The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1897-03-20
McKinley's Message.

President McKinley's message to Congress
deals only with the subject of revenue, and
recommends the enactment of tariff law to
increase the revenues of the government.
In LAYING taxation the President says ior-
eign products should be so taxed as TO pre-
serve the home market to our own producers,
so far as possible. In other words, foreign
products should be taxed so high as to prae-
tically prevent importations, and thus permit
home manufacturers to exact exorbitant pro-
fits for their products from our own people.
And if the home market is to be practically
preserved to our own producers, by virtually
stopping importations, how will the govern
men get increased revenue? The Presidents
plan seems to be to increase the revenue by
stopping importations from which revenue is
to be derived.
In his message to Congress the President
said:
'.In raising revenues, duties should be 50 levied
upon foreign products as TO preserve the home
market so far as possible, to producers: 10
revive and increase manufactures; TO relieve and
encourage agriculture; to increase our domestic
and foreign commerce; to aid and develop mining
and building, and to render labor in every 1eld OF
useful occupation the liberal wages and adequate
rewards to which skill and industry are justly en-
titled"
By preserving the home market to our own
manufactures, would revive manufacturing,
If the people had money to buy the products
Agriculture can not be revived by higher tax
atien upon all the farmer has TO buy.
Neither foreign nor domestic commerce can
be increased By higher taxation, normining
nor building.
The President has proper conception of
the condition of the country, but he has pre-
scribed the wrong remedy, and instead of
lettering matters he will plunge the country
into deeper depression. The condition Of the
people cannot be improved by the imposition
Of higher taxation.
In another part of his message the Presi-
dent speaks Of the unlimited means at our
command" by which he means unlimited
subjects for taxation, and unlimited ability OF
the people to pay taxes. The people of the
United States are patriotic people, and wall
submit TO any taxation necessary to pay ex-
penses of government and project the national
credit, but they expect economy public ex-
penses Instead of increased revenues, the
people would like to see curtailment Of ex-
penditnres. Too much money is being spent
on public buildings, on river Improvements
and on war ships, and all salaries are too
high. The same capacity and service in pri-
vate life is scarcely half what the government
pays, and the reduction should extend through
the whole government service from President
down.
The last Congress passed all precedents in
appropriations, and for this the Republican
party will have to answer to the people. Aud
the present Congress, if it shall pass a bill
that will increase taxation S100.000,000 and
leave the people to the mercy ofthe combines
and trusts of this country, by prohibiting i'm
portations by taxation, as Chairman Dingley
and President Mckinley propose, will give
the people further grievance against the
marty