Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1894-08-30
THE CITIZEN
The Crime Of Shs New Tariff.

The crime of the new tariff which await
the Presidents signature cannot be fully
measured till it has begun to cut its swath
Of destruction. 1t cannot now be even
estimated without considering its multi
Piled phrases. The crime is manifold. 1t
strikes in many directions. Almost evry
provision is q wrong which hurts in some
quarter. But, without going into details,
here are some Of the general features.
1. Itisa general assault upon American
industries. In some cases the blow is
inflicted by destroying all protection-in
some cases by reducing the protection be-
low the safe level. The wool industy'
with its million and quarter participants,
ia wiped out Lumber and timber are
made free for Canadian invasion. Wool
ems, glass pottery, chemicals and metals
receive heavy cuts. In most of these in
dustries the reduction is great enough to
close them or force q reduction of wages
In few cases, like collars and cuffs, q
special vote compelled special concession.
But the discrimination only emphasizes
the general blow.
II. 1t overthrows reciprocity. This is
sheer, wanton, wicked, needless wrong.
After the most labonous and careful
efforts continued through period of years
the arrangements were completed for
reciprocal interchange of commercial ad-
| yantages with Spain, Brazil, Germany an
other nations. We admitted some of their
products free. In return they admitted
ours free or at preferential rates. II for
egn commerce cannot be advanced in this
wsy it cannot be advanced in any way. As
| . matter of fact reciprocity brought
large increase of trade. But the new
| tariff topples over all this work of states
| msnship. 1t destroys reciprocity with all
the sugar producing countries, and throws
open our doors to the wool OF Argentine
and Australia without eKscting any re-
| turn.
III. 1t plays into the hands OF Canada
| and strengthens her political and indus
| trial independence. The stupidity OF this
crime is an exaspsrating as its iniquity. II
weakens and :postpones the movement
towards American unison. The great
American numbering interest along. the
border is placed at the mercy of Canada.
Canadian lumber with its vast forests anc
its cheap labor is left as free to take pos
session Of our markets as if Canada were {
part of the United States. In the same
way the farming interest along the border
is crippled. The protective duty on farm
products is cut down or obliterated so tha
Canadian products can pour over the line
The Canadians receive all the advantage o
belonging to the American Union while
we get nothing in return but injury. Th'
Mckinley law was isolating Canada ant
forcing her to position where she would
be compelled to ask for political union il
order to have commercial union. The
German bill gives her all the benefits o.
commercial union 10 that she need't seek
political union at all.
". 1t establishes the odious Income
Tax. This alone is enough to condemn
it. 1t is repugnant to all American in
stincts and traditions. The unpopularir.
of such tax is very far from being limite'
to those who pay it. 1t extends to 81
who are compelled to make returns and t.
subject themselves to the inquistorial ant
offensive exactions of the law. Still mor'
it extends to all who OBJECT to class dis
tinctions in our country. 1t is not pre-
tended that this obnoxious tax will pre-
duce more than SIS. 900, 900 ofrevsnue. Al
additional fifteen cents on whiskey or fift
cents on beer would have realized tina
amount and nobody would hsye felt it
To institute all the spying machinery fol
so small result is 3 crime against Ameri
can manhood.
| v. Finally it specially serves the Suga
and Whiskey Trusts, and imposes heav.
burden upon the people. Through thu
bonding provision the Whiskey Trust
enabled to make millions. The colossa
bonus to the Sugar Trust is already famil
lar to the country. At the same time tn
people will be compelled to pay over $50,
900, 900 more year for one of the dali.
necesssries of life. If all that is claimed
for free wool and other reductions wer
true, as it is not, it would not compensate
, the people for the tax on sugar alone. TIL
The crime of this bill is immeasurable.-
Press.