The Pickens sentinel-journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1903-1906, 1904-08-10

terence between the two national Car-
ties / would say: That republicans
stand for high tariff and extrava.
gance, while democrats stand for low
tariff and economy. The difference
between the parties on this question
is a difference in degree; the demo
Gratis advocating reduction and re-
vision of present tariff rates, while the
party in power prides itself on
standing pat on this issue. We do
not advocate free trade, but tariff
for revenge only. Most of the criti-
cism to which the republican party is
justly subjected is the outgrowth of
protective tariff In the beginning of
our manufacturing era we were told
to foster and protect infant industries
in order to produce competing plants.
This argument is no longer effective,
since these infants have grown to 3
strong and corpulent, and by pooling
their interests fix prices to suit them.
selves, while the government holds at
bay their foreign competitor. Under
the protective tariff, American steel
bars sold last November in England
for less than 500 a ton. American
goods are shipped to Hawaii and
Porto Rico by trusts and sold there at
prices which enable the American
consumer to purchase them there,
pay the cost of shipment both ways,
and get them at less than they can
buy them in the home market.
TO protective tariff is due the large
surplus that has accumulated in the
treasury, which is being deposited
without interest in favored national
banks. Now Il surplus for an individ
,ua or perhaps a corporation is a very
desirable thing, but surplus of over
one hundred millions Of government
Imoucy drawn and kept from tn;
- uucs Of trade, and inviting eXtray-
aSance and fraud in administration,
is most dangerous menace to pOpu-
lar government. Ii you paid this tax
directly as YOU do to your State and
county taxes you would feel the
sting of this iniQuitous system. AS
ii is. you pay it in every tool yOu
use i'm avery article you wear, at the
every man, woman and child in the
United States. Think Of this. This
States prOporlionatc part of this tax
would be about eleven million per
annum, enough to pay for every do
tail OF the state government for a
period OF at least > years, not iH-
Guiding county expenses. and SINH
other State of the union. The re.
publican party protects the trusts by
eNtOrting from their foreign compcti-
tors oXOrbitant tariff rates, and the
trusts in their turn protect the repUb-
liCan party by contributing largely to
its vote substituting fund Banks hav-
ing the surplus deposited with them
do not pay the government interest.
but they pay interest to the r2publi-
can party in campaign contributions.
This excess of funds in the treasury
encourages extravaganza and official
dishonesty or tends that way. The
last year OF Mr.. ClCvcland's admins
tration cost this government $llSI39,-
G22, while the last congressional ap-
preparation of Mr.. ROOscvcitS admin
istration, seven years later reached
the enormous sum of $TSl,i12.3T5. or
more than 20 per cent, in excess OF
the last year Of democratic rule; and
this amount does not include $5O,OOO.-
600 appropriated to the Panama canal.
During President Earrison's tenure
of Office he dcplorcd an accommodating
surplus as dangerous to good govern
mcnt and he was exercised to find a
way to get rid Of it.
Not so with the present adminstra.
ton. It's imperial policy affords an
opportunity for ShOvcling il out by
the cart load amongst an alien pco
pie who pay not a dollar Of the tax
Pets of the administration are sent to
Hawaii and the Philippine Islands
and paid salaries riyaing that of the
president himself The governor Of
the Philippines receives $2O,OOO per
annum, the commissioners $l5.OOO.
Justices of the supreme court $l2. 800,
circuit Judges $1,000 and district
Judges $4,000
In our colonial possessions 5000. 600
were spent last year in stamping out
cholera, and yet in the Philippines
the centre Of the trouble. the revenues
are scarcely sufficient TO pay munici.
pal expenses. BY decree of the
prt sidcnt. who by the way. does his
own lcgislaIing when il suits him. the
civil engineer of the Panama canal