The Saint Paul globe., 1904-05-22


II ARTIEs are divided rather by in
nate instincts than by specific
n declarations of political platforms.
The points on which they divide
are numerous, irreconcilable and ire
pressible, but, generally speaking, not
more than one of them can be decided by
the result Of a single election, and that
one question constitutes the issue of the
campaign. While a high tariff is main
tanned in this country there will always
be party urging it's reduction. The ex-
tinction of all tariff taxes is Of course
impossible until all necessity for taxation
shall have passed away;-and that period
will not arrive until government itself
is no longer necessary.
The necessity of finding means for the
support of government must last SO long
as the existence Of government is a neces-
Sity of civilization. But while every
American realizes that tariff taxes of
some sort are inevitable, there is wide
difference between taxes levied merely to
make the price of commodities coming
from abroad 50 high that domestic pro
ducers of them may be relieved from any
fear Of competition and duties imposed
to raise revenues necessary to meet the
expenses of government.
Republicans, it is needless to say favor
the imposition of taxes for the mere pur-
pose OF making the cost of commodities
imposed for no reason except to meet teh
necessities of government. Republicans
believe that the prosperity, and, indeed,
the very existence, of our industries de-
pend upon giving their promoters the
right to charge high prices through the
operation of a protective tariff.
Democrats believe that any advantage
given to one man must be at the expense
of other men, and, being naturally in
favor of equal rights for all men, they are
opposed alike to favors and oppressions
holding as they do that it is absolutely
impossible to beStoW a favor without per-
petrating an oppression. While it is true
this difference between the two parties
must always exist, it is equally true that
the tariff question cannot be an issue in
this campaign, for the very simple reason
that whatever may be the result of the
election the senate will certainly remain
Republican for the next four years, and
therefore no change in the tariff laws
looking to their reduction can be made
during the next presidential term. Re
duction Of the tariff cannot therefore, be
an issue of the coming campaign.
But while the present high rates of
tariff taxation cannot be reduced, the fur
ther extension of them or any deeper
prof1igacy in disposing of them can be
checked and permanently arrested by the
election of Democratic president.
If the Republican party be successful a
ship subsidy bill is certain to pass, and
after that measure shall have become a
feature of our system it is difficult to con-
ceive any scheme which the contents of
the treasury may not be used to promote
or award.
Excuse for Subsidy.
AS | pointed out In the house. the one
excuse for subsidy is that without 1t the
business to be subsidized could not be car
III
not be carried on at all. If it be proper
to pay one man for going into a losing
business, 1t seems difficult to realize why
it would not be at least equally proper to
pay another man for going into a profit
able business
If one man is to be paid for engaging
in the shipping business. which must be
carried on at loss it is difficult to see
why it would not be equally defensible to
pay another man for engaging in the busi-
ness of agriculture or plumbing or tailor
ing, which can be carried on at a profit.
Ii the ship owners should be paid, why
should not the farmer be paid, why
should not the plumber be paid, why
should not any one be paid?
Why, indeed, is any excuse necessary
for turning the contents of the treasury
over to favorites of the party controlling
the government? Why is not the mere
possession of the treasury sufficient ex-
CuSe IOr IOOllnS II!
Of course, this plunder must be provided
in some way or other. There is but one
source from which it can come, and that
is the pockets of the people. The de-
mand for government favor always grows
with every concession, and as conces-
sions multiply the means to meet them
must be provided by the levy of addi-
tional taxes. To this extensive system
of bounties. projections and subsidies
there can be but one possible result,
and that is panic. followed by profound
industrial depression, which can be re-
lieved only through the reform of these
abuses.
Suspected" and Clean Hands
If the method of raising revenues can
not be affected by the election. and,
therefore, cannot be an issue of the cam
paign, the election can determine how
the proceeds of revenue shall be expend-
ed; whether they shall be trusted to
hands that are suspected or hands that
are undoubtedly clean
To make an effective campaign. the
first essential is to realize just what is
involved believe the task which a
Democratic administration can perform is
an effective examination of every depart
ment and thorough cleansing of any i'm
purlties that may be discovered in them
Should the Democratic party go before
the country proclaiming an honest pur-
pose to discharge this pressing duty with
absolute sincerity, ard if the nominee of
the st. Louis convention were a man o.