The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1891-06-25

III the enactment OF the general wei
fare clause, wherein full scope is
given the exercise Of such discretion.
and though used to cover 4 multi
tude of questionable acts. has been
made to serve some Of the most salt
tary ends of the government.
The sub-treasury and land loan
bills are fair types of protection
measures. But whether the power
to protect is expressed or implied, it
has been exercised more or less and
in some form throughout the entire
history Of the government, 1t has
been the policy, whether constitution
al or not, TO invoke government aid
not only in support of important
general industries but to relieve en-
harrassments, often temporary in
their nature, and affecting interests
more or less individual and local
Manufactures have been specially
aided. They have been protected
against foreign competition and given
Il practical monopoly of our domcs-
tic trade. Taxes have been levied
on all other c;;!!n@s, trades and pro-
fessions in the effort to magnify and
diversity their field of operation.
Commerce, too has been favored by
the government at different times
Millions have been spent on canals,
cleaning out river beds. building Jet
ties and leyces and constructing rail
roads. Five ncr cent Of the net p,o-
ceeds of the sale of public lands were
once donated by Congress to he used
in building railroads and canals
through certain States As an evil
dcncc in their belief in the validity
of such measures leading Statesmen
of the present day have introduced
in Congress much important legisla-
ton looking TO the extension and di-
versifcation of commercial interests
through government: aid And these
! measures were yar!ously supported
BIZ able constitutional lawyers from
both political parties
James C. BIaine's pet scheme Of
reciprocity is intended to advance
special commercial relations Ky ex-
tel ding to certain countries the ben
eiits Of free Interchange of com
modisses. while ;raic in other lines
ant: With ether countries is restricted
| ny tEse assessment Of heavy import
| slsFjies, thus encouraging and foster
ny one branch Of commerce at {
risk of disparaging other CONNER
c;al interests. The subsidy bill ano
the bill proposing 10 lend the credi,
| Of the government to the extent OF
| 500 900. 0G9 to the Nicaragua cana
company wcso intended to all com
! nercr.
Mining i.a.s also come III for q lib
eral share os protection. Silver bal
lion is being deposited in the vaults
Of the National treasury, and millions
are being advanced on it.
Other business interests have been
taken care Of when :hc necessities OF
no pecunia:y cond,t: on. seemed t;
raornIc it. The bonded warehouse
for the storing Of liquors was q re
lief measure. especially devised t.
help the ,;isti!ler. Tie u..'v intcrcs'
the government has in the liquor j.
It's revenue. Prior to the passage Or
the law creating the bonded ware
house system the revenue was due
when The liquor WAS made. and til,
! government enforced It's collection
But u enable the ,;istiIer to carr,
his product over for sessson anj
thus give it greater value, q law was
passed relieving him Of the duty o
payinE the revenue until q period OF
three years has, elapsed after di5tiiia
ton. Its true the dstllier coule
have warc,oU:ai his li1nor and car
rie,' it rs long rs he pleased without
the aI1 of the law, but he would hav,
to pay the revenue in adv nee Of III
storing And when We consider tn
fact that the revenue amounts to be
tween $40 and $50 per barrel, W
readily see the advantage to the dis
tiiicr to have the government carr
this expense for him. About tw
thirds Of the capital employed i
carrying over the liquor in bond b,
!, longs to the government, and it re
! ceives no interest on its none,
Another important advantage dcri,
= ed by the distiIlcr from the oper;
: ton of the law Is that the govern
/ ment is not ONLY his broker, but tn
holder of his ''st;.ka." With the +.
+ ceipt of the government warchou>,
:, man acknowledging custody Of h
II goods, he can go into the marke1
|, and borrow more than the origin:
q cost Of production. and thus corjinu
/ to produce a fresh supply Of raw Ii;
y uor while his previous crops are ri
II Il cning under the guardianship Of Il
,, law. 1t is rot necessary that Il
u government should build warehouse
q and hold the liquor in bond until
u customer is found in order 10 cole
$ its revenues The law is again
q the government. since it involves ii
p loss of its richtful dHcs during Il
/ space of three years In other wor,
} it loans its revenues amounting
'e forty odd dollars per barrel
x the distiller for three years wit
t. out interest The bonded war
$, house" was intended as measure
T. protection to the distillng intercs!
Us And it has operated to build up sol,
CT Of the hand,omcst fortunes that l.a'
Y been accumulated III his country.
It. Mr. Cleveland saw proper dnril
oi his administration to 20 on the mark
Is and buy up national securities a,
"a ruinous loss to the government, in {
OF der to reliye the distress Of speculate
ay in Wall street. Mr.. Harrison Xix
IL, the policy SO we'll he adopted 1t, wi
OF Celebrations peculiarly republic;
rs Upon another occasion Mr.. Cievla
u in order to prevent a ruinous shrr
y; age in the value of stocks, loan
It's the banks. about 500, 0U0,00 wiihs
e exztct,ng ii farthing of interest. J