Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-01-28

tract may De impaired, OF lne Cunuract
itself be practically prohibited, under the
forms of a tax law.
Our ultimate tribunal. the Supreme
Court of tho United States, has declared
that taxation purely in aid of personal or
private objects is beyond the legislative
power, and is an unauthorized invasion of
private rights, and the same high authority
has declared the regulation OF commerce
sis to prescribe rules by which it shall be
conducted"
But when regulations are prescribed
which necessarily do not conduct" but
actually and Intentionally obstruct, and
logically prevent commerce by so crippling
the right of free export as virtually to
render 1t useless by imposing duties prac-
tically prohibitory upon the commodities
for which the American product has been
sold or exchanged in foreign ceuntries--is
II not evident that freedom of contract has
been grlevously impaired, and the right to
export free from tax or duty has been sub
stantially overthrown?
This unequal current has run so long in
one direction, and has so deepened under
the advancing claims for the higher pro-
lection of special industries, that the CON
sequences are now plainly and painfully
apparent in the Impoverished condition uf
the great class whose employments and in
terests so largely depended on free expor-
tation, and the right to exchange their sur
plus products abroad for those articles of
which they stand in need, and which, in a
greater or less degree, enter into every
American manufacture of which they are
consumers.
THE LOSS TO THE AMERICAN FARMER
and producer from this unfayorable dis
elimination is not be calculated alonenpon
the excess of his crops which he exports,
but upon his entire crop the prices of
Ia at.t ~ a 49,
the foreign rates; nor does the injury to
him end even there; for an increased cost
of his own products-and still more of
those articles that he consumes, but does
not produce and must purchase-neces-
sarily follows;
To remove the distressing symptoms of
disease, the remedy must be applied to Its
cause and being convinced that the
present rates Of taxation upon imports are
in many cases practically prohibitory; in
many cases unjust and unequal discrimi
mating heavily against the poorer classes,
levied more on consumers than on wealth,
and in the majority of cases excessive and
higher than u regard for public revenue
would dictate, | earnestly commend to
your enlightened and patriotic Judgment
the immediate need of tariff reformation.
If am correct in the facts have stated
and the reasons have adduced, our
farmers and producers have long been,
and now are, deprived of the valuable
element of cxchangeability of their pro-
ducts to which. by the constitution, they
are entitled under guaranteed freedom of
export; and, being 20 deprived of this
element of value in their property. they
are compelled to accept reduced prices at
home, because those prices are regulated
and controlled by the foreign rates.
For one, cannot wonder at their dis
content, and thoroughly do | sympathi2e
with their stliferings but deeply as regret
the unwise ana dangerous remedies they
| propose for their relief, il is also my sincere
| belief that with removal of the cause Of
! the disease thesymp toms will disappear. and
| we Will cease to hear of radical assaults
| upon our standard and measure Of value
No MORE OF FIAT MONEY
| or loans by the government to individual
| borrowers on collateral security; no more
OF schemes TO swamp individual liberty in
state socialism; no more of attempts to
conduct commercial policies by the ma
chinery of political parties.
| And. blessed be the thought, the voice of
the demagogue, shouting his applause of
every proof of popular excitement and
folly, and trimming his selfish little sails
! 70 meet the pulls of every passing popular
breeze, will be less heard in the councils
| of the nation.
Commerce is exchange-reciprocall
beneticent exchange--takin from each
what he best can spare, and giving to each
OF the contracting parties that which he
can receive with most benefit.
With the natural currents of genuine
and generous internationl reciprocity once
in motion, with cessation Of commercial
warfare upon our Canadian neighbors and
other friendly people; the substitution of a
system of moderate duties ON imports adj
jnsted to the needs Of tho treasury, and not
arranged At the dlctation OF selfish inter
ests, nor for the embarrassment and oh
struction OF our export trade and exchanges
with foreign nations, we will hear no more
OF the demand for free silver coinage, and
the healtAful circulation Of q stable stan
dard Of value will bring wealth and
strength 70 our financial system in every
quarter Of the country, and iii every
branch of our diversified industries.
Most earnestly do deprecate the threats
lately proclaimed from the national CAPT.
tai Of retaliation under the misnomer of
reciprocity-it is nothing but commercial
warfare in its least respectable or warrant.
able form
NOR CAN WITHHOLD MY PROTEST
against the threatened imposition by a
decree Of the executive, and in his sole dis
cretion. of import duties upon article,
which have been for many years placed by
law upon the free list, which are import
ant % the comfort of every American
household aud to the remunerative manu-
facture and trade in American industries.
Taxation Is mighty and sovereign
power, vested under our system in til,
legislative branch. whose discretion cann0
be delegated to any other branch of tn,
government, and, to use the language of ;
Judicial court of the United states, 1T il d,
incompetent for the legislature TO confei
the power to tax upon the Judiciary u,
upon the executive
Remember, solid men Of Boston" lii,
ground wherein this city stands, and tn,
cause and origin OF American independ
enee-it WAS Resistance to unlawful auC
unWarrautcd taXatiOn-a trivial tax on tei
"a two-penny stamp tax ON legal doeu
ments-trliling IN amount, but Oppressive
in principle.
Can any words be more impressive upol
such topic than those of Emerson, VII,
~ years ago sung here in Boston:
Tho rocky nook, with hilltops three,
Looked eastward from the farms,
And twice each day the flowing sen,
Took Boston in its arms.
ne men Of yore Were stout and poor
Aud saileG for bread "a every shore
And where they wont, on trade INTENT
} Inry did what frrrmen can;
Their dnIntless ways did ali men prnise
he merchant rs a man.
The world was made for honsst trade
To plant and cut be not afraid.
The cargo came, and who could blame
II Indians seized the ten,
And chest by chest, let down the Same
{ nto tho laughing sea.
/ For what avail the plough or sail,
r Or land, or life, If freedom fall
: Original pensions have been granted /
0 John w. Phillip, William Mackey, !