had invited men Of different
views upon public matters to discuss
these topics before their assemblies, as
it is hopeful sign of the
times when educational institutions
of the kind take up the living
national issues. He said that the sub
ject of tariff, stripped Of everything
else, is question OF taxation. TAXA
ton is necessary to every government,
whether it be the government Of a ma
ton, a State or small municipality.
1t requires in this country $500, 900, 600
every twelve months to meet the 0rdi-
nary current expenses of the govern
ment, nearly Sl,000,000 every twenty
four hours. This money must come
from some source or the wheels OF the
government will be stopped. No wise
man would advise the government TO
borrow this money. 1t must be OBJ
tanned either by direct or irldi-
rect taxation. The Major reviewed
the history of the tariffs OF
the country up to the time Of the abol-
ishment Of the war tariff and when the
government resorted TO the other for m
of taxation-that OF taxing the produces
of other nations seeking admission. He
said that both great political parties are
agreed that the great bulk OF the $780,
COOS 900 should be raised by the taxation
of foreign products. One is for revenue
only and has no other OBJECT in view
but revenue. A revenue tariff seeks out
those objects of foreign produce which
we cannot produce and puts a tax
upon them, taxing non-competing for
eign products. "This," he said, "is the
fiscal policy of Great Britain. that OF
taxing everything England does not
produce, and that although Endland Is
called free trade country it collects
$40, 900, 900 annually by putting tax
upon tea, coffee and tobacco because
none of these are produced In Great
Britain" He said that the tariff for
revenue in this country goes even FAR
Their. II it cannot find nOn-competlng
product it taxes competing product,
but is compelled to put it so low that
the American people must go abroad to
buy, where they find it is more profit
able than at home, and that it
displaces just that quantity OF
domestic produce which ought to
be produced by the American peo-
pie. Taking a tumbler from the stand,
he dwelt at length upon the argument
of protectionists that o revenue tariff OF
Is per cent. on the tumbler would shut
up all the glass factories in the country,
while the protectionist tariff OF 60 per
cent. stimulates the production OF such
ware.
He then turned to the tariff for pro-
lection and defined it as one looking not
only for revenue but which bears in
mind the industries Of this country.
He said that our own experiences for
thirty years have proven whether pro-
lection is a success or not. He claimed
for protection that It had paid S2,000,-
600, 900 of public debt and put money
in the treasury. The surplus Of the
treasury was to meet the matured inter-
est and If the government has greater
surplus now than it had five years
ago, it was because it had less obliga-
tions than then. He further claimed
that during fifty-fve years Of a protec-
tive tariff the government never had an
empty treasury and the government
bonds never went TO protest.
"Can you say that OF the revenue
tariff OF 1S46-1S61?" he asked. SIT has
been said but take it that it would be
supplementary in me to refer TO any
speaker who has preceded me referring
to Gov. Campbell) in speech not poit
ical-it has been said by those who be-
lieve in free trade that the period be-
tween 1850 and 1860 under d revenue
tariff was the most prosperous In the
history Of this country. l could say
they were not the most prosperous and
perhaps you would consider my
word as good as another's. But
l might-appeal to the gray haired men
in this audience and ask them to
contrast the prosperity of that period
with the prosperity Of the last thirty
years. But | want to bring a witness
whose integrity cannot be contradict
ed" He then read portions of the mes
sage to Congress of President Fillmore,