Year: 1873

Tfua, we still have to meet the conn., |
patifon of the cheap labor Of Eu-
rope, but here in Indiana and the I
Northwest we have the advantage
of that natural protection from
European markets here. Before
the manufacturer in Europe can
put his merchandise into our home
markets and into competition with
ours he must not only pay the cost
of transporting across the ocean,
but from the seaboard to us. To


what extent this affords our manu-


featuring interests protection I


have not the data from which to


figure. While / would regard .


tariff merely protective, as unwise


and oppressive, one for revenue on


y, while we are burthened by our


immense public debt, I would con-


slider equally 80. The people to


meet the demands of the govern
ment, are required to make contri-
buttons IN sum exceeding three


hundred millions every year. That


you may comprehend the magni-


tude of this sum, I may say, that


in three years it will equal the val


ue of the entire taxable property of


Indiana to-day. The statesman has
as yet been unable to devise more


than two ways by which the treas


ury can be supplied with money;


and these are by import duties and


direct taxation. Those articles on
which the duties are paid, that go


exclusively into the treasury, are


but few, and tariff that would


levy upon them contribution suffi-


GENTLY large to supply the money


necessities of the nation would be


prohibitory, and fail in producing


any revenues whatever. I take it,


therefore, that we must have tar


if other than one merely for re-


venue, or else accept the alterna.


tive of resorting to direct taxation


by which to put money into the


treasury. To this you would not


very cheerfully submit. To tariff


laws that build up monopolies, that


put q penny in the urn of the gov


ernment, while they take shillings


from the pockets of the. people, I
J am infexibly opposed. The pre-
sent tariff is unquestionably iniqni-
tous in some of its provisions, but
that it is no fault OF our Indiana
representatives OF either party, for
they were alike opposed by all. The
most formidable difficulty in the
, way OF securing just and equitable
impost Laws arises, I apprehend,


from the fact that the various inter-
ests and monopolies that seek pro-
lection combine in the Congress Of
the nation in securing the passage
of statutes fostering and building
MP their business at the expense OF
the great body of the people. The
tariff in Congress is not question
that divides political parties, but
one of purely local concern. The
Democrats who represent the salt,
or sugar, or cotton, and the Repub.
e icans who represent the wool iron
g or coal interests are alike for pro-
9 lection, while the Republican OF
3 Democrat of the Northwest make
q common cause against all these
i statutes that compel the people to
pay tribute without receiving any
q thing in return. We can only ex-
q pect to have these laws such as they
z should be, just and equal, when the
) great Northwest is strong enough
Q to control the action of Congress
!, What / have said in reference tc
q this yexatious question is crude ]
,, know. did not expect to allude
Il to it at oil, and in speaking of it
/ have endeavored to avoid giving il
any partizan coloring or direction
8 Having, Patrons, thus expressed
T myself in sympathy with you il
IS some of the important reforms yor
e. are SO earnestly laboring to inau
y gurate, may I hope that you vii
y pursue them in the spirit of kind
q ness and moderation. Let you,
u efforts be sincere and unselfsh
at Your way is beset with dificultie
G more formidable, perhaps than yo'
le now suppose, and you should NEE
N them courageously, but patiently
~ Reforms are Of slow growth, ant
J yours may be the common lot, t,
y labor and to wait. If you woul,
y succeed, demand nothing extray
q, agant, illibelal or impossible. A
I'd you expect legislation on some Q
a these subjects that 30 deeply con


cern you, your movement must be
K come, to some extent, political L
ot my Judgment it's hould not be part
b. san. A political party made e,
as clusively of farmers, of one interes
re or one class, would be calculated
st antagonize all the other varied OF
ne cupations and professions of til
r. country with you, and jeopardiz
~ the success of your cause. Yc
an can appeal to all classes and partie
ut for assistance, with an assuranc
o. that if you ask but for what is right
n it will sooner or later be accorded
o Indeed I believe your objects ca
u be much more certainly and speed
es lily attained through the instrument


. ality Of present party organization
ed than by the creation of q new pt
T. litical party. The politician, som
~ malicious fellow has said, is as
or whistle upon which every man ma
IN blow his own tune; and tits unfortu
to ately but too true. OF this at leas
le you need entertain no doubt, tn,
ar when the popular breeze begins I
ng blow, parties will set their sails
ss- catch it.