Democratic Sentinel, Volume 20, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 February 1896 — MORE WAR TARIFFS. [ARTICLE]

MORE WAR TARIFFS.

INCONSISTENT WORK FOR THE CHRISTMAS SEASON. A Sad Commentary on the Spread of Lofty Doctrines Preached from Thousands of Pulpits—One Republican Senator Who Favor Freer Trade. Had Better Gone Home. Instead of adjourning as usual for the Christmas holidays, a time for the universal celebration of the message: “Peace on earth, good-will towards men," the Republican House of Representatives remained iu session at Washington for the purpose of preparing a high-tariff bill. Luder the pretense of desiring to raise more revenue for public expenses in event of a foreign war, the McK : nleyites who misrepresent the people iu Congress have hurriedly constructed a protectionist measure which they have rushed through the House. Although not in all respects so bad as the iufanious tariff of 1890, which the Democrats repealed iu 1894, the bill is practically a restoration of that trade-prohibiting law. A horizontal raise of 15 per cent, in duties all along the line, will effectually shut out the goods which foreign nations are anxious to send us in ex-' change for our surplus products. It is a sad commentary on the spread of the lofty doctrines preached in hundreds of thousands of pulpits at the time, that the people’s representatives should be engaged in trying to enact laws so much at variance with the gospel of peace and good-will. That all mankind are brothers; that the boundaries of nations are but artificial lines; that war between two countries is as hateful as between two individuals; that the best interests of men everywhere are united by common ties; that all races and peoples should be friendly and helpful, this Is the lesson of Christmas. But the McKinleyites hold a different faith. They believe that it is the duty of each nation to be as exclusive as possible; that men should look upon their neighbors who live across the boundary line of a political division, as enemies to be hated and punished; that the foreigner should not be allowed to trade with us, and that the Ideal state of society would be one in which laws were shaped so as to inflict the greatest possibly injury on the commerce of outside countries. Acting on these principles they now seek to shut out imports by high taxes, and thus to establish a policy which breeds isolation, jealousy and distrust, instead of free intercourse and mutual confidence. That the threatened Increase of tariff duties cannot possibly become law, owing to the President’s steadfast opposi- ’ tion to protectionist theories, does not lessen the unchristian spirit of the men and party who are responsible for them. They are willing and anxious to check civilization, hinder human development, and delay the coining of universal peace and prosperity, for the sake of narrow partisanship and the spoils of office. If the people are wise they will at the next election put it beyond the power of these mischiefmakers to carry out the schemes which they now advocate.

The Free Port Project. Senator Frye of Maine has introduced Into the Senate a bill which authorizes the establishment of a free port at Fort Pond Bay, a harbor on the extreme eastern end of Long Island, N. Y. The bill provides for what will practically be a great government bonded warehouse, with facilities for operating factories within its walls, under the supervision of the United States Treasury authorities. Vessels entering and leaving this port will be free from tonnage dues, from entrance and clearing fees, and from any harbor master’s fees due under State laws. Foreign merchandise may transshipped in the port, or landed upon the piers, without being entered or specially bonded, and imported materials may be manufactured for exportation by the factories within the limits of the port. The final section of the bill authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury, under like circumstances and conditions, to establish similar free ports at any other suitable places in the United States. Should the bill become law there is no doubt but that the novel experiment, for this country, of a free port would speedily be tried. Eminent capitalists have already expended considerable money on a railroad to Fort Pond Bay. and have purchased large tracts of land to be used as sites for docks, warehouses, and factories. An excellent harbor and broad deep channels to the open sea Insure the safety of vessels entering the port The advantages to the shipping interests, and the import and export trades, would soon make Fort Pond a center of commerce, and its success would be followed by the establishment of many similar ports. That any changes in our tariff system which makes it easier to and export goods will be greatly beneficial to the country, is beyond question. Democrats will therefore favor the project for free ports, as a long step toward the ideal condition of perfect freedom for vessels to come and go as they please, without toll or tax. bringing such goods as we need and carrying our products to every shore. But it is certainly very inconsistent for a protectionist Senator to aid in extending facilities for foreign trade. Only a few years ago this same Senator Frye stated before the Home Market Club that “we import annually $700,000,000 worth of goods, all of which could and should be made in this country.” Now he appears in Congress to urge a measure which will encourage the Importation of the hated foreign products. Which is right, the Senator Frye who wants to totally exclude the goods of other countries by a high-tariff wall, or the Senator Frye who tvants to establish free ports where foreign goods can be landed, stored or manufactured,more easily than under the present system? Is it not the general opinion of all business men that the latter is the more sensible policy ? Buzzards for Pottery Workers, Ex-Representative Buchanan, of New Jersey, who is in Washington, has felt it necessary to explain his presence at the national capital: “I came to eat Christmas turkey with my sis-ter-in-law.” But Mr. Buchanan took occasion to add, in an incidental way: “While I am here I shall see what can

be done to restore the duty”—meaning the duty on pottery. From which it would seem that the pottery interests would like to feast on turkey all the year round, leaving to the consumer the less nutritious fare of buzzard.— Philadelphia Record. CLEARED HIS CLIENT. How a Western Lawyer Overcame the Preponderance of Kvidence. ‘•My first case,” said a well-known attorney, "wag the defense of a negro preacher in Missouri who had been arrested for stealing wood from a railroad company. A great deal of fuel had been lost from time to time, so when the culprit was arrested the company was so anxious to make an example of him that it employed special counsel and prosecuted the case vigor, ously. The evidence against the old man was convincing. lie had been seen sneaking around the woodpile and was arrested while carrying off a load. “I had subpoenaed about twenty wellknown business men to testify to the previous good character of the defendant. When the prosecution’s case was (dosed I put one on the stand and asked: “.‘Do you know the defendant’s reputation for honesty and integrity?’ “ ‘Yes,’ was the answer. “ ‘What is it—good or bad?’ “ ‘Bad. He will steal anything he can get his hands on.’ “A titter ran through the court room. It wasn’t the answer I nad expected, but it was too late, so I put on a bold front and called another. He testified as the other witness had, and tlie prosecuting attorney rubbed his hands with satisfaction. Before I got through with my witnesses I 'proved that tny client was a most notorious thief, who was never known to neglect an opportunity to steal something, no matter how trifling it might be. Then I called a couple of physicians, proved the existence of a mental disorder known as kleptomania, read some authorities to show that it was a good defense if proved, and submitted my case. The old preacher was acquitted, and thereafter stole with impunity, for he considered his acquital in the face of facts equivalent to a license to steal.” —San Francisco Call.

Wilson Bill in the Sonth. In his speech against the proposed tariff bill Mr. Underwood, of Alabama, said: “It has been contended on the floor of the House that the Wilson bill has caused great loss to our manufacturing interests throughout the country and loss of work to those persons engaged in manufacturing in this country. As far as the district that I represent is concerned, the opposite has been the case. During the summer of 1894, before the repeal of the McKinley tariff bill, a large majority of the manufacturers in the Birmingham district were “out blast” and a large number of men were out of employment. After the repeal of the McKinley bill and the enactment of the Wilson bill, during the fall of 1894 and the winter of 1895, the furnaces in the Birmingham district commenced to go into blast, until at the present day instead of there being a large number of men out of employment all of the furnaces of this district are in operation except six, and four of these six are prevented from going Into operation by reason of litigation in which they became Involved prior to the enactment of the Wilson bill. Instead of a reduction of wages, as is claimed by the Republican members on the floor of this House, the wages of the laborers employed in the coal mines, iron ore mines and furnaces in the Birmingham district have been increased 25 per cent. These are facts and not theories, and go to show that where manufacturing industries are located at advantageous points a protective tariff is not necessary for their prosperity.” Not the Time for Tariff Revision. As was to be expected, pressure is being brought to bear upon the House Ways and Means Committee to traverse the entire tariff law for the purpose of satisfying various interests preferring tariff for protection. Chairman Dingley and his committee should not suffer this pressure to alter their already designed scheme. This is not the time for general tariff revision. It may be that if the executive, the Senate and the House were of the same way of thinking on political economy the law might be reviewed not only for increasing duty at some point" but for lowering it perhaps at others. Whatever effect a deliberate reconsideration of the subject might have under other circumstances, this Is not the time for tariff revision. The country wants rest and peace. Business is already showing confident reaction and steady revival. Manufacturers, merchants and farmers do not desire to start out in a new year apprehensive of radical changes in the customs. Trade and production are both accustomed now to the existing schedules, and to provoke irritation would be the chief result of opening up a tariff debate which, while wasting Congress’ time, would inevitably be futile in the end.—Chicago Times-Herald. Iron Workers Happy. The Iron Age of De*. 28 has an article summing up the i year .1895—the greatest year for the iron industry ever kfaown. After mentioning some of the unsatisfactory features it says: “Those who have least cause to complain, among all interested in the iron and steel trades, are the workingmen, who received substantial advances In wages and were better employed than for several years.” It was not the iron workers who asked Reed and Dingley to increase duties on Imported goods. An If and a Why. If a tax on wool to secure the vote of Ohio is a good thing, regardless of the best Interests of our manufacturing industries, why is it not a good thing to tax hides as a means of securing the votes of Montana, Idaho and the other cow-punching sovereignties of the great sage-brush region?—New York World. New Style of Corset. The latest ideas in the way of stays are those which lace up in front Instead of the back. They are said to be much better for a weak back, and also have the advantage of making the waist look much smaller than the old Style. |