The Forrest City times., 1891-01-30
GREAT TARIFF REFORM.
SENATOR CARLlSLE'S SERVICES
 IN THE PEOPLES CAUSE.
Re Is n Friend of tho Consumer and . Foe of ProtSction--A Political Phitoso- phcr with Accurate Practical knowl- edge Hostile to a Moneyed Oligarchy.


 Foo of Protsotion--A Political Philoso-
 phcr with Accurate Practical knowl-
 edge Hostile to a Moneyed Ongarchy.
 Among all the tariff reformers iN Con- gress none Is more able or more conspicu- ons for intimate and correct knowledge of the tariff question than Senator John G. Carlisle of Kentucky. In late num- Der of the New York Stdnddrd Mir Henry l.oomis Nelson, formerly Senator Car iSle's private secretary and now ono of the editors of the New York World, gives an estimate of the character and the achievements of tho eminent Kentucky statpSman..
 Mir Nelson devotes a part of his article to Mir. Carisle's work as tariff re- former:
 "Mr. Carlisle Is best known Mir. Ncl- son says, flor his efforts in behalf of tar if reform. This is because the enorm- ties Of the present system have framed the issue of his time. But Mir Carls 0 is an opponent of the excess of protection because he is Democrat, and holds that government has no right to enact un- equal laws, to enable the few at the ex- pensc of the many. to lovy taxes for any but the general welfare. The protection iSts have Lecn building up moncyed oligarchy. and, as Democrat. MT. Car lisle opposed their system, That system involved a preference by the Government for one set of citizens over all their fel- lowcitizens. and, therefore. 1t is hostile to the theory that government is by the people aud for the people, and that all are 0 lual before the law.
 That Mir. Carlisle has become an ex- port exponent of tariff laws is due to the Tact that not only is he n sound polit- ical philosopher but also practical leg iSlator. Tho tariff was the instrument which he found the enemies of Dcmoc- racy employing against tho liberties and rights of the people. In this age and country parliamentary victories are not won on general principles. Nothing can be gained by demonstrating that pro posed measure or an existing statute Is contrary to the fundamental principles of the Government. It must be shown that, in pra etiee, tho measure or the law must work in justice, must be an oppres- sive burden upon the people.
 "Mr. Carlisle, therefore, became fa- miliar with the operations of the tari1 law in all it's details He studied it In all its notifications. lie mastered as m.ny trade secrets as may be discovered by those who arc not actually engaged In business. who arc not the makers of tho secrets themselves His knowledge fl details of manufacture on both sides of the water, Of the business of importa- ton, of the effect of the tariff upon buSI- ness, and, above all, upon the rcoplc who arc the consumers, has often cx- cited the wonder and admiration Of ex- pcrts in various arts and trades, and whogo experience taught them that a Congressman has usually to be instruct cd in the elementary facts of any prac- tical question which he profcsses to dis- cuSs
 "Mr Carlisle was the friend and cham plon of the consumers. who are the peo- ple, and whose fundamental polite al rights were invaded by the law that taxes them for the benefit of other pri- vate citizens. But Mir Carlisle has not rested his case on general principle, the distortion of which would undoubt- edly work terrible disaster in time, too remote, however, to be patiently waited for, and too serious not to bc anticipated and averted if possible. He has there fore made q scientific analysis of tho tariff. He has demonstrated the serious ness of their burdens, their injustice, and their ineifcctiveness In all the his tory of tariif-tax discussion in this country no one has taken broader ground than MT. Carlisle, and no one has been so mlnutely informed