Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1896-07-08
That St. Louis Platform.

That St. Louis Platform.
The St. Louis platform, after forcing
down the Threats of the people the
single gold standard, took up the sub
ject of Protection. 1t demanded pro-
lection for the manufacturers of this
country and tax that would meet
the expenditures of the government.
The whole platform is compressed
into these two ideas and the rest is
mere surplusage.
AS for the single gold standard the
people will speak and are speaking
every day, in denunciation of policy
that is foisted on the country by the
money power, a policy of slavery. But
there are some who cling still to the
idea that protection is blessing, and
have not yet been undeceived. 1t is
to these we wish particularly to adj
dress ourselves. In the first place we
grow in the United States great deal
more than we can consume. What
then is to become of this vast surplus2
Without a foreign trade it must rot on
our hands, or we must part with it at
such low prices as enables it to be
handled with all the burdens and re.
strictions now laid upon American
commerce.
| For whose benefit are we thus taxed!
For the manufacturer, singly and
alone. It makes no difference how
high the tariff taxes go, the laborer in
the factory is paid the same. or as
was the case during the terrible period
of the Mckinley bill his wages were
lowered, and this in the face of the
fact that his employers profits were
increased.
The only plea now for increased tar
if taxes is that the present tariff does
not yield revenue sufficient to pay
the expenses of the government. Do
orr readers know why2 Because a
Democratic congress enacted the pres
ent tariff laws, and Republican con-
gress is expanding the revenues. The
present Republican congress deliber-
ately increased the expenditures in
order that it might say just what it is
saying, and in order that the pets of
that party might be further cared for,
and enriched. But FOR the most Grim
inal waste, the present tariff laws
would raise ample revenue, Mr..
Cleveland vetoed some of the extrava,
CANT appropriation bills, but congress
passed them over his head.
If the people of the country could
once realize the extent to which thew
are taxed and uselessly taxed they
would rise in their might and DESTROY
those who Cypress them. There is our
National tax, our State tax, our county
tax, our city tax, which if not paid at
once is enforced by selling the stove
out OF our kitchen, the bed upon which
we sleep. and the house over our
heads. When lawmakers spend the
money wrung from labor by such
inquisitional methods they should be
held to the strictest account, and
when one cent of it is wasted thew
should know that such waste is rob
berry and shonld be treated according
ly.
What is left the farmer after he has
paid these enormous, and multiplied
taxes2 Nothing but another years
struggle, to gather sufficient to paw
them again, when the tax collector
haunts his humble abode Let the
people therefore arise to that intelli. |
gent point in human experience.
when they know that nobody but a |
cheat or fraud prays to be taxed, any
more than he does to have his back
acerated with cowhide; that when
party goes before the country, beg
cling the government to tax the peo-
pie, no matter how much good it NAV
'laIm will be wrought thereby, they
who beg to be SO taxed, that some
imaginary blessing may follow, are
lars. schemers, and hyprocites. Those
Who beg to be taxed. know the burden
will not be borne by them. and thew
re praying for taxation only because
hey know it will enrich them at the
Expense of the unsuspecting.
Let this one great truth be ALWAYS
orne in mind: No country ever grew
lch or prosperous by taxation, but
hat taxation is often robbery, and
reeds more discomfort. poverty, and
ar than all else combined. Ii
THE Fredericksburg Star wants to
now what the "devil'' Staunton
cans by having an ordinance which
'mpels the payment by any one of a t
sense tax of $500 for keeping devil q
nong the tailorsy" Does the Star wish 4
create the impression that it never '
aged this innocent little game /? o
The Devil among the Tailors' is very u
a. inn y l. Il. = 1 81 4