Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1892-10-22

nene TO raise revenue by tariff upon
imports is undisputed, but its cons.itu-
tlonal power to impose tariff for any
other ostensible purpose is Questioned
The conclusive and sufficient obiec-
ton TO protective tariff Is that it is an
abuse of the taxing power of the Gov
ernment; it compels the whole D eople
to pay tribute to few; i. is q system
based upon injustice and unfair discrim-
nations aud tends to build up mohop.
The Democratic position is SO plain
aad reasonable that he VINO reads may
understand it. 1t believes that the true
and constitutional purpose of ta:lH is
the raising OF necessary revenue for the
support OF the Government--and tha. is
all. Let the tariff be high or low as the
needs OF the Government may require.
Let it aot be 50 high Or low as to create
surplus in the Treasury. The place
for surplus taxes is in the pockets OF the
people and not in the Federal Treasury.
The Republican position is that thes
Government should use its powers of
taxation to build up private industries
by placing tariff rates SO high that they
will absolutely prohibit foreign importa-
tions or prevent any serious competition
with such industries. The Republicans
believe that the question of revenue
should be a minor consideration in the
forming of tariff bill, and that the fost-
ering of some Industries should be the
primary one. They shut their eyes to
the fact that they are unnecessarily inter
fering5 with the natural laws of trade
They ignore the value of foreign trade or
assume to believe that foreign countries
will trade with us although we purchase
nothing from them. They forget that
reciprocity cannot be one sided. They
appeal to the selfshness of the people
and to their natural jealousies of and
animosities against foreign countries.
The arguments Of the Republicans in
support of this system are inconsistent
with each other, they in one breath alleg.
ing that high protective tariff keeps up
| prices and in another breath that it re-
duces them. You pay your money and
take your choice" Our opponents are
as versatile and accommodating in their
argument iu this respect as was
the ignorant village schoolmaster
who had made application to teach
country school and when exam
ined by the local committee as to his
qualifications was asked the question
"whether the world was round or f1ats"
replied shat it made no difference to him
| ~
was round or Sat just as the committee
presered.'
do not believe that our American
manufacturers require the protection
whic:. the Republican Party seems to be
so anxious to foist upon them, especially
if they were provided with free raw ma
terisls as the Democratic Party proposes
to do. We are already underselIing for
eign manufacturers III most or many of
the markets Of the world, and if we can
compete with them abroad, especially in
their own markets, there would seem to
be nc real necessity OF taxing our people
longer in order to enable our own manu-
facsu-ers TO compete with foreign ones
a. our very dools.
All that America needs Is free field
ana a fair fight IN the race Of life and
she viii prove invincioie in nearly every
department Of human activity. 1t is a
narrow aud contracted view, however,
taat seeks to keep our country from con-
tact Hith the commerce of the world
TIE Republican orator who boastingly
asserts that the United States can raise
and manufacture everything we need,
that foreign commerce should not be
sought after or foreign markets consid
cred, aud that our. American farmers
should be content with home markets
and home prices, and that we can and
should be independen. of all the rest o.
the world. may crafty the selfish and
false pride of his bearers but he only ex-
hiDits lis ignorance oi history and his
i&ck Of comprehension OF the true
sources OF genuine prosperity.
THE DAVENPORT FoEcE BILL.
Tie last step which tie Repli,,:c4
Party took IN tie direction 0. central
izei government was IN the attf np'ec
enactment Of the offensive and juiqIitou:
measure now known as the Davcn poT
Force bill. When tn. i'll w.> pen in
III Congress in the summer 0. 1890 | haf
tic honor OF speaking IL reference to il
provisions as follows:
If the people are th3rol9hlv aroused
10 tee nature ana in;oultes of the bill
tie party which has conceived i ani i
now Fastening 70 eract i va! b= baFie'
under an avalanche Of renons.r-nce a
the next election
The election ot TIA. tal showed sha
the people were In.ease,y aroused an'
!. that the bill was most eapha.icsi.g con
demned by al indigaau. people. lie
Immediately after that lection lie Re
pubiicans attempted to pass the bin, 5l
thanks to tie bold stan = OF cc- Deno
, cratic Senators ia Congress, a,dei by
few independent. ard fearless Repnpi
cans. It's enactment was prcve2>et an
the country was saved from is disgr-cs
5 | have read in detail sae g.olix Al
5 preposterous provisions ol tho Daveapo.
c bill and sp@als not Is 4 partisan, but :
al