The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1892-10-28

number, and not advantages and priv
ilege to the smallest number. The men
who raise sheep are a very small minor
ity. They have no more right to collect
a tax from the people IN their business
than has the man who raises horses, cat
tie, hogs, or ducks and geese. 10 any
population the sheep-herders and sheep
owners are comparatively few, and when
they are all taken together in the United
States and compared with the vast pop
ulation of this country they are not a
drop in the bucket. But while SO few
are engaged in the production of wool in
this country there is no family in the
country that does not require the use of
wool for its clothing, it's carpets, and its
bedding. The wooden clothing is needed
for the little children in winter time who
have to trudge through the snow and
the bleak wind on their way to school.
1t is required by the teamster who is
camping out in all kinds of weather;
by the sheep-herder who must take care
of his fiocks no matter what the temper
allure may be; by the invalid, the aged,
both male and female. who as years adj
vance feel the chilling blasts of winter
time and must have warm clothing for
comfort and safety. By the rich and
poor warm wooden clothing is absolutely
demanded. especially in this northern
and to secure it all alike are
forced to pay this heavy tax to the men
who own the sheep.
Is not this then AN exclusive privilege:
Is Enot this class legislation of the
most palpable type? Is it not taxing
the many for the benefit of the few: Is
it not indeed an infringement of both
the letter and spirit of the constitution
of the United States. which grants
equal rights to all. and which says that
there shall be no privileged classes in
this nation:
To pursue the matter "a little further
ct us inquire what benefit is possible to
he average citizen from this kind of a
granted to men engaged in any
pursuit. The man who has the sheep
them on the government land as
4 rule. He makes so large a profit on
lis investment that he soon heaps up a
not because he is especially
clever as "a business man. or because of
lis good methods or intelligence, but
because of his special privilege to tax
lis neighbors under the authority of the
government. Even if wool were reduced
n this country to the price which Mr..
Need says prevails in Canada, the sheep
men would still make a large profit on
heir business If they were not pro
ected in the manner they are now, they
would make all they are entitled to, and
hey would be on the same footing as
men in every other business that is not
protected. that does not enjoy special
privileges.
But the whole policy Of the republi-
IAN party tends towards favorltism, to
he establishment Of privileged classes
n various walks of life. and to the adj
'antage of a few favorites who are given
awful license to prey upon the many
Who must take care of themselves. If
is the sort of thing the people want,
" all means let them vote for Harrison
nd the republican ticket. But if they
rant all the citizens of the republic
'laced upon equal ground as the consti-
ution intended, they must vote for
irover Cleveland. the great champion of
,Opular RIGHTS.