The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-08-26
FREE ART.

has started on that basis and viii be
won by the Democracy of Utah.
FREE ART.
At the next session OF congress the
Free Art League will endeavor to Sc
cure favorable action on a bill provid-
ing for the removal of the duty on
works of art in paintings and sculpture
brought in from foreign countries. The
present duty is practically prohibitive.
It all but makes II impossible to bring
into the United States the works Of the
great masters Of Europe and other
countries This duty should be removed.
1t has been retained largely as a sop to
the sentiment that, as only the rich can
afford to import objects of art, they
should be made to pay heavily for the
privilege.
This is a mistaken idea 1t would be
true enough IL only the rich were able
to appreciate paintings and sculpture
But a man who might not be able to
afford SO for a painting is very often
better judge OF a painting, is more
appreciative Of beautiful things than
the man who has thousands at his dis
posal for such things. Another cOnsid-
Grafton is the fact that, sooner or later,
the great collections find their way into
public art galleries and museums,
where everybody san see. admire and
enjoy them.
This free art question came up in con-
gress in 1894. Senator Vest of Missouri
made an earnest speech in favor Of the
removal Of the duty, at that time, un-
der the Mckinley act. Is per cent ad
valorem. The present duty is 20 per
cent ad valorem. Among other things
Senator Vest said:
II am not a worshiper of the aes-
thetic. I am not connoisseur in paint
ings or in sculpture. But, Mr.. Presi-
dent. as an educated man, fit to be here
as the representative of an educated
people. 1 must say that one tendency
Of this age is going to the extreme, and
that is the tendency to be exclusively
practical: that we should escape, if pos
sible from all that seems to be aesthet-
lc or beautiful or artistic. and confine
ourselves TO absolute physical necessi-
ties.
1.-THE greatest peoples of the whole
world have been those who were prac-
teal and at the same time devoted to
art and sculpture. When the people of
the United States by their legislation
discriminate against art I'm any shape,
whether painting or sculpture. or even
| literary production. then the decadence
of the republic will commence. There
| is something else in this world besides
meat and bread and clothing. A peo-
pie who have nothing else are on the
verge of barbarism. A people who can
not admire art, who eschew 1t because
! II is unnecessary, will soon degenerate
into fit subjects of despotism.
when a great painting comes to a
free people, 1t speaks to them often
times with a voice which oratory can
not rival. 1t teaches them a great NOR
al lesson. II encourages them to heroic
/ endeavor. It softens the hard places in
the everyday life of all of us, AID
leads us to that higher and better life
to which every human soul must as
pire"
1 And the senator closed with the
statement that he would always. with
/ his voice and his vote, encourage scuip-
ture, painting, music. literature, and all
that makes human life better. 1t is 10
be hoped sincerely that the national
legislature at its next session will re-
move the duty on objects of art.