Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1892-11-04

made by the platforms of the Republi-
can and Democratic parties by their re.
cent conventions.
THE TARIFF PROBLEM.
The Policies Of the Two Great Parties
on Tariff Taxation Contrasted.
Here the speaker called attention to
the tariff planks in the Republican
and Democratic platforms, and then
said:
"The question of tariff is question
of taxation. 1t requires some $4OC..
100000 year to defray the necessary
expenses of the federal government.
This money must be raised in some
way, either by tariff or direct taxation.
"The Republican party has abolished
all internal revenue taxes, except upon
whisky, wine, beer and tobacco: The
revenue from these sources amounts to
about 100000 900 annually. This is
just about enough to pay the pensions
OF the soldiers who fought for the de.
tense OF the stars and stripes in the war
OF 1851, and if any one does not want
to pay any OF this tax he can avoid it
by joining the Prohibition party and
letting spirits and tobacco alone. How
shall we raise the other $24O, OOO,O 900,
or thereabouts, necessary to meet the
expenses of the government? This is
an important question. The Republi-
can party favors protective tariff, the
Democratic party a free trade tariff, or
tariff for revenue only.
"a protective tariff not only pro-
vides for expenses of the government,
but it is levied upon foreign products
which we can produce in this country
and which come in direct competition
with our home industries. By this
means protection is afforded to the
American laborer, manufacturer and
farmer, and by this means we compel
the foreign manufacturer or producer
seeking our markets to pay in a
measure our taxes, or the revenue nee
essary to meet our governmental ex-
penses. The Republican party prefer
to impose this tax upon others rather
than upon the people of this country.
At the same time articles of necessity
used by the common people generally,
and which cannot be produced protita-
bly, at home, are admitted free, such as
tea, coffee, sugar, etc., etc.
The speaker here quoted from an
article lately published in the British
Free Trade Review of London, to the
effect that under our protective tariff
policy the foreign manufacturer or pro-
Queer seeking our market pays this
tariff tax, and not the consumer in this
country, and then said:
"The free trade theory of the Demo-
cratic party puts the tariff upon foreign
articles which cannot be produced
pro6tably in this country and which
are constantly used by people generally
in their household economy. This is
the British theory.
"This nation has tried policy offree
trade and it has tried the protective
policy. So we now have an opportun.
ity OF Judging Of the merits Of each by
actual experience. During fifty years
prior to 1862, three times was the free
trade policy adopted and each time il
was followed by industrial stagnation
financial embarrassment and by genera
distress upon all classes dependent fol
sustenance upon their own labor. Three
times did a protective policy lift the
burden from the people and bring about
an era OF general prosperity which LASTED
in each case as long as such policy wal
in force. - ...,
"The financial and industrial con
dition of the country during the last
period of free trade, lasting from 1S4f
to 1862, is aptly described by Presi
dent Buchanan, one OF the great light
Of the Democratic party, in his messag
to congress. He said, 'Our manufac
tories have suspended, our public work
are retarded, our private enterprises ar
abandoned, and thousands Of usefu
laborers are thrown out OF employment
and reduced to want. - y lie, 81 81
The speaker here quoted the opinion
of Presidents Washington, Adan,e
Jefferson, Madison, Monroe and Andre,
i jackson, not only as to the constitu
tionality OF protective tariff laws-bu
favoring such policy as affording tn
best protection to American industrie
and labor.
OUR OoUNTRY's GROWTH.
Prosperity Which Has Been Largel
Produced by Republican
Protection.
For the last thirty years this natio
has pursued q policy Of protection I