The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1892-08-11
DEBATE TIE TARIFF.
M'KINLEY, WARNER AND ST.
JOHN At MADISON, WIS.
Henry watterson Compelled to He Absent
on Account Of sickness. and Hls Place
Taken by the Tsrin-ltcform Advocate
Of New York.
All Three Talked.


Madison, Wis, special: Ten thou
sand persons gathered at the lakeside to
hear the Mckinley " arner joint debate
Friday afternoon. A message arrived
in the morning that Henry Watterson
would be unable to take part in the de-
bate, and ". e. Warner, Of the New
York Tariff Reform Club, who is stump
ing the State for the Democratic COM
mittcc, took his place.
Mr.. Warner sIoSc first. He defined
Democracy as being Equal rights to
all, and special privileges to none." The
great question which had been raised
by the adoption of the Demo-
cratic platform ut Chicago, and
which the people were to set
tie, was Whether you could tax
q nation into prosperity" and on this
question he would chiefly dwell. The
whole system Of a protective tariff is
founded on wrong and injustice. Tho
system was instituted because we are
product of the feudal ages relic of tho
barbarous ages of the past. 1t was
simply means to compel the common
people to bear the turdens which the
rich should Lear. II Mckinley was
rightly reported to have said that the
people do not know whether they are
system, what, then. is the use Of max
ing such fuss about it, If the place OF
collecting these taxes were only moved
nearer home, there would be a revolu-
tion not excel,ed by tina. Of Watt Tyler
in England years :go. 1t Is only the
ignorance Of the common people which
allows the present system to exist The
Democrats propose to put the revenue
taxes just as high as possible upon the
things the wealthy use and as low as
possible upon what the poor use. As q
result of the Mckinley bill we now have
Democratic majority in Congress Of
$50 almost as much as the tariff on seal
plush. This is simply a forecast Of the
mighty avalanche which will descend
upon the Republicans next November.
The aim OF the Democrats, he said, was
free trade.
Governor Mckinley held the vast
audience till supper time. Said he:
"What is tariff form, anyway? WHO
can tell? Cleveland said several years
ago that he knew nothing about the
tariff. In his Madison Garden speech
he told his auditors naught to show that
time had brought enlightenment to his
mind. And the $50 majority in Con-
gress, what definition has it given 10 the
term tariff reform? 1t has passed a bill
TO untax wool for the sole benefit of tho
New England manufacturer and the in
Jury of all farmers, while leaving the
duty on all woo.en articles that man is
counted on to wear. Yes, and 1t has
passed bill to lift the tariff on cotton
ties for the benefit of the South, while
the almost Identical iron bands used In
many other callings still have upon
ho old Entv - IN
form. This is the economic policy Of
the Democratic party, and it might bet
ter be called no Iolicy at all, for 1t Oh.
viously represents no system and can
! produce no uniform result for good or
| bad"
The speaker then dwelt on the SUBJ
! jcct Of taxation. This country" he
declared. must raise S490, ,O00, ,0O0 taxes
annually to defray the expenses Of the
administration. We must obtain from
| some source or another 81, OK 0,0ON every
twenty-fou hours. There are only two
ways possiblc-by lcvying a direct tax
| upon the people or an import duty ON
| the products of foreign nations. The
nation must adopt one or the other"
The speaker then dwclt on tho disad.
vantage of the direct tax system and
| quoted jefferson and Madison as
| earnest opponents OF 1t IN time OF peace.
In closing. he said that the United
States had thirty years of protection,
and the country has improved it's finan.
cial position SO that it Is unrivaled
among the nations, and 5000 0,C00, 900 OF
the public debt has been aid. Thirty
years ago 95 per cent. Of the hardware
Of the country was Of English make,
Tut now 95 per cent. is American.
The tariff or free trade has nothing to
do with strikes or lOckOuts. 1t has
nothing TO do with differences between
employer and employc.
Gov. st. John spoke In behalf OF the
Prohibition party.