The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1892-08-04

contemplated. All are placed on an
equality before the law and tariff legisla-
ton is not designed for the benefit of any
class.
This is not free trade in the proper
sense of tire term, but is called SO as it
does rot seek to benefit any class of eiti-
zens at the expense OF others.
The position of the republican partv is
to limit importations by heavy taxation,
thus enhancing the price of domestic ar
ticles OF manufacture to the end that the
manufacturers of these articles may be
subsidized by the people at large. This
is protection for the reason that the rev.
tax on imported articles is merely incl
dental to the purpose OF benefiting GER
tain industries.
The line OF cleavage lies between the
two diverse principles: Q Equal JUS
tice to all citizens of the country. ca
Legislation favorable to one or more
classes and hence inimical to those with
out the pale OF favorable consideration
by congress. The first is democratic as it
deals alike with all classes; the second IS
aristocratic as it recognizes and creates
caste distinctions.
The democratic platform denies the
power in any legislative body to tax the
people for any other than public pul-
poses. The republican platform affirm
the power of congress TO tax the people
generally for the benefit of certain peo-
pie engaged in q certain line of industry,
| and justifies the act on the ground that
! the popular good is thereby subserved.
That is, the creation of wealth, or rather
concentrating 1t in the hands OF few.is
beneficial to the many from whom it is
| taken, as wealth In the hands of few has
! greater power thsn when distributed. If
the people of ManitowOc county were
! taxed to build a factory in Manitowoc,
| the ownership of the factory not to be in
the people who contributed toward Its
erection and equipment, but in the hands
| OF few skilled in manufacturing, these
| few would be enjoying the protection
now extended by the general government
to certain manufacturers within its iuris-
| dIction. And if the farmers of the coun-
| ty were told that the benefits resulting
Indirectly to them through the location
OF the factory, more than compensated
them for the tax they paid, it would be
simply duplicating the arguments used
by protectionists in favor of infant INDUS
tries.
But this comparison does not reach the
arrogant demands of the protectlonist of
to-day.
The infant factory after being placed
on its feet must receive annually from.the
people of the county a certain sum to be
| raised by taxation. If the subsidy would
end after the factory got to running fair
~, the people of the county might feel
repaid for their outlay in having estab-
| llshed an important industry in their
midst. But when the institution de-
| llduuS d perpetual LAX LOT us support,
the people colld not fail to become con-
WINGED that they had paid very dear Tor
their whistle.
| People are pestered with statistics
| which have no bearing whatever upon
| what is fundamental to honest inquiry
regarding the tariff. Favors to one in
| diyidual must mean injustice to anott er
| and 1t is absurd to assume otherwise
The demands of the protected INDUS
| tries increase with every concession made
and every favor extended them, I'M
til to-day their power is such that they
| are enabled to thrust aside every other
public question and claim undivided at
tention to their interests. At frss their
interests were deemed secondary to
governmental needs and protection was
incidental. This position has been revers-
ed, and now revenue for the governm eut
is merely incidental to the favors bestow-
upon protected industries. Even this
| poor privilege is now denied the govern
ment and revenue is to be wiped out by
| means of prohibltory tariff. 80 this
complexion have we come at last"