Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1896-01-24
THEY WERE FOOLED ONCE

AMERICAN WORKING PEOPLE WILL
NOT VOTE FOR MORE TAXES.
Taught by tho DepIorablo Results Of
McKinlcyism, They VIII Not Care
to Repeat the Ruinous Expert
mcnt of Irust-BreedIng, Panic
Producing High Tariff.
In an editorial prediction of the
speedy restoration of the Mckinley
tariff, the New York Press says: "The
Woodworking people have had les.
son. What they want now, and want
quick, is more taxes the sort OF
taxes which tho Democratic Congress
lifted-taxes on imports"
The working people of the United
States have not always been alive to
their best interests, and have too often
allowed themselves to be deluded into
voting for policy of high taxation
which enriched trusts at their ex.
pense. For thirty years the country
tried tariff system by which enor.
nous taxes were imposed on every.
thing the classes consume, thus prac,
ticaily cutting down their wages to the
extent of the duties. Years of pain.
tul experience under tho workings oil
hlgh-tariff monopolies finally taught
the workers wisdom, and in 1890 and
1892 they decided by great majority
that protection was fraud and rob
berry.
But the awakening had como too
late to save the people from tho CON
sequences of their own folly. The re.
suits of over. taxation were felt in the
last two years of McKinloyism, when
panic, ruin and bankruptcy desolated
the land. Closed mills and factories,
IDLE men, reduced wages and wide.
spread business stagnation testified to
the Injurious effects of tho trade re-
ttriction policy.
> Although the Democrats wero given
command of robbed and scuttled
craft they set manfully to work to re.
pair the damage caused by the long
period of Republican misrule. The
Democratio. Congress repealed the Nc.
Ainley law and adopted IL tariff which
made largo reductions in the taxes on
articles of necessity, and gave free raw
materials to important Industries. At
ouco business revived; manufacturing
establishments long closed down
started up again; ut least million
workers had their wages increased
from five to twenty per cent, and in
plnce OF the Mckinley panic the coun-
try is now enjoying n period of low
tariff prosperity.
These are the facts in regard to the
dep'crable condition of the country
under protection, and the great i'm
provement which has followed the en-
nctmens of II moderate tariff law. Yet
the Press has the importienco to as-
sumo to speak for the American work
ing People, and to say that they went
more taxes-taxes on imports. Do
they? Do they want taxes put bnoll
on wco', from which they were taken
bytho Wilson tariff? Do they want
heavier taxes an clothing and blank
cts, III order to compensate wooden
manufacturers for the increased cost
OF their raw material? Do they want
more taxes on food and On lumber,
glass, nails and other materials for
houses? DO they want repetition of
their experience when tho Mckinley
law WAS adopted, and higher taxes re-
suited in higher prices all around? II
they do not want to return to the pol
icy OF high taxation TREY have tho
power to do so. But it cannot DO Dos
siblc that they will ever again be
fooled into voting for more taxes and
less work.