The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-05-22

of other men, and being naturally in favor of equal rights for all men, they are opposed alike to favors and expressions, holding as they do that 1t Is absolutely impossible to bestow favor without per petraung an oppression. While It Is true this difference between the two parties must always exist, 1t 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 or the election the Senate will certainly remain republican for the next four years, ana therefore no change in the tariff laws looking to their reduction can be made during the next Presidential term he- duction of the tariff cannot, therefore, be an issue of the coming campaign.
 But while the present high rates of tarin taxation cannot be reduced, the further extension of them or any deeper profii- gacy in disposlng of them can be checked and permanently arrested by the election of a 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 1t is difficult to con- ceive any scheme which the contents of the Treasury may not be used to promote or award.
 Ercuse for SubSidy. s.4
 As pointed out in the House. the one excuse for subsidy Is that without 1t the business to be subsidized could not be car- ried on at profit; that Is to say. 1t could not be carried on at all. If 1t be proper to pay one man for going into losing busi- ness. 1t seems difficult to realize why 1t would not be at least equally proper to pay another man for going Into a profitable business.
 If one man Is to be paid for engaging in the shipping business, which must be carried on at a loss. 1t Is difficult to see why 1t would not be equally defensible 10 pay another man for engag ging in the busi- ness Of agriculture or plumbing or tailor ing, which can be carried on at profit If 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 controlllny the government? Why Is not the mere pos- session of the Treasury sufficient excuse for footing it?
 Of course, this plunder must be nrov,ds., in some way or other. There Is bnt one source from which it can come and that is the pockets of the people. The demand for government favor always grows with every concession, and as concessiona ,n,,l tiply the means to meet them must ba provided by the levy of additional fayes To this extensive system of bountias nro. tections ard subsidies there can be hut one possible result, and that Is a manic followed by profound industrial denrassinn which can be relieved only through inc re- form of these abuses
 'Suspecte q" and Clean Hands.
 If the method of raising revenues cannot be affected by the election. and. therefore. cannot be an issue of the campaign. inc election can determine how the proceeds of revenue shall be expended; whether they shall be trusted to hands that are suspect. ed or hands that are undoubtedly clean.
 To make an effective campaign. the first