The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1904-09-26

, tne eVef'HVlnB spirit Oh lne cOnSlltu-
| tion which they framed for us, or
shall we go along other and untried
paths, hitherto Stunned by all fol
lowing blindly new ideals, which,
though appealing with brilliancy 70
the Imagination and ambition, may
prove will O. the wisp leading us
into difficulties from which 1t may
be impossible to cxtricate ourselves
without lasting injury to our national
character and institutions?
The Tariff and Trusts.
Tariff reform is one OF the cardinal
principles of the Democratic faith,
and the necessity for 1t was never
greater than at the present time. 1t
should be undertaken at once in the
interest of all our peopie.
The Dingley tariff is excessive in
many of its rates. and, as TO them at
least, unjustly and oppressively bur
dens the people. 1t secures to do
nestle manufacturers, slnely or in
combination, the privilege of exact
ing excessive prices at home and
prices far above the level of sales
made regularly by them abroad with
profit, thus giving a bounty to for
eigners at the expense of our own
people. It's unjust taxation burdens
the people generally, forcing them 10
pay excessive prices for food. fuel,
clothing and other necessaries OF life.
. rtt trln
normally imported in any consider
able amount, which are made exten-
sively at home, for which the most
extreme prOtectionist would hardly
justify protective taxes, and which in
large amounts are expected. Such du
ties have been and will continue to be
a direct incentive to the formation of
huge Industrial combinations. which,
secure from foreign competition, are
enabled to stifle domestic competition
and practically to monopoIize the
home market.
1T contains many duties imposed
for the express purpose only, as was
openly aFowed, of furnishing basis
for reduction by means of reciprocal
trade treaties, which the Republican
administration. impliedly at least, !
promised to negotiate. Having, on |
this promise. secured the increased |
duties, the Republican party leaders. |
spurred on by protected interests, de-
feated' the treaties negotiated by the 1
executive. and now these same inter /
ests cling TO the benefit of these du
lies which the people never intended /
hey should have, and to which they
nave no moral right.
Even now the argument most fre'
luently urged in behalf of the Dingley
ariff, and against tariff reform gen
,rally, Is the necessity of caring for
,ur infant industries. Many Of these
after hundred years Of
usty growth. are looming up as ip
lustrial giants. In their case. at
east, the Dingley tariff invites combi-
lation and monopoly. and give justifi-
alton 10 the expression that the tariff
S the mother of trusts.
"For the aforementioned reasons,
mons many others, the people de-
napd reform of these abuses, and
uch reform demands and should re
eiye immediate attention.
The object Of the Tariff.
The two leading parties have al
rays differed as to the principle OF
ustOms taxation. Our party has al
rsys advanced the theory that the
bject is the raising of revenue for ]
upport of the government whatever /
ther results may incidentally flow /
lerefrom. The Republican party. on S
ne other hand. contends that Gus c
,ms duties should be levied primari- s
: for protection, so-ealled. with rev 7
hue as the subordinate purpose. thus n
sing the power of taxation to build C
D the business and property of the G
w al the expense Of the many. ie
This difference OF principle still o
Insists. but our party appreciates y
at the loBg-continued policy Of the a
,untry. as manifested in its statutes. Y
axes IL necessary that tariff reform '
lould be pruden3ly and sagaciOusly a
on scientific principles. =
the end that there should not be an