The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1894-05-12
WHY TIMES ARE HARD.
A CORRESPONDENT PUTS THE BLAME
WHERE IT BELONGS.
The Protective Tariff System Response
BILE for the Poverty and Suffer-
ing of the Working man
Republican Tariff
Tinkering.


zette replies to some republican
vagaries in the Evening Mail, of
that city, in way that merits at
tentention. Here is what he saws.
The editor of the Evening Mail
wants Senator Mills hung for desir-
ing to change the rules of the Sen.
ate so as to expedite the business of
that body.
1t is said none are so virtuous as
the reformed prostitute, and the
zeal of the new convert is proven
bal. On these lines the savage at
tacks and unfair criticisms OF the
editor of the Mail upon the Demo
cratic party can he accounted for.
The times are hard with produc-
ers and laborers of all classes, there
is no denying that, and business is
dull in all branches. We are told
by the editor of the Mail that this
state Of affairs is caused by the
movement to change the tariff. Is
be rightP This is a question that
interests oil the people.
The advocates of the protective
tariff say it is the best system of
taxation ever devised. It has been
in force in the United States for
thirty years. During this long per-
iod as the times. grew harder and
harder for the producer and laborer,
the advocates Of the system said it
was because there was not protee-
tion enough.
Having control of the government
in all its branches, they were free to
apply their protective panacea, aud
had neither conscience nor pity in
the use of their poison. One after
another the revenue features of the
tariff where eliminated until the
tax was laid not for raising revenue
to meet the necessities Of the govern
ment, but to protect some special in
terest. These changes have been
nearly always made at the instance
of, and in some cases were dictated
by the agents of the special interest
to be benefited: the iron maker, the
WOODEN manufacturer, the sugar re-
finer, the button maker, the manu-
faeturer of bagging and of cotton
ties, or upon whatever interest there
was a possibility of making a trust
or combine, but always upon artic-
les of common use.
Under this policy of taxing the
many for the benefit of the few there
were twenty changes made in the
tariff from 1866, after the war was
over, up to October, 1890, as follows
Act of March 3, 1865; of May 16,
1866; July 2s, 1866; March 2, 1876;
March %, 1867; Feb. "a. 1869; July
IA, 1860; May l, 1872; Jan. 6, 1872;
June %, 1874; Feb. s, 1875; March
3, 1875; July |, 1879; June II, 1880;
May 6, 1882; March 3, 1888; May 8,
1890; June 10, 1890; October ],
1890.
The editor of the Mail and other
Republicans, is never weary of talk
ing about the Democrats "tinkering
with the tariff. Here is record
of Republican tinlering, and every
time, concession to some favored
interest, or combine to increase The
cost of the necessities oflife. The last
change, and the tariff now in force
was made By Major Mckinley, dub
bed by his admirers the Napoleon
of Protection. The Major in def
ance of public opinion, with a greco
as merciless as that of the graspine
Emperor, piled the protection duties
SO high that the bearers ofthe bur
den rebelled, and drove from power
the men who had so opposed them
Will the editor of the Mail tell US
why it is that after more than /;
quarter of a century of constantly
increasing tariff taxation, the agri
cultural interest of the country is
PROSTATE at the feet of capital2
That labor, in a crisis brought
upon the country by the financia
policy of the Republican party, il
caught without dollar of surplus
to meet an emergency of even few
months, after thirty years OF TART
laid, as we are told, for its especia
benefit.
Would a million of these men nov
be in want of the bare necessities o
life if they had received this enor
nous bounty?
The farmer at the beginning o
the protective system had more thai
half the wealth of the country. Nov
he has not more than one fifth. l
is clear that the farmer has not re
ceived the bounty. To whom, then
have these erroneous subsidies gone
The tale is told in the distribution
of the wealth of the country, which
amounts in the aggregate to abou
$40, 900, 100000. OF this wealth
one half is said to be owned by 25,
900 persons. 1t is demonstrable, a
any rate, that it is owned by no
more than $4,000 people.
1t has also been shown that $50,
600 people own from 10 to 80 pc
cent. of the total wealth of the coun
try. The total tariff tax paid b,
the $4,000 owners of half the wealth
it is estimated, would be only about
$17S,000 year. and double tina
sum if the number is 10000 Cl
the basis of 100000 persons ownin!
70 or so per cent. of the country
wealth, their tariff tax would no
amount to more than S1,750,000
year. The rest of the federal tariff
tax, amounting TO abont $47S,000,
600 per annum, is paid by about 65,
100000 people who own only iron
20 to 80 per cent. Of the wealth o
the country, people of moderate
means, owning homestead, small
farmers and laborcrs.
The figures tell why the rich gro,
richer every year, and who receive
the benefit of the tariff tax. Ac
cumulated capital goes free of FEEDER
al taxation. 1t is laid upon tn
consumption of the food and cloth
ing of the mass of citizens, the pro
Queer, the laborer, and men Of mod
crate means. This is why time
times are hard,
The editor of the Mail may raj
at the Democratic party and wis
to see Senator Mills strung up b
the neck for trying to hasten tn
passage Of the Wilson bill, but
will not avail 60 prevent the domin
ant party from carrying out it
pledges TO relieve the people fror