The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1897-07-31

PALACES OF THE TARIFF.
Bailey Says its Design is False and it
will Cypress the Common People.


will Cypress the Common People.
WASHINGTON, d. c., July 24.-Th,
pretence that the bill under consider
alton is designed primarily to increas,
the public revenues is false one upor
its very face, because IL that had beer
the object, it could have been accom-.
plished without disturbing all the
business interests of the country by 3
general revision of our tariff duties
A slight change in the existing Law
would have sufficed. An amendment
substituting the sugar schedule of the
pending bill for the sugar schedule Of
the existing law with the differentia
duty in favor of the Sugar Trust en-.
tirely eliminated, would have increas.
ed the revenue at least $2l, 200, 600,
and the substitution OF the tobacco
schedule OF the pending bill for the
tobacco schedule OF the existing law
would have added over $1,000, 00C
more, making a total increase by
these two amendments of $4,000, 00C
above the deficiency OF the last fiscal
year.
Revenue for the government, how
ever, was not the real purpose which
the trainers Of this bill had in their
minds. They desired to collect more
money, it is true, but their purpose
in doing that was almost wholly apart
from the support of the government.
On the first page of his report the dis
tinguished chairman Of the Commit
tee ON Ways and Means shows that
the difference between the Govern
ment's receipts and expenditures dur
ing the fiscal year OF 1896 was less
than $26, 900, 900, and toward the con
clusion'of his report he declares that
this bill, as originally reported to the
House, was expected to raise $113, 000-
900 more than was collected under the
present law during that time.
We charged that their object in
creating that enormous surplus was
to accumulate the promissory notes of
the Government in the Treasury and
to hold them there, thus effectually
withdrawing them from circulation
We have repeated that charge in the
most specific manner, and no Repub-
lican with authority to speak has ever
made specific answer to it,
Not only is it true that protection
diminishes our wealth by abridging
the freedom of international exchange
but it is also true that it diminishes
our wealth by fostering those combl-
nations of capital which are formed
for the purpose of limiting produc-
ton in order to maintain prices. Trusts
are the legitimate and unavoidable
outgrowth of protection, and both aim
at the same end. Each is intended
to enable the manufacturer to escape
competition. Protection is designed
to protect domestic manufacturers
against foreign competition; but does
any man suppose that when our man
ufacturers have learned how profita-
BILE it is to be relieved from foreign
competition they will suffer dimin-
ution of their profits by competing
against each other?
We stand upon the broad and I'M
assailable ground that taxation can
only be justified when it is levied for
the purpose of supporting the Govern
ment. and that all taxation which is
designated to enable one class TO COL
lect tribute from other classes is a
legalized robbery.
If the manufacturers are as selfish
and as prosperous as we have been
taught to believe, it is an unpardona-
BILE crime to exempt them from taxa
tation and thus increase the burdens
of the patient and unnumbered null
titude. | cannot find language strong
enough to denounce policy that
would lift the burdens of this Gov
eminent from the great manufacture
ing establishments and lay it with
crushing weight upon the farms. l
know the agricultural people of this
land, and know their unselfish devo-
tion to their country. l know, too,
that it is as true in the economic as
it is in the physical world that all
things rest upon the earth, and when
those who cultivate the soil are
made to suffer, the nation must
suffer with them. The farmers are
the most useful and the most conserv-
alive of all Our citizens.
| do not plead for special privileges
for the farmers: l only plead in de-
fence of the Democratic party for hav-
ing said that in dealing with the
question it will keep its pledge that
none shall enjoy special favor nor
shall any suffer special burden; but
that all shall stand equal before the
law. To establish and maintain the
equal rights of men was the great mis-
sion to which its founders dedicated
the Democratic party 100 years ago,
and to which we reconsecrated it last
year. If we adhere steadfastly and
to this, the most vital Of
all our principles, the American peo-
pie will reward our fidelity with their
and we can reward their
by perpetuating forever
and forever more this, the greatest,
the freest, and therefore the best gov
eminent that ever rose to animate the
hopes or to bless the sacrifices Of man.
kind. JOSEPH w. BAILEY,
Democratic Leader Of the House.