The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-11-05

NY " SlIslIuc anu IllNlIGu
schemes and Wasteful expenditures,
and among the Industries Of the
United States-which it has encour-
aged, the promotion of trusts and
combinations stands high on the list
In the month of March. 1903 a dis
tinguished Republican member of
Congress on the floor of the House of
Representatives, presented q carefully
prepared list of industrial combina-
tions existing on the first day of Jan
uary, in that year. They numbered
453, more than four-fifths of them APP
parently organized within six
years under the "thOrOughly
protective" Dingley act. To what
extent this number has been
know. but the work has gone merrily
on. Whatever the number may be
we only have to compare the general
situation and known facts now exist
ing with those existing when the Ding
ley law took effect to see how prolific
this most exorbitant of all schemes for
tariff protection, has been of these in
dustrial contrivances.
From the Cradle to the Grave.
| ought not to fatigue your inteln-
gence by detailing further facts show
ing that the protective policy which
the republican party las imposed
upon the country and which that parry
IN the pending campaign nosily de-
fends, not only has something 20 40
with trusts, but that by its very ma
ture as we'll as by it's natural results
it is the parent and accessory of the
robbing marauders which Vex and ar
fiict our peoples life and demand trip
ute in every home of our land They
dictate the prices we shall pay for the
food we eat, the clothes we wear anu
the habitations in which we live. W.
are within their shadow from the
cradle to the grave. Even beyond tIIe
grave they follow US. We hear G. :,
Tombstone Trust protected by tariff
duty of from 33 to 60 per cent; ana
the newspapers informed us only few
days AGO that a convention of associ-
ated undertakerS was thrown into con-
sternation by the non-appearance OF
its treasurer.
You cannot wonder that l am start
led by the difference between condl-
tions now and those that prevailed
when | visited Newark in the
Presidential campaign of 1884. Then
the people We're not in the fetaerS or
trusts and combinations; the expendf-
lures of the government were carefui
and economical as compared with the
extravaganza of these later days; and
the rate of tariff taxation which the
Democracy then condemned as yield
ing more than sufficient revenue for
government needs, was moderate as
compared with present exactions.
come again after twenty years The
rate of tariff taxation has increased Ey
one-fourth, the expenditures of the
government have more than doubled;
and hundreds of industrial trusts ard
com mbinationS the vicious progeny Cf
extreme tariff protection, openly CT
stealthily search the pockets of our
people. Again | use my words OF
I to-
government to exact tribute from the
citizen is limited by its exact neces ii
ties; and every cent taken from the
people beyond that required for theil
protection by the government IS no
better than robbery
AS / repeat those words. the ques-
ton is in my mind whether the starl-
ling charges we contemplate win ado
force and emphasis to this sentiment
which in 1884 was endorsed by our
countrymen, or whether with these
changes another of deeper and Sadder
significance has taken place in our
peoples modes of thought and their
conceptions of American sturdiness CT
citizenship. Has the steady growth OF
public extravaganza been so artfuIiy
concealed by glorification IF their
country's progress that they no longer
consider public frugality as Il funda-
mental element in governmental duty
which they cannot remit eitDe" with
safety to our institutions or justice to
their own best interests?
An UnsOund Prosperity.
Have our people been so misled b,
the glamor of unsound prosperity and
so deceived by the pretenSe that an
exorbitant protective tariff in some
mysterious way assures their happi-
ness and easy existence, that they are
a blind n
prosperity which the masses of OuY
countrymen neither see nor feel, da
against the tangible evidence supplied
by increased cost of every necessary
of life, enforced self-denial in everv
home and everywhere curtailed oppor-
tunity for remuneratiVe employment?
Has the pressure of trusts AMI mo-
nopolies become so familiar and have
their pretense of benevolent purposes
so deluded our people that they &1e
willing dbjectly to surrender their
claim to equality before the law ana
to support a policy which % their un-
doing makes these aggregations of.
riches and power more rich ana n'Cre
powerful? Have the plain people of
our land-independent proud Am merl-
canS-so de-enrated that they do act
resent the humiliatin2 suggestion that
those made rich through unjust favor
itism will care for them; AMI are they
of such Intermediates as these, in
stead of the direct consideration due
them from their Government?
Have our people reached such
state of listlesS Indifference that they
see nothing wrong in a scheme Of
tariff protection which supplies to for
eign consumers articles of necessary
use which are the work of American
hands and American ingenuity at u
cheaper rate than they can be puI
chased by American citizens? Are
they willing for the sake nf
continuing this discrimination against
themselves to perpetuate the policy
which burdens them with protective
tariff taxation?
| will not believe that my country
men are either Wilfullv reckless OF
their nations safety or needless OF
their duty of citizenship or insensble
to their rights and interests; but
whether they will hear or whether
they will forbear | cannot refrain
from urging upon them the especiai
necessity at this time sober, conscien-
tious reflection, and exhorting them
to d dutiful review of the intent of our
nations establishment the character
of it's mission and it's present plight
If this is honeStlv undertaken and if