The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1909-10-14
THURSDAY. OCTOBER IA, 1909.

Through the courtesy Of Senator La
Toilette the PILOT Editor received
conv of the Payne Aldrich tariff act
several weeks ago. a study OF the
schedules. one after another demon
strates that the tariff bill passed has
effected no material reduction IN the
duties by which the consumer Will be
benefited; that it will not reduce nut
increase the cost of living. The few de
creases that are to be found are usually
unimportant. A downward revision
which can be detected only with a mi
croscope is hardly matter for pointing
to with pride" by a great party pent on
keeping its pledges And no loud pro-
testations Of the tariff advocates can
conceal the greed and impudent steal of
these schedules In enacting this legls'
lation care was taken to protect every
monoply in the country, while upon the
necessaries of life, there have not only
been no reductions, but upon many an
increase of taxation, especially upon
articles composing the great buIk OF
clothing worn by the poor. 1t If super
fuous to analyze the different schedules
of this tariff bill Sufficient to say
that il has every fault 1t is like DR..
Johnsons joint of mutton which was
"ill fed, ill-kiled, i'll kept and addressed.
so the tariff bill is ill.conceived, III
drawn, Unexplained and ill.defended.
The people are slow to assert their
rights, they are not always militant as 10
their interests. When Golden wasagltat-
ing for the repeal of the corn laws in Eng
land, he complained that the people who
came forward 10 besiege the members OF
Parliament were those whose selfish inter
ests led them to protest against any
change. This human trait received fresE
illustration during the recent extra 7es-
sion. The men whose pockets were to be
filled by the tariff were loud ard active,
while those who suffer under the weight
of an indirect and invisible tax were re-
latively Indifferent only feeble voice
spoke for the forgotten millions
The inevitable tendency of all tariff
legislation is to convert the masses into
vassals, taxable and dutiable, without
pity or measure az was said OF the
French peasants before the revolution.
Indirect taxes will always partake OF
political dishonesty for they abstract
money from the peoples pockets IN an
uncertain ratio without their knowing
it, and it ultimately amounts TO the
poorest of the population being mulcted
in more than their Just share of the ma
tonal burdens. The very name tariff
has a dishonorable origin The duties
levied by the moors ut Tarta were moth.
ing hut black mail They were the equiv
aent for no service rendered; they con
ferred no benefits on anybody; they
commanded So much and 1t WAS paid
under compul-ion.
1T i beyond the sphere of true gov
ornamental power to tax one man, to help
the business Of another. ltis, by power
taking money from one to give it to an
other. This il robbery, nothing more
or less When man earns dollar il
il his own and no power of reasoning
can justify the Legislative power in TAX
ing it from him except for the uses Of
the government
Protection creates artificial barriers
between nations preventing that mater
iel interchange Of products which makes
for comfort peace and the sOlidity q
mankind Protection has not ouly be
come the mother of trusts, but, by sup
pressing foreign competition, It ha
granted them license TO prey upor
the people Any legislation, howeve
plausible and helpful, that IN the small
est degree lessons the cultivation anC
exercise Of self reliance and self help
strikes blow against national progress
The paternalism in government which
seeks 10 take away from the individual
the power Of performance and aims t.
safeguard him in the same measure II
which we protect the infant not onl,
fails in it's purpose, bat is a detriment t,
the community. II makes the govern
ment sort Of hospital at public expens
Cor the tariff benelicariea