St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-07-31
WHO PAY TARIFF TAXES.

In some respects that was a notable
Interview which Mr.. WHITNEY, Presi-
deut CLEVELAND'S former secretary of
the navy, gave to reporter, and which
the GLOBE recently reproduced. MIR.
WHITNEY has usually been rated as
one of those Democrats who are dis
posed by reason of their business con-
nectlOn and social relations to look with
lenient eye upon the use of govern
mental powers to give to one class of
producers an advantage in profits over
the others. 1t is commonly supposed
that he inspired the tariff plank re-
ported by the committee on platform to
the Chicago convention. and by that
body contemptuously rejected as being
too thoroughly affected with the dry rot
OF protection to have place in Dem
ocratic platform.
MIR. WHITNEY has retired from the
summer heat of the city to the cool
shades and balmy breezes of Beverly
Farms. and it may be that he has sue
cumbed to that influence of country life.
which dlsposes one to reflection and
philosophy. Either this is the case, or
Mr.. WHITNEY'S tariff views have been
very much misunderstood, for in his
interview he gives expression to opin-
ions whose only logical deduction is the
abolition not only of protection by tariff,
but of the tariff itself as system of OBJ
tanning revenue.
After expressing his conviction that
the currency is not a vital question:
that the poison lies deeper, that no tenn
porary anodyne of financial legislation
will eradicate it, he gives expression to
the following opinions, which will meet
the hearty approval of every radical
Tree trader in the land: ''No matter
what disguise it may assume, our pres
ent tariff system is essentially tax
upon the producing and industrial class.
The national government is supported
by tax, not upon property, but upon
consumption. The tariff is assessed not
upon what men own, but upon what
they eat and drink and wear.
Under it. it is easily possible that
poor man with large family may be
compelled to pay more taxes for the sup
port of the natiOna! government than an
economical millionaire who has only
himself to keep. National taxes being
levied as they are, the general mass of
the people, the producing and Industrial
class, and the great body of merchants.
tradesmen and professional men, have
hfteen times as much tax in proportion
to their means as the rich men,"
Consciously OF unconsciousIy-andw we
hope iG is the former-Mr. WHITNEY
nj
nerve of the whole tariff system. In
few sentences he tersely summarizes
the argument against not only the
policy of tariff for protection, but of
the principle of a tariff for revenue.
The American mind accepts, as
naturally and Inherently just, the
proposition that the revenues of
the country should be derived from its
wealth; and, when confronted with the
proposition, it shrinks with adherence
from the injustice OF placing the tax
upon consumption, and making the alb
Solute and unavoidable necessities of
life the source of revenue, regardless of
all other conditions. 1t is enough to
make men pause and seriously consider
the question of taxation, free from all
partisan aspects, to know that not one
foo ofland in all this broad nation owned
by individuals contributes one cent to
the support of the national government,
and that all the different forms of
wealth springing out of or resting upon
the land are completely exempted from
bearing any share of the general bur
den, which rests almost entirely upon
what men eat and drink and wear and
use for shelter and comfort.
If Mr.. WHITNEY realizes the force
and logical end to which his opinions
lead, we owe him an apology for the
suspicion we have hitherto entertained
of his loyalty to the fundamental prin-
ciple of his party, and we welcome him
TO the ranks of the free traders of the
nation