St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-03-12
THE LOGIC OF IT

THE LOGIC OF 1T.
We have taken occasion on sew
eral occasions to point out the in
separable and always injurious con-
nection between tariffs and business,
and have set in contrast the serenity
of all business under the operation
of the direct system Of taxation
which collects annually several
times the amount derived from Gus
toms. We have done this, believing
that when the business and indus
trial world fully realized the injury
to it of the one and the benefit of
the other it would demand the abo-
lition of the one and the adoption
of the other with a unanimity and
energy that would be irresistible.
We have not noticed in the press
of the country any concurrence in
our views on this topic directly ex-
pressed, but the adjournment with
out day of the Fifty-third congress
has given a practically unanimous
expression to opinions that can have
no other grounds than those on
which we rest our judgment. 1t is
denounced by one set for having
paralyzed industry by reducing the
tariff at all, and on the other hand
for not having reduced it more. An
other class profess a thankfulnesS
that no further tariff legislation is
possible for some months, and even
for some years, and one and all tao
lily admit the miSchievouS and in
furious relations of tariff taxation
to the business interests of the coun-
try. While thus thinking they have
not either the capacity to see the
logic of their position or the courage
to avow the convictions it forces on
them.
Among the papers which acknowI-
edge the facts on which we rest our
opinion, but which refuse to accept
the logic of these facts, is our es-
teemed contemporary, the Pioneer
Press. Possibly it's admissions are
made unconscious of their bearings,
and of the direction they lead in,
and, like others of it's party, when
it discovers how far it has wan
dered away from the trodden paths,
1t will gather UP it's skirts and scui'ry
back in hot haste to the orthodox
fold. But we will not be so I'M
grateful as to question it's motives
as long as it is pounding into the
heads of its readers the primal facts
from which they will in good time
evolve correct conclusions.
1t has come to pass, no matter
how" says our sometimes candid
contemporary, "that the fear of the
legislative body is the most con-
slant and destructive apprehension
that spreads itself over our business
life. The success of business de-
ponds upon stability of conditions
more than on all other things to-
gether. What business wants
is to be let alone. Prohibitorv
tariffs or free trade schedules (sic)
are less obnoxious than duties which
may alternate from day to day. :.
NOW Tor nine months we will have
stable conditions. The tariff, the
currency, cannot be altered in that
time. A man may make a contract,
and know that the terms of it will
remain unchanged for a year. It is
simple thing that business asks;
only TO be let alone. 1t will have
that privilege, at least for a little
while
NOW what is the conclusion to be
drawn from this candid statement
OF facts by this supporter of tariffsp
Is it not that the tariff and the CIR
rency are both inseparably con-
nected with business? That any
change in either must be reflected in
business disturbance? That as long
as the government enacts tariffs or
issues currency there will come these
periods of doubt, anxiety, disturb
ance, loss, with every recurring ses-
SION? NO tariff is stable; they never
nave been and never will be. Even
when laid simply for revenue thew
are changeful. And as long as the
pern1clous doctrine prevails that it
is junction of the government to
supply money, there will always be
those clamoring for change, for more
or less money.
And what is the only possible and
sensible conclusion as to the rem
edy? What but the complete aboIi-
ton Of the taxing system so in
herently attached to business. and
the substitution of one which. in
operation in the states, affects busi-
ness not at all? What but the abso-
lutte retirement of the government
from all relations with the currency
save those of supervision, with a
view solely to its solvency? Had the
united States pursued the wise pol
Icy lnaugurated by McCulloch of re-
firing the greenback; had it refused
to engage in holding up silver: had
1t iberalized and extended the ma
tlonal banking act, and RENTED to
private enterprise the supply of pa
| per money, there would be no gold
reserve, no silver panic, and the CIV
clone OF So would not have reached
our shores. Had there been no tariffs
that panic would not have been ag-
graVated by apprehension of changes.
| uncertainty as to their nature and the
mating Of the processes of produc-
ton until the change was made. The
business world is slow in grasping
the ultimate facts, and we are glad
OF the aid of the Pioneer Press in
! bringing to business men an appre-
cation of the facts that lie behind
the mists of partisanry.
TRIED ONCE AND FAILED.