Rock Island Argus., 1894-10-03
recognized as the most valuable and

recognized as the most valuable and
significant act Of our government in
its exercise of the power of taxation
during this generation. For many
years all legislation on the subject Of
tariff became . traffic in the powers
of the government-a system of part
ner between cliques of particular in
dustries, in which the privilege of
levyiug tax for one clique was
granted in consideration of a similar
privilege given another This sys-
tenn reached its elimination in the
Mckinley act of 1890. in which scien-
tifc principle of public economy was
detiled, and taxes were imposed with
hardly a pretense of regard for the
interests of the people at large. but
solely with view to meeting the
demands Of the favored producers
1t is to take the place Of this or
ganized rapacity and extortion the
new tariff becomes part of our reve-
nue. system. The Weekly then
points out specifically what has been
gained:
I'm the first place. the law has
made certain the replenishment of
the treasury and removes all risk of
further increase in the permanent
national debt. Again it insures the
cheapeniug. TO substantial extent,
of multitude OF the necessaries and
comforts of life, reducing the cost Of
living of every household. without
weakening the resources of the gov
ernment. Clothing of every de-
scrip,ion, cloths. dress goods, blan-
sets and carpets will be cheaper and
better everywhere for its passage.
Imported food. woods and lumber.
ceina and glassware. pocket knives
and table knives, nearly all the COM
pleted goods, the use of which is so
large a part of civilized life, togeth-
er with the materials of which they
are made. share in the large reduc-
tions OF duty. These changes alone
will certainly. within few months,
make every mans daily earnings
more valuable TO him now. But thev
will do far more than this. They
will do much to revive depressed in
fu>try and TO restore general pros
perity. A pretense is made by few
manufacturers OF anticipated distress
from the reduction of certain protec-
tive duties. but for this we can find no
foundation in the law. Even the ex-
or5itant profits of certain forced and
petted industries. which never could
have existed without artificial subs;-
dies. at the general cost, have been
treated tenderly. But enough has
been done 10 give real and import
ant help TO those industries which
are not and can not be tostered by
taxation, and which must ALWAYS
constitute by far the greater part Of
the economical activity of any COM
mupity. Thus the law in all its
parts Will itself be continued object
lesson 20 the voters teaching them
that the interposition of needless
taxes can never benefit the people as
whole, but that every removal OF
them is national boon.
But the brightest feature OF the
new act is found in the fact that il IS
turning point in tariff legislation.
i signalizes the final stage Of trust
and monopoly protection. That ex-
pertinent has broken down I'm the
new law" says the Weekly, conclud-
ing its able paper. the nation has
turned its face towards Justice.
toward lasting prosperity. toward
ultimate freedom of trade. and the
movement henceforth will be in that
direction