The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1894-06-20

the pople now own "a per cent of the
wealth, The 1000 multi-millionaires In the
United States own over $EOOO,VO,OOO OK
wealth. which is so per cent more wealth
than the 600 members OF the wage
working class own. The corporations Of
the country own one-half of all the wealth
in the country, the railway corporations
owning one-sixth. In their last analysis
all federal taxes are paid by consumers
from their incomes whether these incomes
are derived from the invested capital OF the
rich or from the sale of their labor by the
poor. Shall these taxes amounting to $780,
100000 yearly continue to be exacted from
consumers without regard to their prop
erty or incomes? The corporations that
own one-half the wealth of the country do
not contribute a dollar to the support of
the general government Our 1000 multi
mfllonaires contribute only to the extent
of the tax on liquors, tobacco and import
ed wares they consume.
All the rest of us contribute to the same
extent. The only way to compel the rich
to bear their just proportion Of the bur-
dens of government Is to tax their incomes
while they live and the right of their heirs
to succeed to their possessions when they
die. In the language of Senator Sherman,
spoken in congress % years ago:
"a few years Of further experience will
convince the whole body of our people that
a system of national taxes which rests the
whole burden of taxation on consumption,
is intrinsically unjust. While the expenses
of the national government are largely
caused by the protection of property, II IS
but right to require property to contribute
to their payment
THE TARIFF
am now and always have been in favor
of so levying the tariff tax as to afford
proper protection to all the great industrial
interests Of the country, but l recognize
the fact that the time is at hand when
along with this policy of protection other
industrial and financial policies must De
adopted to prevent the tariff becoming an
instrument Of monopoly. The right to levy
a tariff tax is more nor less than the
right to fix the price of the articles upon
which it is imposed. If levied for the bene-
| fit of consumers as well as producers IL
serves the purpose for which the system
was devised but if levied to enrich special
interests at the expense of consumers it
becomes monopoly.
In this connection it is necessary to say
that unless a check is placed upon the fur"
Their immigration into the country OF for
| egn labor which completes with our own
| most Of the benefits of a protective tariff
| will be monopolized by capital
THE CONDITION OF THE COUNTRY.
The combined craftsmanship of the Re-
publican and Democratic parties has been
| able to provide remedy for the unhappy
condition of our country except another
| issue of interest bearing bonds and to sug-
gest none except the employment OF states
and federal bayonets. In my opinion there
! are other and better remedies some Of
which are outlined above. There is no hope
| of their adoption except through some po-
litical party organized for the sole purpose
| of their accomplishment Neither the Re-
| publican nor the Democratic party will ac-
complish them. believe the Peoples party
will. For that reason l will hereafter sup
if.