Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1897-03-25
The Dingley Tariff Bill.


House for passage, and the country to
be swallowed, is almost a rehash of the
Mckinley Bill. It is by far the most
important piece of legislation enacted
in years, and by far the most danger
GUS. Not more dangerous to the
country than to the party which will
pass it and inf1ict it upon the country.
1t will make or break it's originators,
and the chances are it will break them.
The articles we usually import are put
at such enormous rates that none OF
them will be imported. From whence
then ia there to be that revenue which
is SO important? It is the first time in
the history of this country that the
question of a high tariff has had a
chance to be fully and freely discussed
from a practical standpoint. We have
had tariff rates at q very much lower
level on account of the Wilson bill
than at any period for long time.
Now they will be jumped up enor-
mously and when people find every
article to be bought from merchants
higher on account of these tariffs they
will for once at least see that they are
being robbed. If it should SO happen
within the next four years that the
revenues of the government do not
defray it's expenses, then will there be
sswar and runners of war" Ii it be
discovered that our domestic wares are
materially increased in price there is
bound to be trouble. because the peo.
pie know the government gets not a
cent from these sources. and that every
dollar thus paid goes out Of their
pockets directly into the pockets OF
the favored manufacturer. Only one
plea now remains for increased taxa
ton, and that is that the expenses OF
the government must be paid. Pro
lection is thing of the past because
by the formation of trusts and com
bines the manufacturer can protect
himself any way. but on the plea that
we do not get money enough to run
the government, the country has sub
mitted to further taxation. But it is
asking great deal when the maker OF
shoes in Boston asks Congress to pass
bill by which he can compel every
American who wears shoes to pay four
dollars for a poorer shoe than he
could buy in France for two dollars.
Or for manufacturer of cotton goods
at Lowell to ask a law which compels
every purchaser of cotton cloth tc pay
from three to five cents more for it per
yard than he could buy it in England,
and especially is it asking good deal
to demand laws which will further
protect plows, and mowers, and reap
ers, and shovels, and hoes. and horse
shoes and nails, which at present are
sent to Australia and South America
and sold cheaper than we can buy
them at the factory. Today the farm
er is paying on account of the present
protective laws more than the farmer
three thousand mil es away, and yet
there is being laid on sn additional
burden, which will raise the price from
25 to so per cent. higher, and it is ask
ing more than human nature will long |
bear to have laws which take this 25 |
or so per cent. increase out of the |
pockets of the struggling farmers and
hand it not to the government but to
the already rich manufacturer. The
trouble is not that the country is suff-
ering for revenue. II this were so it |
could adopt the same plan resorted to
by the individual, it could curtail ex-
penses. But instead of this it has
increased them, and is increasing them
yearly. The cause of this demand for
protection is found elsewhere. It'll
arises from the greed of the manufac-
turei, who will not accepts reasona BILE
profit, but must double his bank &C
count every six months. This he did
under the old thieving tariff, and hav-
ing gorgcd himself, he can never
remain satisfied until his vorocious
is again appeased. But in
gorging himself he nearly ate up the
other portions of the country, in
other words the East has almost eaten
up the West and South, and the object
now is to devour what little remains.
The East cannot live on her own vitals.
She must feed elsewhere; the farmer
lives only in the West and South, and
ne is the victim at all times and under
VI circumstances, hence this iegsla-
ion is aimed at him. He has suffered
ong and patiently, but he will not do
o always. He will throw off this yoke I
ooner or later and when he does there
ill be a terrible reconing Ia our !.
pinioa the Dingley bill will open ni'I 9
ves A. they were never opened before. .