The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-05-27

IUS people nave Il NOlCc.
There was another exercise OF govern
mental power which threatened the hoer-
ties of the people as much as thai OF con-
solicitation and Capitalization, continued
Mr.. Wilson, that WAS the power OF TAXA
tion. In other countries this power was
summed up by history as the action OF
a small body of people who taxed the
masses 10 enrich themselves. This coun-
try was free today because its people had
descended from men who were slow TO
bend their necks under the unjust yoke OF
unjust taxation. Next to Capitalization,
federal taxation would always be the
question OF the greatest interest and
danger. 1t was difficult to get people to
understand the measure and force OF
federal taxation because the sys-
tenn OF the United States was
a hidden and indirect system. There
was not man present who could figure
out the exact amount of taxes he paid 10
the government The congress which
died on the 4th of last March and
which would be living yet If 1t had not
expired by limitation, expended for ap-
propriations one billion OF dollars. The
amount of money of all kinds now in cir
culation in this country was about one
billion and a half. Out of this amount
the last congress took two dollars out OF
every three for appropriations. Where
was the United States TO get this money?
By taxing the people. No money was
paid into the treasury except by some
form of taxation. 1t was not IN the COM
pass of craftsmanship to take two dollars
out OF every three owned by the people
without, imposing heavy taxation.
In the states, before "a man was taxed is
wa. FIRST ascertaiued how much he was
aahe tn ON Alaf
amount; In This way it was SO arranged that
the heaviest property -holde ers paid the lhrg-
md the smallest holders the
smallest taxes. The state only imposed
taxes on property man had Accumulated
and put behind him, but the United States
exempted such accommodations and threw
the weight of its taxes on the necessaries OF
life making IL heaviest where 1t should De
hghtest-
One-tenth of the revenue OF the govern
ment today was gathered from taxes on
wool and wooden goods. articles necessary
to the health and comfort OF the people.
II man brought in SO worth of broad
cloth he was taxed So if ne brought in
SO worth of all-wool cheviot he was taxed
Sl1; if he brought in $40 worth OF cotton
warp he was taxed SIS. One man IN
thousand wore broadcloth and the other
nine hundred and ninety-nine were taxed
these unjust amounts for such goods as
they could afford. These taxes were
levied, not to bring money into the treas
ury of the United States, but to run up
the price of something made In this
country by few individuals.
Take the common article of tin plate,
which was one of the necessaries OF life
to ali the people and which we have been
buying of Wales, where it has been made
for generations. The people of Wales
were willing to sell tin plate laid down In
New York for 8 cents a pound. To this
the government adds cent for
taxes, making its cost cents
pound, This / cent carried into the
treasury annually SS,000,000. When
the Mckinney bill was proposed
certain gentlemen took it into their heads
that they could make tin plate If the
price was run up cents a pound. So
Mr.. Mckinley wrote in his tariff law tax
of % cents per pound on tin plate. In
stead of increasing the revenue TO Sl6.OOO,-
600 il only allowed the makers to sell at D
cents per pound-no money IN the treas
ury and Sl6.000,000 in the pockets OF the
manufacturers. Mr.. Mckinley, however,
asserted that plants would be established
which would give employment to 2O,OG0
or $4,000 men. Have We come to 1t that
the government has to make work for the
people? Take Oft the tax and industries
will spring up everywhere.
The protectionist orators tell US how
wealthy we are, tell US to look at the
pauper labor of Europe and ask what but
the tariff lifts us up. If there was any
romance ever given to the American peo-
pie, il is this. While the laborer of Eu-
rope is not receiving rs much wages as
the American laborer he is receiving
wages which permits him to better mis-
condition. Through hundreds of years
European countries have had their
crowded populations aud class govern
nents expressing the masses; every acre
of land passed into private ownership and
every opportunity of life was taken away.
| And yet they ask us to compare such
countries rs these with the United States.
When this country was discovered it
was inhabited by few people who only
asked bare existence. 1t was thrown
open to the foremost people OF the world,
who brought knowledge and skill to de-
| velop its resources. And with such peo-
PIE and such God-given gifts they tell us
| that the better opportunities for higher
| freedom come from poor little bill made
by Mr.. Mckinley. In conclusion Mr.. VIII
| son said:
I fight the tariff system because il is unjust,
| and feel every drop Of my blood tingle with
resolution to keep on fighting. | am willing to
be taxed for the benefit of the government, but
| not for the benefit of private individuals and
| corporations. Burke said that O few shillings
were nothing to John Hsmpden. but Hampden
understood how a little tax could take away
great liberty: and the men who fought the
| revolution knew that little taxes would take
away great liberties. The chief indictment
| against this system IL that it is 6lchng away
| equal heritage in this country. The democratic
| party says that every man who is born In this
| country shall have an equal start. In other
countries the laws have stratiied society; q
man may 60 down but he cannot go up. We
| try 70 have @ government where the wealth
shall belong to all the people and not 10 the
| few; where any American youth born In pow
erty can rise to that station of which he IL
worthy. Jackson was q saddler. johnson was
a tailor, Fillmore was q weaver; in other coun-
! tries they would have stayed as they were but
| in this country they marched forward to great
positions. Against such opportunities the
/ tariff system is striking 6 blow. 1t is to keep
| open she path for our children that we demo-
Gratis are fighting and We appeal TO people
everywhere to Join in the great battle.
Mr.. Blame Getting Well.
New York, May 25.-SecretarY Blaine
| was up and about the house this morning.