Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1898-03-18

a part Of her public policy to regard this as
"public blessing" Great Britain had also
restrictive policy, which placed fetters and
burdens on trade and trammelled the product
i've industry of the mass OF the nation. By her
combined system of policy, the landlords and
other property holders were protected, enriched
by the enormous taxes which were levied upon
the labor of the country for their advantage.
Initiating this foreign policy, the first step in
establishing the new system in the United States
was the creation of national bank. Not fore
seeing the dangerous power and countless evils
which such an institution might entail on the
country, nor perceiving the connexion which it
was designed to form between the bank and the
other branches of the miscalled american sys-
tem," but feeling the embarrassmeuts OF the
treasury and of the business of the country, con-
sequent upon the war, some OF our statesmen
who had different and sounder views were in
duced to yield their scrupules, and, indeed, set
tied convictions of its unconstitutionality, and
to give it their sanction, as expedient which
they vainly hoped might produce relief. ltwas
a most unfortunate error, as the subsequent his
tory and final catastrophe of that dangerous and
corrupt institution have abundantly proved.
The bank, with its numerous branches ramihed
into the states, soon brought many of the active
political and commercial men in different Sec
tons of the country into the relation of debtors
to it, and dependents upon II for pecuniary
favors; thus diffusing throughout the mass OF
society great number of individuals of power
and influence to give tone to public opinion, and
to act in concert in cases of emergency. The
corrupt power of such political engine is no
longer matter of speculation, having been dis
played in numerous instances, but most signally
in the political struggles of 1874 4, in oppo-
sition to the public will represented by fearless
and patriotic President.
But the bank was but one branch OF the new
system public debt of more than one hun
dred and twenty millions of dollars existed; and
it is not to be disguised that many of he authors
of the new system did not regard its speedy pay
ment as essential to the public prosperity, but
looked upon its continuance as no national evil.
Whilst the debt existed, it furnished aliment to
the national bank, and rendered increased taxa
ton necessary to the amount of the interest, ex-
&C eeding seven millions of dollars annually.
This operated in harmony with the next
branch of the new system, which high
protective tariff This was to afford bounties
to favored classes and particular pursuits at the
expense of all others. A proposition to tax the
whole people fer the purpose of enriching few
was too monstrous to be openly made. The
scheme was, therefore, veied under the plausi-
bic but delusve pretext of measure to protect
"home industry" and many of our people were
fo1 time led to believe that tax which in the
main fell upon labor was for the benefit of the
laborer who paid it. This branch of the system
involved partnership between the government
and the favored class-the former receiving the
proceeds Of the tax imposed on articles imported
and the latter the increased price of similar arti-
cles produced at home, caused by such tax.
The Indirect mode of levying the tax by
duty on imports, prevents the mass of the peo-
pie from readily preceiving the amount they pay
and has enabled the few, who are thus enriched,
and who seek to WELD the political power of
the country, to deceive and delude them. Were
the taxes collected by direct levy upon the
people, as in the case of the states, this could
not occur.
Nav Act fox Do rtu Dancnnc