Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 September 1892 — The Issue Is, Shall Trade Be Free? [ARTICLE]

The Issue Is, Shall Trade Be Free?

John Bidwell. the prohibition oand date for President, in his letter of acceptance, states three objections to protectionism. First, tariffs “do not seem adequately, if at all, to proteot labor. * * * There is no tariff on labor. ” Second, tariffs “bear unequally—that is to say, that under them the rich pay comparatively nothing and the masses nearly all the revenue so derived to support the Government.’’ They are directed at consumption. The poor man with a large family pays more than the rich man with no family. Third, tariffs “are blinding and deceptive. * • * There is not a man in the United States who can tell what he pays toward the support of the National Government." Besides people do not know what they pay, and imagine they pay very little; they tolerate reckless and extravagant expenditure, as they would not do if they knew exactly what they were paying.” These are all substantial and very grave objections to the existing tariff, but they do not go down anywhere near the root of the real question now before the American people. The question as to the best mode of raising revenue for the purposes of the Government is now pending. The question is not, Shall we have a tariff to raise needed revenue? but, Shall we have a tariff to take from the people $600,000,000, more or less, for the enrichment of favored classes? This great question of privilege, as opposed to right and justice, is the first question to be met and settled. The Democratic doctrine isthattaxes should be levied for no other purpose than to raUe revenue, and that a tariff levied to seize the property of the citizen, and

bestow It upon favored individuals to build up their private fortunes, is none the less robbery because It is under the form of law. The first business in hand is to apply this great doctrine of American law—a doctrine, as Gen. Black says, older than Amerioan law and eternally true—to the formation of our revenue system. Once that dootrlne is aocepted and established as the guide in all our tax legislation, it will be time to consider methods of raising revenue. To talk now as if It were merely a question as to one or another mode of raiding revenue is to ignore and obsoure the Issue. The question Is whether the tariff for robbery only shall be abolished once for all. The question ie, Shall we have free trade—absolutely free—with all parts of the world? The Democratic party says we must That settled, wo can then consider how to raise what revenue is needed without restraining any man of (he liberty to buy and sell uutaxed In any market in the world. Until then the issue must not be obscured.—Chicago Herald.