The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-05-31

stamp out, 10 CHOKE 10 Oedtn, all DuS1-
ness rivals who in any way shall be in
their way. A most rascally and infer
nal purpose born of the devil and run
under his agency. Mckinley and the
tariff robber bearing his name, began
IN work Of suppression and destruc-
ton This is too plain to be safely de-
MED. 1t was not until McKinleyism in
taxation was felt to the oppression OF
thousands. that the law OF competition
first felt the grip Of the anaconda of
suppression and ruin. That is really
historic. Discussing what Mr.. Boards
ley says the New York Evening Post,
Independent. states that directly af-
ter the passage of the Mckinley tariff,
however, the articles Of sugar, starch,
linseed oil. lead. whiskey, tobacco and
envelopes were made the subjects of
monopoly, or attempted monopoly, un-
der the protecting duties given to the
producers. From hat time to the pres
ent, Trusts and combines have multi
piled in the land, and a new branch of
industry has grown up, that Of the
promoter of combinations"
1t appears that Mr.. Bear6sley likes
ed. We would sooner see the promoters
ruined than to offer such a welcome.
A system that first ramps and then
brushes legitimate enterprise and need
ed business operations, is a public en-
envy and to be denounced and vigor-
rcl n~No uvHslo I;1rs~- %Ia
monsters. Mr.. Beardsley is kind enough
to give some figures hat show how
they grind and rob. From his figures
it appears, as they are given in the
Evening Post, that 1.-The American Steel
and Wire trust is protected by an aver
age duty of 1922 per cent, and that the
importation Of competing articles was
STA, SIG for the year. The Tin-Plate
trust has a duty of nearly Il per cent,
and the importation was 81, 1891, 800. OF
course the American tin plate was sold,
or might have been sold, AZ per cent.
higher here thar it was offered in the
worlds markets. although the steel
billets from which it is made in Wales
are in part produced in the United
States. Window glass is protected by
a duty of Sc per cent. average, and the
importation was ST. $50, 637. This is also
made by a trust. Table glass, a sepa-
rate concern. has 60 per cent. The
National Salt Company has a duty of
SO per cent. OF salt in bulk, the Starch
Company IS per cent, the Carbon Com
pany lis per cent. for electric-lighting
carbons, the Distilling Company 123 per
cent. protection against Scotch wills
key"
Read hat again and understanding
the most foul enormities, see if you can
join in a son of praise and demon
of welcome" You will feel
possibly more like hanging the robbers
than in offering them a jubilee.
Mr.. B~eardsley is considerable, howev-
er. as to the great grinding tax. We
are told hat h holds that the tariff
goods of any sort of which the cost
of production. including a fair profit,
is no higher in the United States than
in foreign countries should be little or
nothing. All duties above this are an
Indictment to monopoly n are sure
to run into monopoly. Most iron and
steel products, he contends, can now
be produced in the United States as
cheaply as anywhere else in the world,
IF not more cheaply than anywhere
else" yet they are protected by an
average duty of 81 per cent. ad a
lorem."
Our readers who subscribe to news
papers, periodicals and buy books are
in the paper tax. A high
tariff here must increase the price of
all products In which paper is used.
Read this from the Evening Pos and
behold the %iniquity. the deliberate rob-
berry perpetrated by the rascals:
In fact, u exports of paper exceed
our imports, yet the duty on imported
paper and manufactures of paper is
equal to 20 per cent. ad valorem. 1t
be borne in mind, too, that i'm
ported articles must pay ocean and in
land freights and other charges, which
are in the nature of additional protec-
ton to the home producer"
This will do for one reading. Rep
resentative Babcock is non too early
in agitating for reform and reduction
of the tariff. 1t will only be touched in
places, and perhaps giEgerly, but a
thorough radical overhauling through
out. is what is needed and what the
democratic party should fight for. Let
the Tilden campaign be repeated, but
let no cheating and villainy be tolerat-
ed for a moment at the close as in 1876.
The republican party is not thorough
ly united as to the retention Of the
great robber system as now organized
and enforced. There are but few re-
publicans, comparatively. who are not
welded to the system of protection.
Some would reduce here and there, but
the robber principle u be continued.
The Messenger has 4 dozen times cited
the opinion of a republican Supreme
Court of the United States, with but
n democrat upon it, that a tax levied