St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-07-26

bears internal evidence of falSehood,
and the character of the Herald and MIR
Walsh are too well established to he
harmed by the story. The fact that il
was printed in the Times, the most dis
reputable sheet in the country. is suffi'
Client to stamp the story as a lie.
HARTER'S "RErOkM" TARIFF
Michael ID. Harter is apparently la
boring under serious mlsapprehen-
sion. 1t was reduction of taxation
that the Democratic convention. backed
by an overwhelming majority of the
people, demanded in 1892; it was not an
increase of their burdens.
1t is to be regretted that SO good. a
man as Mr.. Harter has come to the con-
clusion that higher taxes are all that is
needed to complete the happiness of the
people-that men are lying awake o.
nights scheming for opportunities which
shall afford them an excuse for turn
ing over their property, for the posses
sion or which they have struggled hard,
to the general government in order that
the horde of hungry officeholders may
live upon the fat of the land. If he en-
tertains such, an idea. Mr.. Harter has
fallen into grave error. He has taken
the best possible means, however, to
learn the true state of feeling. Tues
day he introduced a new tariff bill
which he designs as substitute for the
Mckinley act aud for the Wilson meas
ure, which has caused SO much stir of
lat 10
haDs it is; but 1t looks more like an ab-
solute and unconditional surrender of
the tariff retorlners to the protected
monopolists-a surrender that leaves
nothing for the advocates of reform to
compromise with - not even a tiny
spark of the honor some of them so fire.
Quentiy speak about. 1t is an abandon
ment OF the fortress, the arms and mu-
nitions of warfare, and even the cloth
ing of the defenders of reform, and If
approved would send them forth into
the world naked and craven. branded
with cOwardice, and bearing upon their
persons an earnest request that every
decent man should turn about and kick
them soundly, and that every dog in the
The iniquities of the Mckinley law
aroused the indignant protests of the
whole nation. The Harter bill is inf
nitely worse-a travesty upon the idea of
reform, an Insult to every reformer in
the land. 1t provides for reduction of
the duties on all imports one-half, PRO
vided such reduction does not bring
than hplOvv On mar naDf od ,,oIoraro :,
being the Intention of this act to allow
tariff tax or duty of net less than 20
per cent ad yalorem to remain upon all
articles now paying higher rate" and
ito the taxes or duties provided for in
this act there shall be added upon all
articles which. if produced or made in
the United States. would be subject to
an internal tax or duty, the amount OF
such internal tax or dnty."
Mr.. Harter is not in favor of "a free
breakfast table," He would impose a
duty or one cent pound on sugar, four
cents pound on coffee and eight cents
pound on tea. Nor is he kindly dis
posed towards "the poor mans beer"
for he would levy a tax ON that article
Of 50 a barrel. He Justifias the taxes
imposed by the remark that they will
do away with the necessity of an ill.,
come tax or an increase of the tax on
whisky. Undoubtedly the whisky
consumers and the millionaires will be
grateful TO Mr.. Harter for his kindly
consideration, but the rest of the COM
munity will be inclined to question his
right to being considered public ben
efactor.
Some of Mr.. Harter's utterances in
the past have led few to believe that
he was an earnest advocate of tariff re-
form, but this measure will dissipate
any such delusion. He out-herods
the Herod Of monopoly tariff; he
drives Mckinley into obscurity as a
pretender-a weak, nerveIess palterer.
The effect of his bill would be to in
crease taXation-in many instances to
quadruple it-upon scores of articles of
the first necessity in every home 1t
would increase the cost of supporting
every family in the land.
Ii this bill is specimen of Mr.. Har-
ter's prentice work as tart IF reforu.er
he will be wise to abandon the business.
1t is suited to the taste of every tariff
fostered monopoly in the land. For its
passage they would cheerfully bend
every energy. il there was any chance
of its being considered at all. McKin-
ley, long enthroned as the idol of pro-
lection, will have to come off his perch
and do obeisance at the feet of his more
daring and audacious rival. But honest
men and sincere advocates of reform In
our tax system will grieve to see the
prostitution of conspicuous talents to
such base uses.
Mr.. Harter mas grossly misconceived
the wishes or the American people il he
entertainS the thought that they will
entertain for moment propositions so
directly in conflict with their declared
purpose. They will scout the measure
and its author. and send both into the
obScurity they merit
THE MEETING of THE BILLS
The press dispatches noted the meet
ing in Cleveland Of eX-Gov. Merriam. os
our state, with Gov. Mckinley, of Ohio.
with that maker of matches, Alger.
present to fill out the trinity of kindred
minds. In these days when political
horticulturists are busy preparing the
ground for their boemlets and trans.
planting the tender plants from their
lighthouses 10 the open air, propping
them against rough winds and shelter.
a.,