The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-04-03

Frogs and men are more alike than
is suspected even by naturalists. It
probably never occurred to the frogs
who prayed for relief from King Log
and then from King Stork that they
did not need any king at ALL So there
is no indication that the gentlemen
who compose the chamber Of commerce
Of the city Of New York have ever
had the idea enter their consciousness
that they do not want any tariff at all.
SO habituated do we all become to our
environment that, however much we
may complain about it, we accept il
as Of the order Of things established
at the creation and never questioned
whether we cannot get along better by
discarding 1T entirely and getting an
other one. Really, it is surprising to
read this pathetic protest against that
arch disturber of business, the tariff.
whatever it's form or purpose. to note
the implied admission that it is as in
dispensable as sunshine or rain, but.
like either, should not be too hot nor
too heavy. 1t argues an obtuseness
in men supposed to be the most alert
and clear-headed.
Listen to their complaint. 'These
changes Gin rates., together with other
new features introduced by the franz
ers, will affect the entire business in
terests of the country to a very marked
extent" saw the committees 20 a. oba...
Der on revenue laws. 1.-THE business
men of the country desire nothing mora
earnestly than an extended period of
rest and cessation from continued tar
III agitation and tariff changes" and
they reported resolution that WAS
ADOPTED almost unanimously, express
Ing the earnest conviction that the
bill in many of its provisions is ex-
cesslVe and likely to invite reaction
harmful to business and the best infer
ests OF the country" They want it
revised and the taxes reduced ITO the
end that system of tariff taxation
may be adopted that shall be reasona-
bly, permanent" and so on. They
pers or commerce and boards of trade
Evidently these gentlemen are not
informed as to the tariff history Of this
country, nor are they familiar with tho
arguments Of those who worship that
system as Of divine origin. There has
never been time since the organiza-
ton OF the government and the incor-
poration in its fiscal policy of this i'm
ported method of getting revenue that
II has been free from agitation. The
nearest approach to it was in tho no
rlod from 1916 to 1860, and even then
there was one change to lower rates
ana there is no modern economist ne
that school who denies that freouant
reVlslons are necessary, made so nv
changing conditions of production or
values. In fact the proposition to Gre
ate permanent commission to adjust
rates as conditions demand changes
indicates the shifting nature of tho
system. If these gentlemen cared to 90
under the surface to ascertain whv
this is so, they would find 1t in tha
SAlip1G II ulIA lIldI the tax is
what men consume, and not on what
they have, and that the instincts of
Justice inherent in freedom revolt at
that. They would find that. in the
perverted use Of this tax. It violates
that other instructive condition of
right and liberty to buy where one
will and of whom one will; and sets IN
as an invasion of that right the Use
Of government to compel purchases Of
some particular persons. So long as
the instinct Of freedom lives In Amer
lean breasts, so long will agitation
against the DEGREES denying thesa
rights go on; so long will the tariff be
'1n politics"
These gentlemen thus protesting
against q system producing revenue
OF about 81 annually per capita live
under another system Of taxation
amounting yearly to five or six times
that amount. The legislature Of their