The Coconino weekly sun. [volume] (Flagstaff, Ariz.) 1891-1896, 1896-02-20
THE FIRST GUN.
Gov. Mckinley Responds to a
Toast at a Chicago Banquet.
-, strikes the Key Note of the Approach.
ing Campaign-Tarifr Declared to
n. the Vital Issue In National
Poiitics.

coIn. February IL, whlch was largely
o,,ended. Among the distinguished
sneakers was ex-Gov. Mckinley, Of
ohio who responded to the toast
abraham Lincoln"
After giving a comprehensive sketch
and tribute to Lincoln, in which allu-
sion was made to the principal events
in his life, Maj Mckinley devoted him.
self TO a consideration of current po-
Ii,ical questions, as exemplified by the
sreeches and writings Of Mr.. Lincoln.
He said:
Aprofound common sense is the best genius
,r craftsmanship and there is no substitute
Tor IT, Lincoln is certainly the most sagaci ous
and far seeing statesman in the annals OF
American history. His whole life justiles this
estimate OF him. 1t Is notable that this stand
on public questions in his earlier, US well Us
his latter career stamp him as the wisest ex-
moment OF political truths We have ever had
Witnessing the government as we do to-day.
with its debt-increasing. bond-issuing, gold
depicting misunderstanding, low-tarifi policy,
with what mighty force the words Of Lincoln,
written more than half q century ago, come to
US in this hour and emergency! They read as
II written for the living present, not for the
P'' Abraham Lincoln on the Tariff.
Why do you know, that as far back as March
llSi3 at q whig meeting in Springfield Mr..
Lincoln offered series Of resolutions relating
10 the tariff. which could we'll be accepted here
tonight? They were then instantly and unan-
irousy adopted and Mr.. Lincoln was himself
appointed 10 prepare an address to the people
OF the state upon the subjects which they en-
braCed Let me read from this address his
profound observations upon tariff and taxation
amt their relation to the condition Of the coun-
try:
The first OF our resolutions" said Mr.. Lin
coin, declares q tariff of duties upon foreign
importationS, producing sufficient revenue for
the support Of the general government, and so
adjusted as to protect American industry, to
be iudiSpenSaOly necessary to the prosperity
Of the American people and the second de-
care> direct taxation for q national revenue to
be improper. For several years past the rev.
enueS Of the government have been unequal to
its expenditures, ana consequently loan after
loan, sometimes direct and sometimes indirect
in form. has been resorted to. BY this means
new national debt has been created, and Is
still growing on US with rapidity only reason
ably TO be expected in time Of war. This state
Of things has been produced by q prevailing
unwillingness either to increase the tariff or
10 resort to direct taxation. But the one
or the other must come. Coming expenditures
must be met and the present debt must be
paid, and money cannot always be borrowed
for these objects The system Of loans is but
temporary in its nature and must soon explode.
Il is system not only ruinous while 1t lasts
but one that must soon fail and leave US desti-
tute. As an individual who undertakes to live
by borrowing soon finds his original means de-
voured by interest, and, next, no one left TO
borrow from, so must it be with the govern
Delt
Direct and Indirect Taxation.
I'VE repeat, then, that a tariff suficient for
revenue, or a direct tax, must soon be reSorted
10 and, indeed, we believe this alternative is
now denied by no one But which system shall
be adopted? Some Of our opponents in theory,
admit the propriety OF tariff SUFFICIENT for
revenue: but even they will not in practice
vote for such tariff while others boldly ad-
yOcate direct taxation. Inasmuch. therefore,
as some Of them boldly advocate direct taxa
ton, and all the rest-or SO nearly all as to
make exceptions needless-refuse to adopt the
tariff We think it doing them no injustice to
class them all as advocates Of direct taxation.
Indeed, we believe they are only delaying
an open avowal Of the system, till they can as
sure themselves that the people will tolerate
it Let us then briefly compare the two sys-
tens The tariff is the cheaper system be-
cause the duties, being collected In large par
GELS at few commercial points, will re-
QuIre comparatively few officers in their coll
lection while by the direct tax system the
ana coIIoo,ors ,,oin, ,or,h ,,ra swarm. n,
Fgrr,ian Ionrs,s dayonr,n, oyerv hiode n,
srass ava otba, n,.an ,h;nns
m, ,his s,.a,e,r rsn ,'.o,o,,tu., ,ho WAN
vho cor,or,s h;rnS.,, ~ Ito ,',or ,bo nroanc,.
o,biS DUN corn,rv ,,,,s no,hina n, al, Snrsiv
ou- co,n,rr 10 ax,aps;va annmah IVA ,,s nrod,
ucts ob,,nd,n, ana yariod oronah 70 anSwar al,
tho rsoi wan,S -, i,s neonIa IN snor, hv the
nro,ec,iro s,a,or, ~ huraar =, ravanna ,ails
aInnoe, on,ira,v - ~ ,sa,,hv ona I,rnrj-
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mos .o aU,i,aIr ,r a'0' "AN NP'A A''
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poro,a, .,rio,,, - c;,'sa 80 os.isa ~,
nc 49, ~ 49,, ~ ,t e. ,,I
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roDd IT, In 80 as.assion =, ME
borya hia n. . sne ~. =, - ho
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BAH w.. .ta 90 na @ 49,, ~ 4. =, -
Se,er,,inod ,na,t Snesu '.e"s W. s'u,s ~.
tbe 80 - st we ~. oui opp nss
ny w 'Ao
Inc flatrorm OF 1870.
Perhaps it was not entirely accidental that
these views Of Mr.. Lincoln found almost liter
aIexpression in the republican national plat
form OF 1861. Nor is 1t strange that this year,
as In 1880, no chart is needed to mark the re-
publican position upon this great economic
question. The whole world knew year In ad-