The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1893-10-26

WHENEVER there are effects there
must be preceding causes. The first
always follow the latter. At present
a severe distress rests on every part OF !
the republic. Capital is either volun-
tarily idle or it has hidden away, |
so that it is not in the market for any !,
purpose at any reasonable price. Labor |
is piteously pleading for employment
and impatiently waiting an answer to
its cry. Causes for this unwonted con-
dition there must be, and it should not
be difficult to discover them. They are
not found in the fact that nature has
been niggardly in her gifts, for never
in the history of the republic has the
earth yielded more generously thap
within the past twelve months. They
are not found in a lack of capacity and
disposition in the people to consume.
They are not found in the operation OF
vicious laws, enacted by the democratic
party, for the reason that up to seven
months ago the democratic party has
not been in power for thirty-two
years. The causes exist somewhere,
and by honest endeavor we propose to
point them out.
During the rebellion it became nee
essary for the United States govern
ment to provide immense revenues.
In the mighty throes through which
the republic was passing the people
were not only willing, but anxious to
bear the very maximum of taxation.
To preserve the life of the nation they
were not only willing to give up their
substance, but to lay down their lives.
The leading republicans of that day
Senator Morrill-who bad charge of
the matter of providing the revenues,
in the presentation of the measures
which increased tariff taxes, apoliget-
ically stated that no other purpose
than the preservation of the union
would warrant such exhorbitant tax
alton. Mr.. Stevens, the leader of the
house of representatives, distinctly de-
measure, and MIR. Morrill, was equally
emphatic and distinct in saying that
the great occasion was the cause, and
the only sufficient cause, for the inn
mense impost duties imposed. While
Mr.. Sherman was not as pronounced as
either of the other gentlemen, he was
unequivocal in the declaration that
increase in taxes was demanded by the
exigencies of that hour. So they were,
and the people cheerfully submitted to
them.
Here we may remark that it is a not
able fact that in the operation of these
laws the government derived large
revenues. and it is equally fact to be
qoted, that the manufacturers of this
country took advantage of the rise in
all classes of goods, and doubled and
quadrupled the profits which they had
deemed sufficient in their business pre-
vious to the breaking out of the rebel
lion. 1t also may be truthfully noted
that many of the manufacturers took
advantage of the necessities of gov
ernment and imposed upon it worthless
fabrics, so indifferently made both as
to material and workmanship. that the
government was defrauded, and the
soldiers of the country cheated into
nakedness
But, let us return to our hunt for the
causes of the present distress. At the
close Of the war it was hoped that
those measures and policies which were
the outgrowth of the struggle would
be set aside, and that legislation would
be enacted to relieve the people
of the burdens of taxation which they
had nncomplainingly borne. In this
they were not gratifsd On the con-
trary, in the year 1s67-two years after
the close of the war-the doctrine of
protection for projections sake" was
inaugurated, and the congress of that
year, instead of lessening the tax bur-
dens. increased them The pernicious
doctrine of protection for projections
sake was not satisfied with the al
most prohibitory character of many of
the then tariff duties. They had tasted
blood, and, like the daughters of the
horse-leech, they cried for more.
This infamous system of taxation
reached it's elimination in the passage
of the Mckinley bill" Never have the
y,aorlo ~ onv nation, ~, tho aartL or;var,
up in taxation, in the same length Of
time, as large an amount of money as
have the people of the United States
These taxes are not shown in the re-
ceipts of customs by the government.
That shown there was enjoyed by the
government. True, much of the reve-
nue. has been expended in wasteful ex-
travagance; but still it went into the
government Golfers and was spent by
the government But the custom reve-
nues are but tithe of the tax paid by
the consumers of the country. For
every dollar received by the govern
ment six have been paid to the protectr
ed industries. On this forced contribu- |
tion of the people the manufacturers
have grown enormously wealthy and
the consumers have grown correspond
ingly poor.
The cause of the present depression
has it's origin in the immense taxes inn
posed on the people by the tariff laws.
In the vicious legislation which throws
around manufacturing vocations the
care of the govern
ment, and leaves the most i'm
portant industry THAT of agri-
culture) to struggle along without gov
ernment aid. The protection policy
not only robs the farmer by demand
ing tribute from him, but it has de-
stroyed the foreign market. The ma
tions which were formerly the pur-
chasers of the products of our farms
have adopted the Mckinley doctrine
Of exclusiyeness and have built up
cereal growing districts. They are in
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