The herald., 1894-09-04
THE SINGLE TAKERS.

Iho proceedings at the Meeting of the
Club Last Night
A large, intelligent and very enthusi
aetic audience attended the single tn,
meeting last evening at Unity church
Alter the announcement that Rev. R
M. Webster would address the mex
meeting and the audience had listened
to brief but lucid explanation of the
ningle tax philosophy by M. w. Conk.
ling, the trial OF the case entitled The
People va. The Tariff was opened. Col.
Will A. Harris addressed the jury (the
audience) for the people in a scathing and
eloquent speech, insisting that protec.
tlonism was un-American, unjust and q
robber. Gov. Gosper spoke for the
defense, contending eloquently and with
deep earnestness that his client was not
only innocent of the crime of robbery,
but was genuine blessing, to whom
ths people OF this country larg ely owe
their great prosperity. Both speeches
and alec Col. Harris' closing plea were
greatly enjoyed and heartily applauded.
President Ralph E. Hoyt, acting as
judge in the case, delivered instructions
to the jury, the more salient points in
which were the following:
On ibehalf of the prosecution I give YOU
these instructions: II the jury believe that the
tariff is a tax that it is an unnecessary tax
that unjust taxation is robbery, such belief will
point toward conviction. If the jury further
believe tnat no moral law yet discovered justi-
fies a civil government in i'm mposing burdens ON
one class OF cilizers for the benefit of another
the accused"
On behalf OF the defendant the court gives
you these Instructions: If the jury be ieve
from the evidences that tariff is not q tax on
the people, and that il it is a tax the foreigner
pays it any how, so that the American psopIa
are never nurt or hit by 1t; and that it is wise,
just noble and pIaseworthy for great nation
IKE the United States TO compel other nations
TO pay our tariff tax for the privilege of trading
with us; that u tax Is sometimes not a tax; that
spade, though generally spade, may under
certain conditions be something else-as for
example, pitchfork or a rat-trap-if the Jury
believe these things, you should give the ac-
cused the benefit OF such belief, even though
at the risk OF exposing yourselves to the charge
offmbecility.
II the jury further believe, as urged by coun-
sel for the defense. that protective tariff is
the will OF God enacted into law, they should
unhesitatingly acquit the accused, and the
court will thereupon issue bench warrants for
the arrest of all persons engaged in this prose-
oution, on charge of entering into a conspir-
scy to de teat a decree OF the Almighty
III the jury believe hat protectionism stimuli
taneously makes the Eame goods dearsr for the
seller ana cheaper for the buyer that men
who can safely be trusted to trade with each
other at pleasure, and without legal restraint
within the boundaries of the United States,
cannot be safely trusted to exchange ploduc's
across en- International line; then the jury
should acquit
And if the jury further believe that inteli-
gent people, VINO carry on interstate commerce
cessfulIy, become imbecies and need the
inter ,entlon of paternal government tn mo-
ment they begin to engage in International
defenJsnnf1 the inrv should find verdict for tl,~
Ii the Jury believe that the trading instinct
in man is a wicked and dangerous Instinct,
which ought to be muzzied by legislation; II
you believe that custom houses are schools OF
morality rather than temples OF perjury, you
nay acquit the accused. II you believe that
though freedom IS natural and right and trade
is natural and right, il these two factors in
civilization we're permitted TO come tOgel her so
as to actually conatitule free trade the results
would be disastrous to the business interests OF
the country-if you believe these things you
should find verdict for ihe defendant.
The jury should consider wneher sfte' all
industry is aided by being robbed, even though
the robbery is perpetratea under the foIms OF
leSSna tfon.s bears 'ne s0i'' sweet name-p'0'e0-
II the ju-y believe that the trading Instinct
in man Ia rs natural and useful when applied to
international commerce as when exercised te-
tween sthtes, counties and communities; III
you believe every iufraction of the natural
laws of trade by legislation tends to burden in
dustry, increase poverty, and make mockery
of justice; and that ths defendant in this case
is beyond reasonable doubt guilty of insti-
eating, aiding, abetting, in any manner en-
couragiDg such a scheme, you must convict
If the jury believe, with a large aud rapidly
increasing class of political economttts that the
general government. as well as each local gov
ernment, could draw all needfu revenue from
lan1 values irrespective of improvem ants,
and thus dispense with tariff taxes and all
other taxes on producton-that fact must be
considered as int9nsifyidg the henious ness of
the crime with which the defendant stands
charged.
And fnally, If You acquit the defendant you
will simply say in your verdict, mot gui tyr
il you conv ct you sh ould say, guilty, in man.
ner and form charged In the Indictment"
And you will also fix the punishment of the
accused, which must include a restoration of
the twenty lone billion dollars or more of VIII ch
he has robbed the peo pie, and confinement at
hard lator in the most accessible penentisry
for period OF not less than nine thousand
years. You can record your verdict at the
polls on the 9th day of November next
And the court tkes this occasion to say that
whatever be the resu CT this trial ] earnestly
hope the American people will ere long he
come wise snough to discover that true nation
oil prosperity can never be reached through the
thorny road of crooked taxation; that they will
adopt q system of raising public revenue which
taxes nothing save the monopoly of natural
opportunities which wilt encourage industry,
restore to the dislnherited their natural inher-
itance, remove ali legislative barriers between
land and labor, and recognize the inalienabe
right Of every man to all that his own efforts
honestly produce
The court now stands adjourned.