The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1902-11-06

kccpluS WIFI JIlC COlOI huu COiilplcSlO
of the entire schome. Evidcnc
= abounds in and about it, and indicat
ling that tho welfare and interests O
the common people of our land wcr
not allowed to disturb III any un
pleasant degree the serenity of thos
having thcawork IN hand. l believ,
this last exploit of the so.callcd friends
of the tariff in its revision, shoult
amply satisfy any thoughtful citizer
unbiased by interest, that the spirit O
q high protective tariff grows by in
dulgence and mocks what it feeds
upon, and that its progressive greed
and ruthlossness is becoming more and
more menace to the Welfare and
happiness of our people.
{" How long has 1t been thought de-
cent or even safe to cheat the con.
sumors of coal by putting it on the
free list, but dishonesty providing for
its custom taxation in another cum
ningly constructed provision of the law?
How recently have the friends of the
tariff had the boldncss to perpctrate
such a trick and take the chances of
facing the people, when in the painful
stress of a threatened coal famine, it
should be exposed?
81 have called your attention TO the
fact that in 1887 competition, which,
if unrestricted, might modify tho effect
upon our consumers Of a high protec-
tive tariff, was spoken of as stoo often
strangglcd by combinations, quite pre-
valent at this time, and frequently
called trusts, which have for their OBJ
ynn l,ts Of >,>1 4
prices of commodities made and sold
by members of the comblnation.'
When this was written, suppose the
trusts and combinations mentioned as
quite prevalent 30 far as they were at
all important, might have been count
cd off by the fingers of the two hands.
Whom the friends OF the tariff last took
up the work of its Reconstruction these
trusts and combinations had increased
by the hundreds. The consequence of
their operations could not fail to be
understood. 1t was as plain then as
now that a high protective tariff de-
fends them against forcing competition,
and that by agreed association and
confcdcracy in production and price,
they defend themselves against compc-
parent that under the broad wings of
high protection and fattened by un.
earned accumulation, they could COM
placently close their cars to the trouble
some cry for easier living from the
every day consumer.
"The present tariff conditions have
assumed a complexion which not only
requires a check in its aggrcssiveness,
but actual amendment is at last ad-
mitted among those responsible for
these conditions. Such toneession
was made when dozen or more re-
ciprocity treaties were submitted to
the Senate, but thcIsinceri y of the con-
cession and the honest intention to
surrender the least advantage as long
as it can be held, is emphatically dis
proved by the fact that session after
session of the Senate has passed with
out taking the least action On these
treaties.
"I need hardly refer TO the preva-
lcncc just at this time among the sup
porters of high protection of declara-
tons and professions III favor Of tariff
e-adjusLment. We hear 1t on every
side. What does it mean ? 1t means
that they see the handwriting on tho
wall as they have never seen it before.
Does it mean that they are sincerely
willing to do something for the people,
as against old comrades who aave here
tofore paid well for the neglect of the
people?
"IIow can we believe this when we
sec still paraded up and down before
our sight, the hoary-headcd, bloated
and malodorous old fraud and pretence
that the tariff should be revised by its
friends ? What have these friends of
the tariff done that they should again
be trusted They have quicted the
peoples fears and professcd solicltude
for their welfare and promised to lead
them to pleasant places, and now that
shoals and rocks have been struck,
they seek by another promise TO mend
the whole affair and retain the conf
dence and trust Of those they have dc.
luded.
81 have supposed that my fellow.
citizens are thoughtful on this subject
and that their thoughtfulncss has led
them to desire an amendment of oul
tariff laws and rectillcation of the
wrong and injustice that follow ir
their train. l have attempted to give
reasons why this work should not be
entrusted to those who have 80 full,
demonstrated their nsincerlty and un
fitness for the task"
| -----zEz>-. E.
Samuel Wagner, aged 70 years, was
| tod 4 I,n l.