The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1897-04-21

Congressman Nci. suria Oh the >u6jscs
and Saws 1t Isa Dangerous Innovation
Democratic Principles.
Having published Congressman NetasF- ,s,.
;n's speech in Congress on proHoSe'' '',\
on foreign cotton few weeks ag'. VIC ~
sent this week Congressman Stoke >:'sSlI
on the other side Of the subject II cree '1,''
opr readers may have both sides OF I'e t"Ts
ton. Here is Congressman STOKES >Fvvv". Fs,
Nv chairman: The discussion OF Il mere
1beorv can never be : popular discussion II
-. rareIv the case that the speech or the
Snaarar ran command the continued aiien-
~, of even the more thoughtful. Sui! less
if POSSIBLE. is the history likely 10 en-!S' an"
boI,} the attention, even when the theory IL
self lies back Of so absorbing anu far-Teaca-
inc subject as = tariff tax upon the many
for the benefit OF the few.
And ye;. Mr.. Chairman, no discretion o1
The tariff question wcull proceed upon logic.
al or statesmanlike lines, unless recognize"
both the theory and the history O. 'aF11 tS7
islation in this country. And ne WHO 'ooNe
into the history with unbiased mlN1' i" eS'',
nest. sincere searcher for truth, must sVVN
recognize that there IS q theory OF Fa'i''A
theories, on this subject. anG ina! ''s si@.
tice OF the two leading schools OF though ,'. ."
this subject varied very widely from Tue
ories which they hold. or are ch&ESCH 49,
holding. On the one hand, the hePO'''s,.,1S .s
charce the Democrats with tavoriaS l'eS
trade. and hence, they say. we are III pos
tive oppos;t;on 10 the industries OF our co'Sn-
trv on the other hand, the Democratic par
~ yretor;s with the charge that RePUoHcanS
favor protective or prohibitive duties on 1i!s-
ports. thus enforcing the exclusive >'sy ".
American proiucts at higher PFlcS Jn..
the same goods can be bought n '-ie 'it>'' y
of the world. ba-
As is usually the case, the truth lies 9e-
+waan these two extremes. Measured oy lhe
tar;+f measures offered or enacted ey each
marty from time 10 time, when lntrusteo WIN
power. the correct statement OF tne petNYr ",
cratic position has been in favor OF tariH
for revenue only, with incidental unaToiGs-
BILE protection; from the Republican SIDE the
contention has been tariff for protect!on OF
certain industries, with incidental revenue.
Yet each in practice has varied wlueiy al
times even this modified statement OF posi-
tion. For instance, the renocrauc ;arsa
measure Of 1916 was projected more c.oSeiy
On free trade lines than any that prcceoe" Or
followed it. Indeed, It was passed oy :le
Democratic party with the avoWed ln,en'.Tt t;I
Of putting in operation as lar as p0Sslo-e 'tIe
principles of free trade, anu YET an aNe!"se
dntv Of so per cent was imposed on IRON
and iron manufactures, wool and wooleh
manufactures. and cotton manufacturers
While tea and coffee which are purely reve-
nue. articles, since they are not proaocso III
this country, were admitted tree OF ou's :
The same policy was continued IN the aes o'
1857. and vet in 4 literal sense these meas
u-es were bv no means free-trade measures
It's fact worth nothing, however, that ,ne
period covered By the life Of these two eiL-s,
which went farthest in the direction OF iree
trade. was characterized by the most genera
and pronounced prosperity IN the history %
our country. .or;s,
messnres have not, in ali their schecuies'
been uniformly protective. But he would oe
hind to truth who should arise from tne
stu6v of this question without the lmPIes-
SION that history has borne out the contention
OF the Democratic party against Pto'e''t0-- 49,
respect to the breeding OF
4
It is curious to note IN this connec'lon 'nA'
the protective feature Of our present system
as such, was not suggested oy ehe H.aH "t.0
turers themselves, who have been us caieA
beneaciaries. 1t was introduced oy tne Oon-
gress as a conversation to the manUAac'UHes 'Se@
which were made the subject OF direct ,nteE-
nal taxes to carry on the war me naI,oh
was in peril. Money was needed, anu II
was raised By the quickest and most CERTAIN
methods; !. e., by excise duties On lron' co.loH
wooIen, and other manufactures, incomes !:
etc. But once these industries got a 'aSle u
public legislation foc private gam: Iney
combined to retain their advantage, ana 'ney
still retain thirty years after the income taxes
we're removed. They have grown TO sucn
powerful proportions that they have the
Goyernment practically by the throat; ana
the present tariff bill is but computation Q,
the schedules submitted TO the Ways ana
Means Committee by the several como!neS
Interested. The circle Of protected INDUS
tries has been steadily enlarged unit! 1t IN
cludes almost every necessary article ID gen
eral use BY the people. SO mucn 1ol Tue
historical side of the subject, anu whs' II : re-
yeals as 20 the actual attitude OF each poL"-
cal party toward this question N
The main point to be borne N min0 al
through this discussion, the practical point
is tbaftbe tariff is tax. Even Republicans
are found frank enough to admit that and
that the effect Of that tax IS, II most instances
to increase the price otconmoolles 20 tae
consumer. Taxes are direct and lnaifect
according to tho mode Of laying ana cot-ec'-
ing them. It is perfectly PLAIN VINO pays
direct tax such as levied in the States anu
counties and municipalities Of onr lana. IL
is also quite clear who profits by the pay
ment. The party who pays q oirec' tax
takes the itemized receipt OF the person oes-
ignated by law to receive the tax, the amount
Of which IS ascertained pursuant to law; anu
the benefciaries of the law are hSeWlse oiS-
tipctly designated by law, and how nuch
each Is to get for services performed 1o1 'ne
public GOOD. There can be no mistake as TO
the paTer and the payee. Both are N the
open. and the amount and eacn Item OF tne
amount, are definitely fixed by the law. II
is not necessary TO say that tariff IS nott thlS
sort Of tax. In the case OF
TIE DIRECT TAX
it's only by the closest scrutiny oy expert
minds that in many cases the tax can De
traced from the pocket Of the payer VINO IS
usually the consumer 10 its final desIna-
ton in the pocket Of some unlicensed cot:ee-
tor of the tax. The payer may, ana often
does feel the burden without reanzIng WEence
it comes or who is the beneficiary OF MS ao-
deG load That is the very essence OF
tariff tax. Ifthe payer could trace always
and unmistakably the tax be pays upon sat-
sugar matches, woolen and cotton goods cut
lery and almost every item Of daily living
from his own pocket until It -aoos III 'he
nocket of the protected trusts and monopo-
lies that control all these necessaries ofIte,
does any man believe the existing system
could stand: Does any advocate OF the pro
tecti7e system dare trust his pet scheme 10
such test You do not dare do IT. lou
know and everybody knows that your Sys-
TEN would not stand year, certainty not
u -o,.oi A'