The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1894-06-09
WHERE is TIE coNsuMeaq


His Rights Ignored by Protectionist Pam
derers to the Producer.
We wcrc prepared for almost any re-
suit of the customary Mysteries of the
New York Press. but we hardly looked
for 1t to stumble upon such an honest
condemnation of protection rs this:
IA tariff measure which dtscrminates
against one section In favor or another. and
which confers immense benefits upon single
interest Mt the expense Of n whole people is not
protection, but spoliation."
There never was tariff measure con-
ceived that failed to do this very
thing. There never will be one. as
long as one section differs from an
other in it's natural adaptation to GER
tain industries. The industry with the
strongest pull gets the biggest protec-
ton and holds it until some other in
terest comes along and complains that
it has been injured by the protection
of the other. Then another attempt is
made at an equal distribution of the
stolen cheese. to be followed by more
complaints, with the result that the
average of protection is pushed higher
and higher in the effort to satisfy all.
If there is such thing as genuine
protection" under which as the Press
AYERS, "all American producers possess
equal rights and enjoy equal privi-
leges." what of the consumer? His
very existence is forgotten. He is not
so much as mentioned while those who
despoil him are trying to divide the
booty. And when an attempt is made
to ease the crushing weight of taxa
ton which rests upon his bending
shoulders and to place little of 1T upon
the possessors of large incomes, cry
goes up that such measure is com
munism and sectionalism.
| There is no better answer to this
folly and no better defense of the
rights of the consumer than certain
words of Hon. John Sherman, which
were quoted without challenge nc
| longer than last November by Hon. T.
S. Hall, of Missouri, in speech before
the ways and means committee of the
house as follows:
THE public mind is not vet prepared Il
| apply the key Of genuine revenue reform. !
few years of further experience will convince
| the whole body of our people that system o
! national taxes which rests the whole burden
taxation on consumption, and not one cent oi
| property and income, is intrinsically unjust
\ w ule lIe EXPENSES Ol lue ndtlOudl RONeTuuleu
are largely caused by the protection of prop
erty, it is but right to call on property to con
tribute to Its payment. 1t will not 40 to sa.
that each person consumes in proportion to hi
means. This is not true. Every one must Sc
that the consumption of the rich does not bea
the same relation to the consumption of III
poor the income OF the rich does to tn
wages of the poor. AS wealth accumulates
this injustice in the fundamental basis of ou
system will be felt and forced upon the atten
tion of congress-"
The injustice has been felt, and tn,
first attempt toward righting it find
arrayed in opposition all the forces o
protection and privilege which hav'
thrived upon it. 1t is denounced as $;
fine upon thrift, n ''contiscation of tn,
savings of the Industrious; some
thing that will discourage economy
Does anyone who applies these epi
thets to it know of anybody who woul'
not rather have an income of fou
thousand dollars year, with a . pc
cent. tax on it, than not to have sucl
an income to taX?-Louisville Courier
I. | Il