The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1892-07-29


Reform.
For years we have been struggling 70
recover the lost right II taxing our
selves. and now we are threatened with
the loss ~ the greater right ~ govern
ING ourselves. The loss Of the one fol-
lows in necessary succession the loss ~
the other. When you confer upon the
government the bower 81 dealing ont
wealth you unchain every evil that can
prey upon and eventually destroy free
institutions~-exccsSiye taxation. class
taxation, ~b'tlion-dollar congresses. a
corrupt civil service. a dcbauchcd ballot
box and purchased elections. In every
campaign the privilege of taxing the
people viii be bartcrcd for contribn-
tons ~ corrupt them az the polls
After every victory a new Mckinley bill
10 repay these contributions. with
usrry. out 81 taxes wrung from the
people. For every sclf-govsrning pco-
pie there can be no more nomentous
question than the question Of taxation.
1t is the question. as MI. Burke truly
said. around which all the great battles
Of freedom have been fought II is the
question out Of which grow an the is
sues Of government. Until we settle
this question wisely. permanently. just
H.. we build all other reforms on a
foundation Of sand
We and the great party we repre-
sent are for tariff reform because il is
the only gateway To genuine democratic
government. The distinguished leader
who presided over the republican con-
-A-<.-- 1880. 49, " - ..
what tariff reform Is Who ever said
that he did? Let us hope. with the
charity that endurctha all things and be-
licveth al things. that he is fully as
ignorant - he vaunts himself to be.
unfortunately the people are not SO
ignorant of the meaning Of protection
at least Of the protection which Is dolcd
out To them in The bill hat bears his
name. They see that meaning writ
large to-day IN Frustrated agriculture.
in a shacklcd mere in stricken in
dretries. in the compulsory idleness %
labor. in law-made wealth. in the dis
content OF the workinginan and the de-
spair Of the farmer. They know by
past experience that protection as a sys-
tenn Of taxation is but the old crafty
scheme BY which the rich compel the
poor to pay the expenses Of the govern
ment They know by hard experience
that protection as "A system Of tribute
Is but the old and crafty scheme by
which the power of taxation of the pri
vate people is made the private prop
crty Of Il few az the people.
Tariff reform means 70 rcadjust this
system of taxation and To purge away
this system Of tribute. II means that
we have not reached the equality Of
true freedom 50 long as any citizen Is
other citizen and until our taxes are
proportioncd to the ability and duty Of
the taxpayer rather than 70 his ignor-
ance. his weakness and his patience.
Gov. Mckinley further declared that
the democratic party believes in taxing
ourselves. am afraid. gentlemen. we
must admit this charge. What right or
excuse have wc for taxing anybody
else?
with a continent for a country. with
frecdom and intelligence rs The ;nstru-
ments for It's development. we stand
disgraccd in the eyes Of mankind II we
cannot ind If we do not support our
own government We can thross that
support on other people only by beg
gary or By force. II We use the one we
arc a paupcr nation. II we use the other
we are a pirate nation.
The democratic party does not in
tend that we should be either. No
more does il intend that they shall
falsely call ii taxing other people 70
transfer the expenses Of the government
from the possessions Of those who own
the property Of the country to the bel
lies and backs Of those who do the work
Of the country. 1t believes that fru-
galitv is the essential virtue Of free
government 1t intends to limit taxa
ton to public needs and 70 levy taxes
by the plain rule Of justice sad equity.
but. gentlemen. we are confronted
with n new cry in this campaign. The
republican party says GOV, Mckinley
nows stands for protection and rcciproc.
ity. lie was for protection alone when
he framed his bill in the house. or rather
permitted its bcneficiaries 10 frame II
for him. and firmly resisted all efforts
Of the statesman from Maine to annex
reciprocity "a il. No wonder that he
favors the reciprocity added 10 his bill
by the senate. You might explore the
pages II burleSqur literature for any
thing more suprcmclv ludicrous thar
the <o-called reciprocity OF the McKin'
ley bill.
1T Is not reciprocity at all II y re-
taliation. and worst of all. retaliation
on onr own people. II Furnishes Amer
lean citizens for tho necessities or the
follies Of other people. !: says 20 q
few little countries south Of Us: IL you
are forced bv your necessities or led by
your follicS to make bread higher ans
scarccr q your people. we will make
shoes and sugars higher and scarcer 4
our people And now We are told tina
reciprocity is to be their battle cry
Already we arr reraled with picture.
OF Benjamin Harrison clad in armo,
and going for the battle for reciprocity
on a plumcd stecd- Simple Simon fish
ing for whales in his mothers rair
barrel. in great triumph capturing AZ
occasional wigglc waggle. is the true
realistic picture Of reciprocity Of th'
Mckinley bill.
we are for the protection that pro