The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1894-09-22
Letters from the People.

The Democratic shibboleth on which
their many supporters have relied Ia
equal rights to all. special privileges
to none." In theory grander senti-
ment was never uttered; in practice
the Democratic party with Its pledge to
free raw materials deprivee the laborer
who produces these raw materials Of biz
equal rights to earn good wages. and
grants to the consumer special prive-
leges by an exemption from taxation on
these raw materials. thereby giving the
purchaser Of human labor in Its frst
stage Of wealth production an enormous
advantage. for they buy labor in an
open market. on equal terms with the
foreign. 0vercrowded and underpaid Ia.
Dor. Then for revenue only they place
the finished product Of the above raw
materials, on the Tariff list. presenting
the anomaly Of poor pay for the original
producer of wealth and high pay for the
manufacturer. distributor. and capita
list.
The Republican party knowing fully
we'll the impracticability Of these So
called free trade theories. divide the peo.
pie into two classes viz; producer and
consumer. In order that all may share
the burden equally. the consumer Is
taxed. 40 as every one Is . consumer,
none escape the burden Of taxation. BY
this means the whole Eve fifths Of the
population contribute to support OF The
Government. To fully understand this
Il must be known that two f3fths Of the
voting population are producers and
three flfths. non-producers Of original
wesith In the shape Of raw materials.
Some Of the three 6fths are aids to the
original wealth producer. al follows the
professional scientists who direct labor.
tho capitalists who furnish the money.
the transportation people who add value
by their services. and the merchant who
invests. stores, and distributes the pro-
duet. In the case Of wool. cotton. wheat.
corn, ETC.. which is not In an available
form for immediate consumption. the
Manufacturer. his arteeans and laborers
add value by their labor to the raw ma.
terial and are legitimate wealth produ-
GERS. Now these people are all honest
laborers giving value for what they get
In the shape Of wages. profits. dividends
and wealth. To encourage these honest
producers to apply their Drawn. brain
and capital is the mission Of the Repu-
blican party in these United States Of
American. TO do this tariff is levied
with the avowed suppose Of protecting
them. So the case Is clear that all pro-
ducers and their allies the trade. tran
sportation. manufacturers. and indus
trial scientists. are rendering honest va
lue for fair pay and are or should be
protectionists. Those who wish to buy
cheap. depriving American labor OF no
nest dues are free traders. All Agricul-
turalists are better able to pay protec.
ted prices, II their rice and sugar Is pro-
tected than they would he il rice and
sugar we're free and they were able to
buy cheaper. II 1t were that the total
Of a producer's earnings were exchanged
for other articles OF another producer on
a fair basis. then free trade would be all
right. But the American producer wants
and demand a surplus as provision
against old age and other contingencies.
Besides which faithful labor. with usual
care and prudence should be able to
store sufficient wealth to exempt from
daily toll after moderate term OF years.
This he can and will do II he gets a fair
price for his labor or ito products. On
the other hand free raw materials will
only surffice for his daily maintenance
and leave no surplus for acquiring a
home. competence, or any provisions
against old age and want. The honest
producing toilers want fair pay. The
non-producing consumers want cheap
goods. II goods are cheap labor ia
cheap. These questions deserve careful
consideration and your choice made.
vote on the National issues as here pre-
sented. Hoping this to be clear to all.