The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1891-09-24

| the Efeeu OIL IhNOrcu cla1s OF lOr ttlo Dest
interests Of the great majority.
As our government is one Of limited
powers defined by q written constitution,
and as our safety and prosperity mainly
depend upon faithful adherence TO these
limitations, we maintain that it is the
first duty Of citizen when he undertakes
to investigate our present tariff laws to
consider whether or not they conform to
our constitution. There is no question As
to the power Of congress under the con-
stitution to impose tariff duties. The
words are; Congress shall have power
to lay and collect taxes, duties, imports
and excuses to pay the debts and provide
for the common defense and welfare Of
the United States" You will see that
this grant Of power Is limited to certain
purposes and that all these are for the
benefit Of the general public, and no inti-
nation is given Of any power to levy and
collect taxes for individual or private
purposes. The debt We know is public
the defense is common; the welfare, gen.
eral. No one will deny that the object Of
this power was and is TO raise revenue;
no doubt but that it would be impossible
to draft tariff bill which would insure
the precise amount Of revenue desired,
but it is sufficient to serve the object and
intent Of the organic law II enough reve-
nue. is raised to serve the purposes before
mentioned. Protectionists claim that I'M
der the clause general welfare" q tariff
may be lawfully framed, not to raise rev.
enue for public purposes only but to afford
protection TO manufacturers; that il 10 say,
il is lawful to impose tax upon foreign
products in order to increase the price Of
domestic products. To collect taxes on
foreign goods 50 as to increase the price
Of goods in the hands Of home manu-
facturer would be unconstitutional unless
the money so extorted could be applied
to public uses. Surely no one can pre-
tend that the law could be justified under
this taxing clause of the constitution nor
can it be sustained under the third clause
which gives congress power to regulate
commerce with foreign nations, for that
would be to destroy, not to regulate. \
power TO regulate is not q power 10 de-
sToy' rro'ee'loniats are equally wrong
IN suPPos'ns 'hat their principle can be
one OF 'he taxing powers at all IL has
oeen deci1e1 o'ten'lmes Oy the highest
legal authorits Of state and nation that
taxation can only be levied Tor pnblic
purposes lhe very essence OF freedom
81 involved IN THIS II Is q charae-
teristic distinction between freedom and
despo'Ism that the power Of the state
snail not touch the property Of its citizens
except Tor the support OIL the government.
when corporations require the use OF
private property 1t IL necessary to confer
on them the power TO condemn II, but
TINS can only be be done when the object
Is Tor public beneht' A tax Il a con-
domination oil the property and effects Of
a citizen; when collected II not used for
public purposes, fraud is perpetrated.
A tax levied and collected to protect and
enrich individuals is simply robbery, and
the supreme court does not hesitate to
say 80.
What is the first effect Of q protective
tariff, and on whom does 1t operate? This
to me is the proper test Of its constitution
atty. The law will not Judge by remote
and possible results. It is not lawful 10
kill man In cold blood, although in the
long run the killing might benefit his
family and his neighbors; the act IL mur.
der. The direct effect Of . protective
tariff 10 to raise the price on foreign goods
on which the duty IL levied and on all
similar goods owned by private citizens.
II operates as taxation upon all, but only
. part receive benefits. II only one indi-
vidual was benefited, all the rest would
complain; but what u q hundred, or .
thousand. OF ten thousand receive ben
eft, while hundreds Of thousands are
not only unreoompensed bat taxed, is not
the benefit still private? Where can We
draw the line? What number Of bene.
6ciaries will render constitutional an un-
constitutional law? Numb,rs will no,
do Il. Ifit works a hardship upon any,
while Il NAV benefit others, Il II wrong.
Even the majority have no lspsl or moral