Evening journal., 1894-05-15
THANK You. eeNrLEMEN /

We are pleased, rather than displeased,
at the efforts Of the protectionist papers
TO show the connection between the
protective tariff legislation and the
trusts.
We should be glad TO have them prove
as conclusively as may be, that certain
Senators ana certain members of the
House have made direct bargains with
the agents Of the trusts II they can
prove that the sugar trust subscribed
FIRST $40. 600 TO each Of the campaign
committees, all we'll and good That is
so much proof of the interest that the
trusts have in political affairs.
Now, what interest could the trusts
have in political aff,irsg What interest
could the .tusts have in the success Of
either party, except that of defense
against any action that might be taken
to abolish the trusts, or the interest in
further protective or beneficiary legisla-
tion2
The sugar trust could not have any
political or charitable interest in the sue
cess of either party. The sugar trust
could not care whether the politics of the
country were Democratic or Republican
The only interest that 1t could have would
be- necessarily. for defense or fora bribe
We should be glad to asst st the pro-
tectlonist papers to prove either But they
profess to be able to do more than that
and assert that the sugar trust paid a
half million Of dellars into the Demo
cratic campaign fund under the arrange
mont that the protective tariff of the
trust would not be disturbed They
state that there was an agreement to this
effect between the agents of the trust
and the members Of the Democratic
committee. We should be very glad to
have that proved, or at least more gener-
ally believed.
II that can be proved about the sugar
trust, what would have prevented that
same trust from paying half million Of
dollars into the treasury of the Repub
lican campaign committee in 1883. in
order to secure the one half cent protec-
tive tariff from which the trust has
realized an annual bounty Of about
$4,000 600 since July. 1891.
From this muEificent bounty which
has amounted to more than $50 600, 600
the trust could have very readily spared
a half million to both parties. II it gave
to one we have no doubt that it gave TO
the other. But that is no matter. We
should like it proved that the one half
million dollars was paid into the treasury
of the Democratic committee. for II they
do prove that, it must necessarily follow
that all the great trusts have similar
interests in common, and il they offer
bribes to the Democratic committee they
must have done the same with the
Republican committee. That proof be-
Ing satisfactory, then the people will
understand that the trusts are interested
in paying both parties FOR legislation
which they expect to get, or for legisla
tion which they have got.
1t is no mat ter which. In either case
It proves that the interest Of the trusts
and the interests of the people
are inimical for when the trusts have
not protective tariff to satisfy their
greed, they pay one or the other party or
both parties to give IL to them.
Proving this, our protective friends
will prove what we have so frequently
asserted. what we know to be the fact,
what they know to be the fact and have
been unwilling TO confess, namely; that
the protective tariff is robbery. The
people are robbed, one-half a cent on
sugar in order that the trust may obtain a
bounty Of Sl3,OOO.OOO year and give Of
that immense sum the psltry bribe Of
one half million dollars TO each one OF