The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-12-06
FOR TARIFF REFORM.
The Supreme Duty of the Party to
Act in the Peoples Behalf.

The Supreme Duty of the Party to
Act in the Peoples Behalf.
Economy in public expenditure is a duty
that cannot innocently be neglected by
those intrusted with the control of money
drawn from the people for public uses. 1t
must be confessed that our apparently
endless resources the familiarity of our
people with immense accumulationS of
wealth. the growing sentiment among them
that the expenditure of public money
should In some manner be to their imme-
date and personal advantage. the indirect
and almost stealthy manner in which a
large part of our taxes are exacted and a
degenerated sense Of official accountability
have led TO growing extravaganza in gov
ernmental appropriations. At this time.
when depleted public treasury confronts
US, when many of our people are engaged
in struggle for the necessities of life.
and when forced economy is pressing upon
the great mass of our countrymen. I de-
sire to urge with all the earnestness at
my command that congressional legisla-
ton be so limited by strict economy as to
exhibit an appreciation Of the condition
of the treasury and sympathy with the
straitened circumstances of our fellow
citizens.
The duty of public economy is also of
immense Importance in It's intimate and
necessary relation TO the task now In hand
government
expenditures, and yet reducing the peo-
pies burden OF federal taxation. After a
hard struggle tariff reform is directly be-
fore US. Nothing SO important claims our
attention, and nothing so clearly presents
ITSELF as both an opportunity and duty
An opportunity to deserve the gratitude
upon us by our oft-repeated professions
and by the emphatic mandate of the peo-
pie. After a fun discussion our country
men have spoken In favor of this reform.
Al he of IT,
accomplishment TO the hand of those who
are solemnly pledged TO it.
If there is anything in the theory of a
repres entation in public places of the peo-
pie and their desires, IL public officers are
servants of the people, and if political
promises and professions have any bind
Ing force, our failure to give the relief so
long awaited will be sheer recreancy.
Nothing should intervene to distract our
attention or disturb our effort until this
reform is accomplished by wise and\care-
While we should stanchly adhere to the
principle that only the necessity Of revenue
justifies the imposition of tariff duties and
other federal taxation, and that they
should be limited by strict economy, we
cannot close our eyes to the fact that con-
ditions have grown up among us which,
in justice and fairness, call for discrimin-
atlng care IN the distribution OF SUCH
duties and taxation as the emergencies of
our government actually demand.
Manifestly, II we are to aid the people
directly through tariff reform, one of its
most obvious features should be a reduc-
ton in presents tariff charges upon the
necessaries of life. The benefits of such a
reduction would be palpable and sUbstan-
thai, seen and felt by thousands who
would be better fed and better clothed and
better sheltered. These gifts should be the
willing benefactions of a government whose
highest function is the promotion of the
welfare Of the people.
Not less closely related TO our peoples
prosperity and well-being is the removal
Of restrictions upon the importation of
raw materials necessary to our manufact-
ures. The world should be open to our
national ingenuity and enterprise. This
cannot be while federal legisla ton, through
the imposition of high tariff, forbids to
American manufacturers cheap mater
falls a s those used by their competitors
1t is quite obvious that the enhancement
Of the price of our manufactured products
resulting from this policy. not only con-
fines the market for those products within
our own, borders to the direct disadvantage
Of our manufacturers. but also increa ses
their cost to our citizens. The interests of
labor are. certainly. though Indirectly, IN
Volved in this feature OF our tariff system.
The sharp competition and active struggle
among our manufacturers TO supply the
limited demand for their goods. soon iii
the narrow market to which they are con-
fined Then follows a suspension of work
I'm mills and factories, a discharge of en-
ployes. and distress in the homes of our
workingmen. Even II the often disproved
assertion could be made good, that a
lower rate of wages would result from free
raw materials and low tariff duties. the In
telligence Of our workingmen leads them