The herald., 1896-04-20
A NON.POLITICAL TARIFF

Exery now and then there is an out
break of the sentiment in favor of "tak-
ing the tariff out Of politics." The idea
of non-political tariff is again being
agitated. 1t is an idea entertained
by people who have given no thought
to the subject of taxation and have no
conception Of the relation taxation OF
necessity bears to politics.
Taxation is essentially a political sub
ject The power of taxation is the
most important delegated government
and upon a just exercise of that power
a great deal depends. Through unjust
taxation labor can be deprived of en-
ployment, enterprise be thwarted, thrift
discouraged, and the wealth produced
by the exertions of the many be made
the property of the few. Unjust, un-
natural systems of taxation are more
responsible for the social inequalities
that exist today than all other causes
combined. So long as the burdens OF
taxation are unfairly distributed, Oh
that the power of taxation is used as an
engine of oppression or facility for
the making of one man rich with the
product of another mans labor, taxa
tion will be the subject of political con-
troversy. The only way to take the
tariff out of politics is to take it out Of
existence.
There is a good deal of sound sense in
what the Kansas City Star says in the
following editorial about the, scheme of
4 non-political tariff Says the Star:
The proposition TO take the tariff ques-
tion out of politics has always been an al
Turing one and consequently the proposed
non-political tariff conyention Sn ,l to be held
object of interest There is no special rea-
son why the tariff question should be taken
out OF politics any more than any other
eliminated from the contention among
political parties But a good many people
have been advocating the notion of divorc-
ing economic questions from party. con-
eideration for number of years, and con-
siderable sentiment in favor of the idea ex-
fists among thoughtful men.
The tariff issue ought not to be revived
nj this time for the reason that the present
tariff law affords a sufficient solution of the
problem for the present, and the needless
agitation Of the question doranges bust
ness and retards the progress of returning
prosperity: But it is not certain that the
object will be promoted by holding non
political tariff convention in Detroit in
May. On the contrary it may be assumed
with absolute confidence that If such n
convention wastes its time in presenting
meaningless platitudes in the form OF
speeches or resolutions eulogistic of tariff
taxation, but deprecatory of present con-
eideration of the subject, it will accomplish
nothing. The tariff question can neither he
brought into nor taken out of politics in
that way The practical people OF this pro-
gressive country want something more
substantial
The hest way to take the tariff question
out of politics would be to defeat the nom
1nation of Major Mckinley in the ST Louis
convention next June. That would serve
notice to the politicians and party man
ayers that the tariff question, is not to be
made paramount by the Republican mart "
and that. in the Judgment of the people
It IL inexpedient and unwise to renew the
agitation. The nomination of Mckinley
would mean an attempt at the restoration
Of McKin1eyism and such attempt involves
the continuance of the tariff question in
politics and the agitation Of the subject