The morning call., 1894-10-30

made use of this EXPRESSION. namely: "For
this year politics is business and business Is
politics.
This is Indeed a most extraordinary senti-
ment, and one which deserves analysis at
this time. The idea which Mr.. Mckinley In
tends to convey to the people Is tnat, III
some form or another, money is to be made
out of politics. L repudiate any such sentl-
ment as demoralizing and as repugnant
10 the spirit of our form of government.
He wants us TO understand that money can be
made out of the tariff, and that hence the tarlh
should be encouraged, increased and redou-
bled. The fatal error In his position lies iq the
fact that he entirely ignores the constitutional
purpose of a tariff and the nature OF its true
function. Tariffs should not be imposed TO en-
able any class of people to make money out.
OF their provisions. because tariffs are taxes
imposed upon imports under the genera
power of Congress 10 impose taxes
for the support of the Government He ignores
the fact, now thoroughly understood by the
American people, that the tariff is tax aud
although the importer pays the tax in the hiSt
instance, it is, as a general rule, eventually
paid by the consumer, and no man. no class,
no people can legitimately make money out OF
takes imposed strictly for the purpose OF bene-
fitting certain industries.
1t Is unwise; yes, 1t is demagogy itseIt to
teach the people that this is paternal Govern
menJ and that money can properly be made by
mixing business with politics. Mr.. Mchlnley's
sentiment is vicious one ami should be dis
c0untenaneed by every rignt-thinklng citizen.
Taxation, whether tariff or other taxation,
should not be made the instrument OF enrlchlng
people and cannot be well made such unless Ii
is abused distorted and diverted from its
constitutional purpose. There is no mistak-
ing Mr. Mchney'S true meaning, because In
the same acknowledgements ii by announcing
that in Louisiana the sugar producers proposed
$40 vote for their own business" over whlch he
is much retoiced. lie conceals the true reason
why tile sugar producers in Louisiana propose
10 desert lbe Democratic party and that Is be-
cause in The NV Democratic tariff bill The
sugar bountles which were provided to be paid
in the Mckinley bill, and which amount
70 between seven and fifteen mill
ions annually, taken from the common treasury
of the people, have been repealed. In other
words he seems TO approve the doctrine that
every person should receive some profit from
the legislation, or else should take no interest
in political legislation. This is narrow,
selfish and a dangerous view of public
ana Of private duty. The great cham
plon of protection fails to see that
if sugar producers in Louisiana desert the
Democratic rarity because they are not given
the privilege of receiving millions of dollars of
bountes from the General Government, then
other citizens may discover that their true
interests have been subserved by the repeal OF
the sugar bounties, and may conclude 10 join
the Democratic party by reason of that fact.
No wonder he expresses great anxiety that
people shall vote quickly this fall. but he dOes
not want them TO deliberate, as reflection will
show the falacy of his argument.
James Lindsay Gordon and Charles
T racy also spoke briefly.