San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-06-23

Il HUT LlGhI.
The above is from an article in the
Express by NV. ]. M" in favor Of
the doctrine OF Henry George, and IL
is an outburst of free trade and like
all the effusions of free traders,
abounds with errors. What tax is
imposed on the "products of labor"
Wheat, rye, oats, corn, rice, sugar
and cotton are not taxed at all. These
are the products of labor, and they
are untaxed. What "products of
labor" did "W. J. NJ" refer to? Let
him give "bill of particulars" in
in his next lecture In the Express.
Mere generalities and wholesale state
ments are always illusory and impal-
pable.
If the products of labor" in the,
United States, are not taxed at all,
it must follow AS logical sequence,
about thing which does not exist
writing alphabetically.
In the United States no products
of laoor"are taxed. Farm products are
untsxed. There is no tax ON in
comes
w. J. M. might as we'll have said,
water seeks its level, 1t would have
elucldated the subject fully as we'll as
his "palaver" about a tax on the
products of labor adding to the cost
Of such products"
The consumers of foreign made
goods pay the duties on such import
ed goods, and they are rich enough
to crafty their whims. IT million
aire uses none but imported goods
how does he iDjure laboring men by
INDUCING his extravaganza? 1 hope
"W. ]. NJ" is not going to pass sump-
tuary laws, which shall prescribe
what men and women shall eat, drink
and wear, and Furnishing them tor
violating It's provisions.
Those of our people, who do not
consume foreign. made goods, do not
pay cent of the duties on imports.
This position is too plain to require
argument or illustration. Nineteen
twentieths of the popula ion of the
United States do not consume foreign
made goods, but use domestic
goods altogether. and for that reason
are unaffected by the tariff.
The assertion so frequently made,
that Protective tariff is tax on the
people, laid on for the enrlchm ent of
the manufacturers, is not susceptible
of proof. Almost every article of do
nestle manufacture, is, today, 25 per
cent cheaper in price than it was un
der the low tariff of 1916. Many of
these articles are 90 per cent cheaper
than they were in the interval
OF time between 1916 and 1861. This
effect has been produced by compe-
tition between our manufacturers.
Where has any people attained
such high degree of prosperity as
the United States have attained since
1S6l-when a.-protection tariff went
Into operation? Look at the rapid
growth of the south since 1865, in all
industrial pursuits, and her wonder.
full recovery from the desolate and i'm
poverished condition In 1865 This
growth and improvement took place
under protection tariff, and it dis
proves the operation, that protection
is tax on the people, which impedes
their progress In wealth. The south
OF 1891 refutes this sterotyped cry
of the free trade politicians.
Free trade would have blasted in the
bud the industries which have
sprung into lie in the South since
1865. That system of policy under
which a nation not merely thrives,
but rapidly increases it's material
prosperity and its population, cannot
be just y said to be a pernicious and
oppressive one. One fact, like this,
outweighs thousand pages of
defamation and denunciation against
the tariff.
The treetraders, no doubt, are per-
fectly honesl in their convictions on
this subject The followers of Mr..
Henry George are also honest In their
convictions. Their intentions are
good, but the honesty of their con-
victions does not demonstrate the
soundness of their theories. chill il
said, to be paved with good inten-
tions," Every prosecutor in past
ages was perfectly sincere and hon
est. All enthusiasts are honest in
their belief. But honesty OF opinion
cannot excuse unsoundness of theory
Nv. j. NJ" is fond of paradoxes
and of "glittering generalities that
generate no conclusions" and defy
common sense. Here is one:
TAX manufactures and you check
manufacturing, tax improvements
and you lessen Improvement, tax
commerce aud you prevent exchange
tax capital and you drive it away, but
the whole value of land may be taken
i'll taxation and the only effect will be-
to stimulate industry, free labor, open
new opportunities for capital, and in
crease the production of wealth and
prevent its centration."
This is a paradox of mammoth size.
But the whole value of land may bt
taken in taxation, and the only effect
will be to stimulate industry, free
labor, open new opportunities to cap.
ital etc " aana wv Al In tIn r.nr,