Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-09-15

want OF commence WQlcu Is tuc NNuoo
OF the trouble, and gave 1t as his be-
lief that prosperity can only be obtained
by adherence TO the Democratic faith
in the matter Of both currency and tar
iR reform.
Taking up first the silver question,
the Speaker said that the conflicting
claims Of gold and silver as money must
be determined in favor Of bi-metallism,
as the relation OF debtor and creditor
classes cannot be equitably adjusted on
any other basis The purchasing
clauses Of the sherman silver law, said
be, must be repealed, and the Demo
cratic party stands committed not only
10 its repeal, but 20 the unlimited use
OF both gold and silver as money. The
Democracy Of Ohio has reathrmed the
declaration and l give 10 my personal
Endorsement" He then expressed the
opinion tnat the re-establishment Of bi-
metallism will not cure all the ills that
afiiet the country. aud turned his atten-
tiOn 20 the Jaw which bears the name Of
his opponent
''The greatest foe TO the prosperity
Of the people is MCkiuleyism," Mr..
Neal said $50 long as the federal sys-
TEN Of protective taxation is continued
we can have no general and permanent
prosperity ia this country. To reTsin
such prosperity we must apply the axe
10 the root Of the evil, with earnestness
and vigOr and forever destroy the Nc
KinIey method Of taxation. The power
OF the government 70 levy and collect
taxes for its own support cannot be con-
troverted, but when the sovereign
power Of taxation ceases to be used for
governmental purposes, and becomes
the instrument OF private interests 70
promote private gain, IL Is no longer
cons ltutionally exercised and becomes
IN turn an instrument Of wrong and Op-
preston. Public necessity must, there
fore, mark aud prescribe the limit for
the ercise Of such power. This prin-
ciple Aas been universally recognized IS
q fundamental one by judicial tribunals
OF the last resort. But despite this
princiDle, incOntrOvertbly established,
the leaders of the Republican party still
assert that there can be nolimitatiOn OF
the uses for which the power OF tax.
alton can be exercised, and boldly and
defant'y maintain that the power 70
tax is the power 20 absolutely destroy
one citizen for the benefit of another
aye, to destroy 10000 citizens for the
benefit OF one"
Mr.. Neal stated that the receipts OF
the government during the fiscal year
IN which the Mckinley law went into
effect, exceeded expenditures by nearly
500, OOO, 900, and the excess was equally
great during the two or three years
which preceded the advent OF that tariff
law. He then quoted bewiidering ar
raw OF statistics 20 show the evil effects
of protection, using as an example
wooden goods. The speaker scOfed at
The idea that under a protective system
the foreigner pays the tax, and insisted
that. on the contrary, the burden falls
on the American labOriDg man.
'sThe whole burden Of taxation under
such a system" the speaker continued,
ssrests upon the consumption Of the peO-
pie. The property and wealth OF the
people pay no part OF its taxes. The
rich and the poor are not placed on an
equality 10 their contribution or taxes
under such q system. The taxes paid
by them are not IN proportion 70 their
ability 70 pay. The burden presses
with the most unequal weight on those
who are least able 20 sustain IL. This Is
true even where the tax is collected up
on a purely revenue basis for its own
support But that which IS In such
case An Injustice, becomes a crime
against the great masses Of the people
when the laws impose the highest duties
and return the lowest revenue, TO COM
pel the giving Of gratuities and the pay
ment Of tribute 20 those whose riches
and power already endanger the perpe-
tuity OF our free institutions.
The alleged protection TO American
labor by such legislation Is just as much |
A fiction and fraud as the miserable
pretext that our tariff taxes are paid by
foreigners whose goods we buy. The |
protected barons, whose selhshuess and !
greed have eradicated from their very |
nature the common instinct Of humani- |
". care not for the welfare OF the Ia /
boring men OF this or any Othor country. /
They believe 70 free trade ia men,
Cheap labor is with them as essential q
mart Of their protective system as higI |
tarifFs, and the profession OF desire
them 70 secure protective duties I'M
interest and fer the heneft Of thef
who work in their protected ind
A. a dishonest cOncealment or ~
,otives and purposes. The
tariff legislation proves r.
Not forgetting the aq
.ses of the country, Nj