The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1905-04-20
PopuIlsm INDICATED

orators nave Den vigorously Opposeu
to a protective tariff ever since the
populist party was organized. We de-
clared that a high protective tariff
was merely cloak for special privi-
leges-creating trusts, monopolizing
industry and destroying competition.
While we warned the people against
the impending crisis, our republican
editors and candidates for congress de-
clared that the populists were crazy
that protective tariff only built up
home industries, created demand and
would result in a great era of prosper
ity. They further declared that pop
ulists and radical democrats were at
tempting to destroy the government OF
our fathers, encouraging anarchy at
home and encouraging union laborers
to wage war against the captains of
industry.
While the people in general disre-
garded the populist argument, they
have ever since enjoyed an unprece-
denied era of trusts, monopolies, graft,
imperialism and corruption Of every
kind
We called special attention to the
object of the Dingley tariff act, but
the people thought it was good thing.
So they have reaped what republican
spellbinders have sown.
While this populistic logic was con-
demned ten years ago, it is now being
considered and even endorsed by some
republican newspapers.
Even republican editors are using
their editorial space to show that pro-
! tective tariff is merely cloak for
special privileges-the breeder of
trusts. Here is the republican story
in nutshell written by an economist
on the editorial page of the Cleveland
World, a dyed-in-the-wool republican
newspaper:
! The earlier demand for tariff reform
arose out of surplus in the treasury
which pointed to the fact that unnec-
essary revenue was being raised and
| that tariff taxes could be reduced.
Careful consideration of the facts, to-
gether with the provisions and meth
DDS of framing the Mckinley bill, con-
vinced the people that, in the matter
of the tariff, the policies of the gov
eminent were unjust and produced in
equalities. The election OF 1892 ex-
pressed the deliberate Judgment Of the
people that protectionism was a cloak
for special privilege and that it fos-
of the people.
The thwarting of the will of the
people by a handful of senators, who
were believed to be the representatives
of special interests, and the decision
of the supreme court that the income
tax was invalid, only served to inten-
sify the feeling that special privilege
was firmly intrenched In the seats of
Ipower.
The enactment of the Dingley tariff
bill in it's methods, it's content and it's
apparent results, has confirmed that
opinion. With a mandate from the
people to settle the money question in
in particular manner, the first step
/ of the government was to enact new
| tariff law. To make matters worse
that act was framed in such way as
to perpetuate and strengthen the very
principles Of special privilege deliber-
ately condemned by the people in 1892.
Following upon the passage of the
Dingley act and by many referred to it,
we have the rise of the so-ealled trusts,
monopolizing industry and crushing
out competition. The history of the
trusts, the method of their formation
and their management, have directed
attention to the whole question of cor
porations. AS corporations are the
creatures of government and derive
their power from government, the pos
session by them of powers subversive
of law, justice and individual rights,
has naturally thrown upon the govern.
ment the responsibility for all corpo.
i. rate abuses. Every form of corporate
abuse has received attention and the
blame for each is laid at the door OF