New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1893-12-27

method of encouraging manufacturers
by giving them what are called ssfree
raw Materials SO that what goes into
the mills pays no tax and what goes into
consumption pays all the taxes. The
manufacturers have no taxes on what
! they buy and the people the equivalent
of taxes on all they purchase.
1t unfortunately happens also that
| s'free material' is an elastic term, and
what is one mans free raw materials, is
another mans finished product.
The so-called free raw material, free
wool, free coal and free iron, are not
put on the free list without any reference
direct or indirect to raising revenue.
They are placed there to encourage man
ufacturers who are to be compensated
for any loss in this market by the mar
kets Of the world. where they will have
the chance to struggle with the cheaper
labor Of the old world with whatever
energy they may have left after the
struggle at home with thatsame cheaper
labor let into our markets by lower
tariff, which does not give us the COM
pensation even of larger revenue.
All the objectiors so often urged by
the dominant party against the existing
system, we repeat, lie against the bill.
The difference is only one of degree. If
the present system be "robbery'' as these
men have iterated and reiterated, the
proposed system is precisely the same.
It is true that the consumer will no long
er pay tribute to the farmer for the wool
of the sheep, but the New England and
other manufacturers are still authorized
to lay tribute upon the citizens of the
United States who must pay, so these
men have always said, 80, 40 and 45 per
cent to the manufacturer on every yard
of Woolens and worsteds, while the coun-
try will only receive, by way of revenue,
lessened sum unless increased import
ations signal the death of American pro-
duction.
It is true that the coal miners of West
Virginia and the ore producers of Mich
igan will be stripped of their so-called
robber gains entirely, and the railroads
must loose their transportation of mil
lions of tons Of frei ght; but the manu-
facturers are thereby stimulated and aid
ed so that they can, as the committee as
severate, still continue their profitable
business here and reach across the ocean
for the business of other countries, "and
foreign trade without limit"
If. as it is asservated, the 7O,0O0,OOO
of American people have been for years
taxed for the benefit of few hundred
of thousands of favored individuals, why
should the taxation be continued, even
in diminished ratio for another series of
years, and these few hundred thousand
favored creatures be given a new lease of
life?
The doctrine of the Democratic plat
form that protection is robbery and
should be abolished is comprehensive
and sturdy. The new movement on be-
half of sporadic robbery is contrary alike
to good morals and public faith. All
false pretences are unwise, contrary to
sound policy and craftsmanship. Hence
many of us who are sure that the Demo-
cratic platform was utterly untrue, ad
mitted its straightforwardness and direct
ness. This bill, framed by those who
represented the platform, cannot receive
that kind of praise. 1t pretends to be a
revenue tariff,and does notraise revenue.
1t pTetends to give protection, but de-
stroys it in every direct way. It says to
the manufacturer, for you we have
furnished free coal, free iron ore, free
wool, and the markets of the world. In
stead of the markets of the world it fur
nished in the near future new crop of
enemies-the men who dig in the mines,
and the farmers who raise the sheep
for it really creates what its enemies have
falsely charged against Republican pro-
lection, a priviledged class, against which
the mines and the fields will both array
themselves, and the priyiledged class
does not care to be thus priyiledged. AL
it asks, or has ever asked, is to be pro-
tected, not alone, but with all other cit
liens, from the destructive competition
with lower grade Of social life. OF
course, this idea Of protection against a
lower gradeof social life is preposterous
to man who sees in a tariff a tax of $50
or $40 on each hundred imposed on 79,-