The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-09-07
HARTER TO FARMERS.
Tie Chic Congressman InvetGhs
Against Protection.

Against Protection.
AUBURN, n. Y, Sept g. = Democratic
day at the county fair brought out so3d
attendance Governor Flower and Con-
gressman NJ. ID. Harter, of Ohio. We're tae
orators. Mr.. Harter said. IN part:
The tariff question is purely question
of taxation, and the principles whlcn SoF-
equally to it, In other words. all taxation
is buTdens0Elc and an eVli generally o. no
small proportions 1t Is, however. a neces-
sary evil and a rule II gives reasonable
corrpensa ton for it's existence IL is the
price of government, as IL represents tne
cost of protecting the people or state or
nation in their rights of person and prop
erty Taxation, then, is the price Of gov
ernulent and unless we approve or paying
more than we need for what we buy IN our
private capacities, we should, as lnteiligent
citizens, object to paying any more taxes
than required 10 defray the actuh
necessary cost of government Tarin tax
ation Is naturally very unjust thing, mas
much as it is collected upon what we con-
sumo and not upon wealth, capital or wnat
we have accumulated. Under this system
a very poor man with a large family woult
paw a larger sum for the support OF his
government than very rich man naVlns
no family This is an indictment which al
ways lies against any form OF tarin TAXA
ton"
Continuing Mr.. Harter said that a tariff
for revenue puts the saddle on the wrong
horse. as il taxes the outgo of family in
stead of the income Protection he charac-
terized as a gross perversion of our Amer
lean idea of government. and said that II
the laws aid should be invoked to either
advance or reduce prices Ii should invari-
ably be used to reduce them IL would be
unjust to the producer. but it would help
many consumers while a protective tarih
iniures all consumers to the advantage OF
the producers alone. Mr. Harter continuedi
Those nations which have the lowest TAR
ifs are the richest and most prosperous.
and nations which have tried both systems
have grown in wealth faster under the low
tariff taxes than under high tariff bur-
dens. Manufacturing must thrive more IN
low tariff countries or in any country
where its system approaches free traae
than when IL follows protection lines. 1ne
rewards of labor must be larger under q
low tax system than where the theory or
protection is permitted tos interfere with
natural conditions. .
The speaker then compared the conol-
tions in free-trade England with those ex-
listing In high-tarif Germany, showing tnat
the English worker received higher wages
and supplies his wants at lower cost than
his brethren in Germany. After reviewing
free-tra6e ard tariff legislation. Mr.. Herter
concluded: "To sum up, IL may be fairly
said that in producing prosperity and
wealth our experiences In the past shows
that free trade is doubly effective as
protection, and when We consider that our
taxes under protection average almost
three times as much under free trade.
say only twice as much, We come 10 tno
quick and safe conclusion mat free trade
Is four times as desirable for all our peo-
pie as protection. and Ii follows that every
| man of sense ana patriotism should vote
| four times with the party which Is charged
| with favoring free trade before he votes
once with the advocates OF protection