The herald., 1895-11-26
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20. 1905
THE I1noRALtTY OF pRorEcTIoNIsM

If tie Democratic party wonld win in
the election TO be held year hence, il
must take radical ground on the tariff
question-and stick to it, 1t must declare
as one of its fundamental principles that
government has no right to levy and
collect taxes for any purpose other than
to meet the necessities of the government.
II must distinctly declare that the gov
eminent shall not put its hands in the
pockets OF all the people for the benefit
OF few, and that such legislation is rob-
berry none the less because sanctioned by
laws and traditions. Viewed simply IS a
fiscal measure, and from the standpoint
of sound policy, protective tariff is bad
enough; but when viewed IN its moral
aspect it is absolutely hideous. In a pop
ular government there never can be pur-
ity in politics while prices are raised and
lowered by acts of congress. II business
mon lOok TO congress to provide better
prices for their goods, OF course business
men will use every effort TO secure the
election of congressman who will legis-
late specially foi them. They will in
vest their money and their influence in 4
high tariff party with the same business
when investing in stocks, bonds, patents,
or anything else that gave promise of
bringing them satisfactory returns. No
intelligent person can doubt that invest
ments in congressman for personal rev.
enue to tho investors breed corruption,
immortality. and long train of evils
which pcrmeate all branches of trade
and commerce. The average business
man is not saint and though he may
be fairly honest and good in other walks
OF life, he is very likely to become un-
sorupulous after having once yielded to
the temptation to form a partnership
with congressman who are ready to talk
and vote for protectIonsm.
A protective tariff is q most effective
dem oralizer of the people. 1t rests upon
a foundation of injustice. seliishness and
greed. 1t is not used for raising revenue
to meet public necessities, but indirectly
to produce revenue for private Golfers.
High tariffs make low morale. The
frmer the grip obtained by protection
ism upon the people, the less are the peo-
pie inclined or qualified to obs erve the
golden rule in business transactions.
Protectionsm is debaucher of politics,
n corrupter of public morals, robber OF
industry, a despoiler OF labor's earnings,
and clog upon the wheels of progress.
The plea that the protective system ere
ates and develops infant industries
has become threadbare and will no longer
deceive the masses to the extent that it
has deceived them in times past. Nor is
it now so easy for the cha m pons of spe-
cial privilege in the form of high tariffs
wage workers with the hypocritical
statements that such tariffs insure high
prices for the products of the one class
and high wages for the labor of the
other class. The farmer or the wage
worker who has not by this time learned
that such talk is the vcriest rot must be
so hopelessly stupid that the ballot is out
of place in his hands.
The Democracy is sound on the money
question, and there is no reason to doubt
that its national convention Will take the
right nosition i'll regard to money. But
the tariff question is Likely to be the
leading issue in the campaign, especially
il, as is probable, Mckinley becomes the
Republican standard pearsr. With a
bold, clear, unequivocal declaration
against special privilege, and for equal
rights in accordance with the doctrines
OF Thomas jefferson, the Democracy can
60 into the cam paign with honest enthu.
siasm and more than q good chance to
win the fight.