The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1904-10-20

the Republican party upon our for
elSn affairs is iii opposition to the
teaching OF the founders of the repub-
lie, and SO impressed was Washing
ton with the Importance of keeping
aloof from the affairs of other ma
tions, that in his farewell address he
warned his cOuntrymen especially
against foreign entan9ling alliances.
Imperialism is hurtful and abhorrent
in a free government and subversive
OF free Institutions. The policy of
mperialism-if it can be said to have
Il policy-is always dangerous to
liberty. Its powers are first exer
cised in far off territory and on con-
quered people, but once adopted for
acquired and distant possessions, it
becomes, sooner or later. the rule of
the home government. Liberty and
free government have always been
secured at the cost of great sacrifices.
but history teaches us that both can
be easily lost without the knowledge
of the people.
The Tariff.
Our Federal constitution has an.
propriated tothe exclusive use of the
general government the power of in
direct taxation, covered by the pop
ular designation of tariff duties"
In excluding the States from this
domain of taxation, there is an i'm
piled and wise partition of the tax
ing power between the States and
the Federal government Except in
the eXlgencleS OF war, the taxing
power has been exercised by Congress
largely in the direction of the impo-
sltlon OF duties upon imports. No
one expects to change this arrange
ment, which has proven so convenient
to the general government and so
| conducive to the interests of the
States, whose resort to other sources
OF revenue is left untrammeled. Indi-
rect taxation, however convenient.
needs, by reason OF its indirectness.
to be watchfully guarded, lest abuses
should attach themselves unknown
to the people
That many of the existing tariff
rates are excessive and enable power
| ful combinations to eXtort unjust
and oppressive tribute from the peo-
pie cannot be contrOverted. The
tariff is undoubtedly too high upon
such articles as enable the manufac-
| turer to sell his products abroad
cheaper than at home. Steel rails
are Il conspicuous example in this re-
| spect. 1t is admitted that they are
being made for So ton. A few
years ago they were freely sold in
this country ut ST. ton. They are
now selling at the mills here for home
consumption ut S2S Il ton. and for
the foreign market at from SIS to
SD a ton. This unjust discrimina-
ton against our people is made pos
slble only by a tariff that on this
article is entirely too'high.
The average selling price OF a hun
dred articles, taken principally from
the iron and steel list. is found to be
about 2Oper cent. higher in this coun-
try than abroad. Relief from these
conditions will only come through
the success of the Democratic party.
which stands for a wise, conservative
| ohu Siouudi 'HuiiSe Ill the tdflH
laws, which will equalize the burdens
of taxation and make honest compe-
tition possible. But in making such
changes its purpose will be to legis-
late with due regard for the labor
and capital involved in industrial
enterprises.
Trusts.
1t is estimated that there are in
the United States between two and
three hundred combinations of CAPT
tai and corporate interests, known
as trusts, which have grown up in
the last few years under Republican
rule. Some of them are so conducted
as to be pernicious and harmful to
the general interest. With the power
they are able to exert, they can les
sen competition, control prices and
regulate to their own advantage the
law of supply and demand. Indi-