The San Francisco call., 1898-12-14
ANTI-lMPERIALIST CHANGERS.

| ll | / \ cord, N H., last month, Mr. Myrick, editor ot the Orange Judd Company's publications, de
 ivered address the proposed imperial policy of l the United States He said that entered upon solely to set Cuba free and emerging from 1t with Porto Rico and the Philippines in our hands, and with vexatlous problems in Cuba, due to arrant mls representations of the situation in that island made prior to our taking up Out Of this condition the demand for interstate free trade with these islands, made by wealthy Spaniards with great inter ests there and powerful combinations Tn this coun- try which lust for the profits of tropical production by cheap labor. After discussing the effect o this policy upon agricultural interests at home, MT. Myrlck uttered these significant words Shall our greatest
 industry be sacrificed to few manufacturing special ties? Shall rob the farmer of $2oo,oooooo year? Not if he knows >it. If Congress overthrow the farmers protection by admitting free sugar, tobacco
 fruits, vegetables rice, etc, besides adding to hs d. rect taxes and at the time continue protection to the manufacturer, let one be surprised Ii the farmers and working people vote III 1900 to pitch the custom-h houses into the sea-"
 These words of truth and soberness, and were appauded and unanimously indorsed by the represen- tatives of ten millions of American farmers.
 Since they uttered the National Convention ot
 the Federated Trades has spoken to the same purpose that it must be evident to the politicians who have 
 voyant view of manifest destiny, that their ocund salute of problems abroad will cause far worse prob lens at home It required a of educatlon ex-
 tending from the date of Clay's compromise tariff ot 1882 to the Dngley bill of I8o7 to make the farmer of this country comprehend his interest in protection and convince him that he shares its profits. The la borers mind the points has never been clear and the extension of the Australian ballot has left him free to vote his doubts With normal demand for an annual addition Of fresh hands in all departments ot labor skilled and unskled which calls for halt mil lion new workers every year, and every immigrant port open their importation from the overcrowded Old World at steerage rate of about ten dollars per head American labor has remained skeptical on pro- tection It has seen the natural vacancies in its ranks filled from abroad, and its children born in this country, crowded out by aliens, until 1t stands ready to join the farmer in crusade against system from the benefits of which both classes will consider them selves excluded
 If the politicians think the interests of the country stand another tariff agitation and such agita ton as will go far beyond any that has preceded it, let them persist in imperial policy.
 Already the measured march of great standing army jars the ground and armed fleets whiten the waters of the future while our present annual pension list absorbs all but million dollars of total receipts, and our brief Spanish will furnish ap- plcants to take up that small balance. For the last fiscal year national per capita of popula ton was $4 56 our net expenses S5 o6.
 The tax paid per head by people to the Federal Government by articles from 1878 to 1897, both years inclusive, On liquors and tobacco average per annum $2476 (two dollars fortyseven cents and six mils); on sugar and molasseS .oo6 miscellaneous, .457 other internal taxes, .II6 general tariff besides liquors and tobacco, $216o total average annual taxation of $58I5 Give dollars eighty-one cents and five mils).
 The total realized from this taxation for the whole period $6,o36,21SI34 o7. Of this $I,oo4 7I3,35o was paid the national debt, and current expenses absorbed the balance It IS doubtful whether the end of two decades of such taxation our peo- pie will bear patiently the prospect Of its increase dur ing the next twenty years for the purposes of barren conquest, the pursuit of glory Quxotc sentiment of manifest destiny.
 Large this burden of taxation seems, it is less than half the per capita taxation of England and the mi- tary nations of Europe Yet are, in politicians craze, to initiate them and double taxes, to be spent in the pomp and circumstance of imperialism
 If this policy implied corresponding increase in resources and capacity pay taxes 1t would be contemplated with greater patience But 1t will in evitaby work to decrease of that capacity the revolt of the farmer and aborer is its most certain result