The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-08-08

about the policy of protection, conceived
and carried out as a disinterested state
man might conceive it. Our own clear
conviction as Democrats is, that in the
last analysis the only safe and legitimate
object of tariff duties, as of taxes Of
every other kind, is to raise revenue for
the support of the government; but that
is not my present point. We denounce
the Payne-AIdrich tariff act as the most
conspicuous example ever afforded the
country Of the special favors and monopo-
lstic advantages which the leaders Of
the Republican party have so often shown
themselves willing to extend to those to
whom they looked for campaign contribu-
tons. Tariff duties. as they have en-
plOyed them, have not been means of
setting up an equitable system of pro-
lection. They have been, on the contrary
a method of fostering special privilege.
They have made it easy to establish mo-
nopoly in our domestic markets. Trusts
have owed their origin and their secure
power to them. The economic freedom
of our people, our prosperity in trade, our
untrammeled energy in manufacture de-
pend upon their reconsideration from top
to bottom in an entirely different spirit.
IMMEDIATE REVISION DOWNWARD.
We do not ignore the fact that the bust
ness of country like ours is exceedingly
sensitive to changes in legislation of this
kind. 1t has been built up, however ILL
advisedly. upon tariff schedules written in
the way have indicated and its founda-
denly disturbed. When we act we should
act with caution and prudence, like men
who know what they are about and not
like those in love with a theory. It is
obvious that the changes we make should
be made only at such a rate and in such
a way as will least interfere with the
normal and healthful course of commerce
and manufacture. But we shall not on
that account act with timidity, as if we
did not know our own minds for we are
certain OF our ground and of our object.
There should be an immediate revision,
and ii should be downward, unhesitatingly
and steadily downward.
It should begin with the schedules
which have been most obviously used to
| kill competition and to raise prices in the
| United States, arbitrarily and without re
| gard to the prices pertaining elsewhere
| in the markets of the world; and il
| should, before It is finished or intermitted
| be extended to every item in every SEIZED
| ule which affords any opportunity fol
| monopoly, for special advantage to linn
| tied groups Of beneficiaries. or for sub
| sidized control of any kind in the markets
| or the enterprises Of the country; unit
| special favors of every sort shall have
| been absolutely withdrawn and every par
| of our laws OF taxation shall have beer
| transformed from a system of govern
| mental patronage into a system of jus1
! and reasonable. charges which shall fal
| where they will create the least burden
/ When we shall have done that, we car
! fix questions of revenue and of bushes:
| adjustment IN a new Spirit ana Win CIoal
/ minds. We shall then be partners witt
| all the business men Of the country. and
| a day of freer, more stable prosperity
! shall have dawned.
| There has been no more demoralizine
| influence in our politics in our time thar
| the influence of tariff legislation, the in
| fiuence of the idea that the government
was the grand dispenser Of favors. the
! maker and unmaker of fortunes. and o.
| opportunities such as certain men have
| sought in order to control the movement
! of trade and industry throughout thu
! continent. It has made the government {
! prize to be CAPTURED and parties the
| means Of effecting the capture. It Ia!
| made the business men Of one Of the mos
| virile and enterprising nations in the
/ world timid, fTetful, full OF alarms; Ia:
! robbed them of self-confidence and manly
| force, until they have cried out that they
| could do nothing without the assistance
| Of the government at Washington. 1
! has made them feel mat their lives de
| pended upon the Ways and Means Com
| mittee of-the House and the Finarc'
1 Committee Of the Senate Cin these latel
years particularly the Finance Committee
| Of the Senate) They have insisted ver7
| anxiouslv that these committees SHOULD
/ be made up only of their friends" unit
! tho country in its turn grew suspicious
! and wondered how those committees wer'
| being guided and controlled, by what in
! huences and plans Of personal advantage
! Government cannot be wnolesomely con
| Quoted in such an atmosphere. Its YER
/
| conceived in the general interest; the,
| are always for the beneft of the few, ant
| the few>who seek and obtain them hav'
| only themselves to blame II present.,
| they seem to be condemned and dis
! trusted.
HAS BEEN FALSE PROSPERITY.
For what has the result been? Pros
| perity? Yes, If by prosperity you meaI
! vast wealth no matter how distributed
I or whether distributed at all. or not: /
/ YOU mean vast enterprises built up 10 b.
! presently concentrated under the cOntro
| Of compare lively small bodies Of men
| who can determine almost at pleasur
/ whether there shall be competition or not
/ The Nation as a Nation has grown i'm
! menselv rich. She is Justly proud o
| her industries and OF the genius OF he
/ men OF affairs. They can master any
thing they set their minds to. and W
| have been greatly stimulated under thei
/ leadership and command. Their laurel
are many and very green We must &C
/ cord them the great honors that are thei
due and we must preserve what the.