The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-05-22
A TARIFF PROTEST.

Oklahoma, o. T.. May 1s, 1886.
ITO the Editor of the Eagle
Your editorial Of the 18th instant. Fatal
to the Pop Party was an unpleasant
surprise TO many Of your admiring read
ers.
1t begins by saying: Few people, per-
haps, are aware that the second law
enacted by the American congress. and
which was approved by Washington, on
the 4th day of July. 17S9. was an act af-
/ firming the principle and poHcyof protec-
tive duties" And insinuates that Jeffer-
son favored protective tariff II pre-
tends TO taunt the Democrats with a chaI-
lense to put up Wilson against Mckinley
as a Democratic champion for tariff re-
form And AYERS that Jackson also main
tanned the principles of protection.
The editorial in question is the only one
| in many months of your valued paper,
| land have read alb for which 1 have
felt an indignant repulsion. and it is I'M
worthy OF the esteemed ability and sin
cerity conceded TO its author.
Turn now TO the table of American tar
IFS, page IS. of American Politics, book
VII. by that distinguished Republican,
Thomas V. Cooper and see this protective
tariff OF July 4. 1879. and see what duties
were levied by it, Here are samples:
Pig iron, bar iron, cotton, wooden and
silk manufactures, each per cent; glass
manufactures 10 per cent.
With a new government, overwhelmed
with the debt Of the revolution, and need
ing revenue IS X not a shame TO quote a
tariff of an average of 10 per cent as q
precedent for the monstrous robbery of
the farmers of our country under the Ne
Kinley and Wilson tariffs?
Don't you know that every honest and
Intelligent Democrat knows that the VII
son tariff is a protective tariff? The Re
publican tariff of 1885, re-enacted and
framed at the dictation of the protected
industries and for their benefit That
Cleveland sold out to the protectionists as
well as to the goldbugs, and that they
would vote for Cleveland. or the devil,
as soon as they would for Wilson. Here
is the duties on the same articles under
the Wilson tariff. that was quoted from
the tariff of 17S9 %. 1886 Wards Almanac):
Iron % per cent, cotton goods IS per cent,
wooden goods . to a per cent, glassware
p to 80 per cent. The average Is seven
times the average Of your so-calIed pro-
tective tariff of 1888
The tariff OF 1879 was enacted on the
recommendation of Secretary Hamiiton's
report, who declared II 10 be necessary
for the support OF the government. and
the encourag cement OF manufactures, q.
81. Book Am. POEtics)
Think of it. a tariff OF less than 10 per
cent for the support OF a government COW
cred with debt and the people impover-
ished by the seven years war OF the revo-
luton, quoted now as precedent for an
other Mckinley tariff of 60 per cent to pro-
tect our Carnegies, and other million
making plutocrats. at the expense of our
impoverished agriculturfsts.
Because Jackson and Madison approved !
of laws putting duties on imports. for
the purpose OF raising the necessary rev
enue 10 run the government and pay in |
terest on the public debt, and mentioned |
the fact that these duties would tend 10 |
encourage and build up the then infant |
manufactures Of the country. is no res- |
son why they should be siandered with the !
charge OF favoring the principles or pol |
tcies that under the name OF protective /
tariff, have for a quarter OF a century /.
past. robbed our agricultural Iaborers |
with a rapldity. and 20 an extent that has \
never had a parallel IN the history or 4
government
In $50 70 per cent OF the Iabore-s 81 1
our country were engaged IN agriculture.
and were prosperous. Thirty years Of 1
high tsriT have reduced the per cent 20
8. and they are impoverished and growing
more 50 every DAY.
Please compare ths Republican tariff OF
1885 with the Wilson tariff. ard then
honestly tell your people that the Wilson
tariff IS a high protective tarir. II many |
cases 50 high a. 70 be Absolutely prohibit
tive. That IFS Enactment By Wilson.
Villas and the other sycophzuts % Cleve-
land, VAS szypocriticsI and tra5torOus
betrayal OF rheir party. only eqaallsd n
iniquity by their trampling Ia the Gus; The
money Of the people ard the Constitution
J. MILTON.