12 Cfoc Conservative *
THE TARIFF ISSUE.
Editor The Conservative :
During a recent presidential cam
paign , when the subject of tariff , and
incidentally the power of congress to
tax for other purposes than revenue ,
was a vital and burning question , I
received from a non-partisan friend
the following communication on the
sxibject.
The recent pronouncement of our
murdered president has brought the
subject again prominently to the
front , and it may be that these sug
gestions of my friend would interest
and entertain some of the readers of
your unique and always instructive
journal.
I have pleasure in placing same at
your disposal. It is as follows :
Very truly ,
J. G. LUMBARD.
Easy Lessons in Political Economy.
"Discussion touching matters per
taining to political economy , so far as
the writer has observed , has been
wont to take on a lofty and imposing
style , and to lack the simplicity and
directness which belongs to and should
characterize rudimental teaching.
The resounding phrases usually em
ployed have been to the common mind
but as "sounding brass and tinkling
cimbals , " signifying nothing. Such
" " "Free
woids as "Protection" and
Trade" have a different significance
to every difft rent hearer , unless , per
chance , he shall have given this sub
ject some personal consideration and
study. The intricacies of chemistry
are not made intelligible by the dic
tionary definitions of that word , nor
a man rendered competent to com
pound remedies by an introduction tea
a druggist or a doctor.
' ' It may be that the present is not
the best time to talk plainly and
simply of homely but palpable facts ,
and that this fren/.iod season of acute
politics is obnoxious to tamer themds ,
but many questions now agitating the
public mind and dividing the public
opinion might , it would seem , find a
ready and easy solution if recurrence
were had to first and underlying prin
ciples of government and government
al power , and much vexatious and
profitless wrangling thereby saved to
both the people and the press.
Before deciding or inquiring what ,
in a given case , the government
should , or should not do , it would
seem convenient and wise to first in
quire what government is. What its
origin ? For what objects insti
tuted ? And whether proposed meas
ures be in furtherance of these ob
jects ? Or are they in the nature of
excesses and usurpations ?
As every one knows , man , at the
first , lived alone , and was a law unto
himself. Then came the patriarchal
government , when the father of the
family was the head of the state.
Later on came tribes , when the chief
was the supreme power. But the
second tribe , with a second supreme
head was one too many , for two could
not be supreme. And so came col
lision and war , and all the numerous
and hideous ills that follow , until in
the expensive and savage school of.
experience they learned the lesson of
compromise and joined hands as one
nation , and united for mutual protec
tion and defense. In this coalition
each gave up to society something of
his individual liberty for the sake of ,
and in exchange for , that safety of
person and security of property , which
before he had not , and without which
all liberty was valueless. Safety and
security then , are the things , and the
only things , due to us from society ,
and to compass these is the sole and
only purpose of government.
As of course many things are justly ,
nay , necessarily incident to this final
purpose such as armies , navies , coast
defenses , asylums for the insane , and
schools for the citizens , etc. , etc. For
all these are implied in , and necessary
to the safety of the individual citizen
and of the nation , which is a multi
plication of the individual. For this
purpose , and for the necessary ex
pense of this object taxes are legiti
mately levied and collected , and it
makes little difference in what manner
this fund be raised , provided it falls
equally upon those who supply it. But
as the purpose is a common purpose ,
so must the burden be made a com
mon burden. And when all this is
done , and provision made for the
maintenance and support of the gov
ernment in its office of protection of
life and property , the utmost function
of government is exhausted. Saftey
and security attained , the government
has exhausted its power ; and to go
further and undertake other things ,
and the exercise of further functions ,
is usurpation and constitutes a menace
to the very liberties it was ordained
to preserve. ' '
This is enough for the first lesson.
Whether I continue the series depends
upon how you receive this.
Yours , "BALLOU. "
Omaha , Nob. , Oct. 23 , 1901.
French , German and
Spanish tttuyhl by mail.
Every student funil.slied
a $20 Edison Phonograph.
Illustrated clrculur tree.
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