The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-07-31
THE GREAT TARIFF DISCUSSION.


Of the day. HENRY WArTERsoN, Of the
Louisville Courier 10 as1lal, waslalso to have
participated in the discussion, but was
taken III ct Chicago. That was unfortu-
nate, as those who are acquainted with the
brilliant power OF the Kentucky editor can
appreciate how much the cause of tariff re-
form would suffer in such discussion by
his absence. Elk Governor ST. JOHN as the
great political apostle of the prohibition
cause, dilated in his speech on the evils of
the liquor traffic, and truly it was a start
ling statement that the great prohibition
ist made that over the counters OF the 940.-
/ 797 saloons in the United States. there
passed 1907, 900. 600 last year for liquor.
But that evil, gigantic as it is, belongs
rather 70 the sphere Of morals than to that
Of politics, and as we believe must be
/ fought and can best be fought outside Of
the political arena.
Not SO with the question Of tariff reform.
That is a direct issue between the two
great political parties. and one that can
be settled only within the sphere OF politics.
because, in reality, it is a question Of tax
alton, and taxation is prominently q
political question. ais question that has
always been an issue between government
and the people. It has been the Issue on
which nearly all political battles have been
fought out. On It hinges the authority Of
government on the one hand, and the
liberty Of the people on the other. In the
act Of taxation governments give express
sion TO the very highest authority which
they possess, and in taxation the dearest
rights Of the people are touched; for if
governments can tax the people, not for
the necessities of government economically
administered, but for the needs of govern
ment extravagantly administered, or for
the promotion of private gain, or class adj
vantage. the viii of the legislative power
alone being the Judge of the amount and
purpose of the taxation, there is nothing
else that government cannot do in the way
Of oppression.
1t was upon this question of taxation
that first the barons of England and after
wards the common people resisted the ar
bitrary powers of the monarchs Of that
realm, until they wrenched at last from
the hard clenched hands Of even the TUDOR
and STUART monarchs freedom from taxa
ton except such as should be levied by
parliament. The controversy in English
history goes back as far as the granting Of
Magma Chara early in the thirteenth
century. First in prominence among the
great rights demanded in that charter is
the provision that no taxation shall be as
sessed but by consent Of the great council
The petition of Rights" that second
great charter OF English liberties, makes
prominent the same issue. The very first
petition in that historic document is that
"No man hereafter be compelled to make
or yield any gift, loan. benevolence, tax or
such like charge without common consent
by act Of parliament" On this ground
HAMPDEN and the commons OF England re-
sisted the tyranny of CHARLES II, the king
eventually losing his head in the cor test.
Every schoolboy knows that it was upon
this issue that our forefathers resisted the
arrogance and oppression OF England, and
that not because Of the amount Of the tax,
but upon the assumption Of the British
parliament TO assess it.
The tax question as it comes down to US
is, of course, modified from what it was
in those days. Il is not now question of
taxation without representation; that
issue was settled forever. at least in this
country, by the great revolution Of hun
dred years ago. But however modified,
this matter of taxation is still very seri-
GUS business, and hath elements Of danger
in it. If it is not a question of taxation
without representation, il Is a question
whether the taxing powers Of the govern
ment shall be limited to raising sufficient
revenue 10 pay its legitimate expenses,
when its affairs are economically admins
tered; or shall it by usurpation be permit
ted to exercise that power for private in
terests and the promotion Of private gain;
for the fostering of aristocracy based
upon wealth; for the creation of
class distinction, with all the bit
terness, envyings and iealousies which
such distinction will engender, by enabling
favored classes of people TO grow rich az
expense of other classesl These are the is
sues entwined with the question of tariff
reform. and that question includes some
thing more than merely the amount of tax
alton. To our mind it reaches right down
to the question of perpetuating our form
and system of government
Therefore, when Governor MCKINLEY
with the air more suited to Cardinal WoL-
sET and the 10th century, than to the gov
eanor OF Ohio, in the Great Republic and
the 10Th century. asks as he die the other
day at Madison, 'sWhat is tsriT reform.
any wayg Who can tella'' answer him that il
is reform in taxation, and, as Mr. WARNER
remarked in replying to his speech. it ais
the greatest issue Of the day." II that be
not sufficiently clear for him, tell him that
it Is the issue between the Democratic and
the Republican parties which hurled him
from his seat in the American Congress
and reIegated him for time to private
life, from which he was rescued
only by the entire party power
OF the Republican party being ex-
cried in the Ohio election for governor.
Tell him it was the issue which q little
more that year ago converted a Republi-
can majority OF twenty four in the House
Of Representatives TO the present Demo-
cratic majority Of 157. If that be not sat
isfsctory. tell him it is the issue which in
November next viii give notice to BENJA-
MIN HARRISON to leave the White House.
at Washington, and bid GROVER CLEvE-
LAND take possession on the'4th Of March
next, and all because Mr.. CLEVELAND I'm
derstands what tariff reform is, while Pres
ident HARRISON, Governor MCKINLEY and
the Republican party seem unable to get
that question into their heads.
Tariff reform calls the government back
to the legitimate exercise Of its taxing
power to the raising Of revenue for its just
expenses.
Tariff reform bids government to levy its
taxes for that necessary revenue-so far as
possible-on the luxuries of life, and re-