The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1892-07-02
TRYINGTO STRADDLE
THE REPUBLICAN, PLATFORM SEEKS 10
EvADE THE PARTr's REsroSsBn-
rTr FoE TIE M'KrSLEr BnL--A

EvADE THE PARTr's RESPONSIBLE
rTT FoE THE M'KrxLEr BnL--A
cowAsDLT sUBTERFuGE. a
The principle OF the Mckinley bin
was thus stated ia the tariff plank Of the
Republican platform Of 1883, written by
Mckinley himself:
1.-The Republican party would effect all
needed reduction of the National revenue
by repeating the taxes upon tobacco,
which are an annoyance and burden to
agriculture, and the tax upon spirits
used in the arts and for mechanical pur-
poses, and by such revision Of the tariff
laws as will tend to check imports Of
such articles as are produced by our peo-
pie. II there still remain larger reve-
nue. than is requisite for the wants OF
government, we favor the entire repeal
Of internal taxes rather than surrender
any part Of our protective system at the
joint behest of the Whisky Trust and
the agents of foreign manufacturers.
This is clear and forcible statement
of the principle Of the Mckinley system
of prohibitory fines imposed on those
who try to add to the wealth Of America
by bringing into it wealth produced
abroad. With this statement compare
the following from the Minneapolis plat
form.
.'We believe that all articles which
cannot be produced in the United States
should be admitted free Of duty, and
that on all imports coming into compe-
tition with the products of American
labor there should be levied duties equal
to the difference in wages abroad and at
home"
The lameness and omnipotence OF this
as an excuse for the Mckinley bill will
be manifest even to Republicans. For
the Mckinley taxes are as great or
greater than the entire cost of producing
the article hundred times where they
are equal to the difference in wages paid
once. In no case was the Mckinley tax
levied on the theory laid down in the
Minneapolis platform. In every case it
was levied on the theory Of prohibitivs
taxation stated in the Chicago platform,
drawn by Mckinley and adopted by the
Republican party. If the Minneapolis
| plank meant what it said, it would be a
demand for, four-ifths reduction of
the duties of the Mckinley bill. But it
does not mean what it says. It is a
cowardly straddle in which the radical
tariff prohibitionists attempt to retain
in operation law the principles of
which they find themselves unable to up
hold against the condemnation of the
| country.
The Mckinley bill provides for taxing
coffee and tea, neither Of which can be
| produced in the United States except in
lighthouses; and under the Mckinley bill
coffee, which was on the free list before
the passage of the bill, is now heavily
taxed. If the Minneapolis tariff plank
means what it says, it condemns this
| tax on coffee provided for by the Nc
| Kinley bill and levied on the people by
Harrison's proclamation--the first in
stance in American history in which
| President ever undertook to levy taxes
| by proclamation.
II it were not cowardly and treach-
erous straddle the Minneapolis plank
would be reputation of the Mckinley
| bill, for where Mckinley taxes are 100
per cent. or over-where they are equal
/ or more than equal to the full value 81
the goods, to cost OF goods, cost of
| freight and cost of packages-the MIN
neapolis platform declares for duties
equal to the difference in labor cost
! that Is for tariff averaging not over
fifth of the average of the Mckinley
| taxes.
The declaration is fraud on its face.
The tariff platform of the Republican
party is the Mckinley bill, passed by the
Republican majorities in House and Sem
ate and signed by Republican Presi-
dent. It stands for the way in which
the high tariff was reformed by its
friends.'' 1t is too late to straddle it
now, or to attempt to evade response
bility for its principle and practice Of
taxation .or prohibition. Itcan no more
be defended under the Minneapolis plat.
form tnan 1t could be under the Chicago
platform which instructed forts passage.
The plutocrats in control of the Republic
can party will do anything ''rather than
surrender any part" of the unjust privil-
eyes granted them by the Mckinley bill,
but if cowardly evasion serves them
better than the attempt at open defense
they are ready to adopt any "straddle"
or subterfuge in the hope of keeping
their hands in the pockets of the Amsri-
can people.
But straddle, shift and subterfuge will
not serve them here, for the Mckinley
bill and the prohibitive taxes o. the
Mckinley bill are the republican tariff
i ,nta+form St T,ouis Ranuhlican