The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1894-06-29
DEMOCRATIC PREOlcAMENT.

Sugar. Coal. Iron. Etc. rec. and abolish
All Duties That serve only as Trust Pro-
tcrtors.
Prom present appearances the demo-
cratic party Intends 10 lose the political
race in which il expects to engage next
fall. In fact some of it, representatives
in the senate are coaching il for the
'booby' prize by loading il up with the
same ism that broke the back of the
Mckinley party in 1890 and l>9s. II is
no use for democrats 10 deny IL. The
present senate tariff bill differs from
the odious Mckinley bill only in degree.
Both are full of protection 10 trusts
which dictated them. The German
bill has the advantage in that il makes
free one or two important raw mate
rial> that were heavily taxed by Me-
kinley and in that It's protective duties
are usually not - high. though often
just H. protective. The Mckinley bill
has the advantage in that il being en-
tirely in the hands Of it, protectionist
friend>l got through congress with less
scandalou> exposure Of its liaisons with
trusts and in that il is not the result of
hypocrisy-it having never been in
tended as purely revenue bill.
A. regards the tariff features Of the
two bills il now seems quite certain
that the genuine Mckinley hill will
put up the best race. Honest men hate
hypocrites. The democratic bill. which
promised so much and realizes 50 little.
has 80 Disguised hundreds of thousands
OF free traders that they will stay at
home or vote for some third party
rather than stultify their principles by
sanctioning the hypocritical senate sur
render bill. The non-compromising
and honest tariff reform and free trade
democrats. such a, were the most Of
those who fought the hard battles Of
1890 and is92 prefer Mckinlcyism
straight if they must accept protec-
ton. to the milk and water mixture
prepared by German. Brice 4 Co. They
say rather than have another pro-
tective bill. let the Mckinley bill con-
tinue 10 work out its own damnation.
But there is one feature of the senate
bill that will go far towards saving the
party responsible for the bill. The in
come tax attached To the bill will popu
larize it in all parts of the country.
The masses of the voters undoubtedly
favor this method of collecting revenue
from those who now escape their fair
share of taxes If the voters of New
York city could have an opportunity
to express themselves on this question
they would declare with an ovcrwhelm-
ing majority in favor of an income tax.
And this in spite of the fact that New
York has about 1900 millionaires and
multi-mllionaires and that the income
tax sentiment is repres>ed by every
New York daily. except the World
This fact has become evident from sew
eral mass meetings held in New York.
One was called under the auspices of
the Reform club. to ask for the imme-
date passage of tariff reform bill
with or without an income tax.
Some of the speakers spoke for. and
others against, an income tax" The
audience demonstrated that il was
strongly in favor Of this kind of tax
alton. Another meeting. called by the
Manhattan Single Tax club, to express
indignation at the delay in the tariff
reform legislation and to ask for a
radical tariff bill. declared unani-
mouslv lexcept for four votes in favor
of resolutions declaring against all
|
come tax or some other better form of
direct taxation.
But il i not too late vet for the dem
ocratic party to redeem some of its
pledges to the people. 1t can never
make amends for its tardy action. hut
IL can wipe out the more obnoxious
and disgra ceful features of the bill. 1t
can do this in two ways. ID by so
amending the bill that il will give us
free sugar, free coal and free ores: by
replacing and increasing the number
Of ad valorem duties, and by greatly
reducing such highly protective duties
a. those on collars. cuffs and shirts on
woolens. glass. etc. (2.) by accom-
plishing this same result by separate
bills passed a. soon as this dickcr con-
trivance is out Of the way. Either Of
these plans. If carried out would give
the democrats good fighting chance
this fall with excellent prospects for
1896. III. in addition. il could pass
separate bill making the products of
many Of the leading trusts absolutely
free. its prospects of success would be
much brighter. Many duties upon
such products produce no revenue
and are retained for the sole
purpose Of protection 10 offensive trusts
and combines. Some Of these are the
steel rail, steel beam. linsccd oil,
borax. standard oil. match and agri-
cultural implement trusts. Often these
trusts sell their products cheaper
abroad than at home and depend upon
the otherwise useless duties to prevent
the transportation of their products.
Remove these obnoxious duties and put
Americans on par with foreigners in
our markets. II will be a most poph-
lar move.
Protection is becoming more and
more unpopular. 1t is on its last legs.
II is only by combination of circum-
stances such as can be brought about
only by greed and corruption that pro-
lection can possibly hold out few
years longer. The people have already
branded it as unconstitutional robbery,
and their decision will not be reversed
except by those who misrepresent and
bctray them. II the democratic legis-