The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-08-16
OCCASIONAL CUTTING BUT NO
REDUCTION.

REDUCTION.
lust what Mckinley dnG his support
ers in the congress will do as to the
present un1ighteous, unconstitutional,
drastic. unequal and indefinable tariff
tax is not by any means assured. The
chief men and newspapers among re-
publicans are disposed to hang on TO the
old grinding, greedy oppressor and
monopoly in spite of changes. necessi-
ties and arguments. Some newspapers
of the republican dye. favor changes
here and there are special points, but
oppose disturbing the great robber mon
ster. They want just as much of the
robbery as possible consistent with re-
publican success and safety. That par
ty is owned by the money lords and the
tariff robbers, and it will not do to cut
down h worst features of the thing
of iniquity and oppression. The Balti-
more American is a strong republican
organ, but it has grace and sense
enough to say that the sensible plan
is to maxi changes in the law as chang
es are demonstrated to be desirable or
necessary. In this case the change pro-
posed by Mr.. Babcock, which is mere
" the cutting off of a superfluous fea-
ture, is both desirable and necessary,
and it should be made by the next on
gress."
Babcock is an extreme, tindigo-blue
h~igh-tariff advocate. We put no faith
in him beyond what clear necessity
presses Upon MIN. The republicans out
in Iowa, in their state convention held
recently, Endorsed the protective tariff
robbery-for a protective tariff is a
robber pure and simple and all the time
but declared that they favored such
changes las from time to time became
advisable through the progress of our
industries and their changing relations
to the m of the world Reel
procity is Endorsed as the natural COM
plement of protection. and it's develop
ment is urged as necessary to the reali-
zation of the highest commercial posi-
bilities."
1t is said that Senator Allison and
Governor Shaw indorse the plank. Ex-
Senator Thurston recently said:
Il I11lllh Ito IAAC1C lhAIl NC
of the tariff 20 meet the changed cir
cumstances as the tariff is something
that needs changing every little while
to make 1T fit the different needs of the
country. That the republican party
will ever change it's historic principle
of protection there seems to be no IN
-dication. I do not think that it ever
will"
Plainly spoken. Once a robber al
- ,ohho- This nortioJlor lan-
pard will never change it's spots. All
reform in taxation as a principle, all,
relief of the robbed people must come
through the democratic party. That Is
plain enough. The western men favor
a very limited tax reform or change.
But is must be always and all along
republican protection lines, mind you.
That extreme protection republican pa
per. the Washington Star, says:
ut cannot be asserted too often that
no friend of protection and reciprocity
is proposing a general revision of the
tariff at this time. But that certain
schedules need revision as the result
of the growth they have facilitated and
the independence they nave conferred
is plain enough"
the big sugar robber,
said that the tariff is the mother Of
trusts The Washington Post says
this is nonsense, and mentions some
combines that greatly flourish without
aid from the big republican robber. 1t
ever says some trusts are useful to
the general public" The Post is re-
publican and believes in the protection
theory and practice and favors trusts.
1t says mo tariff protection is required
to make combination successful. No
legislation in this free country could
prohibit combination. 1t is going on in
all departments of business n in all
human interests"
The United States supreme court
with but one democrat OF the bench
held that a tax levied for any purpose
other than revenue is robbery. And
so it is. The man Who robs you of q
dollar is a 'robber" and an oppressor.
But the Post must be credited with the
following:
But there are trusts which have tar
Tiff protection and which are using that
protection to Cypress the public. The
Post is not a defender of any OF the
principles which has given our manu-
featuring industries such splend1d de-
4yelopment that they are the wonder anu
the envy of all competing nations. LII
is the imperative duty of congress 10
abolish protection where it is no longer
needed and is used for eXtortion-
"NT US