The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-09-24


For the whole year of 1912 the value OF imports
consumed may be stated round numbers, at SiOO,
600 600 This varies 5i2,OOO,OOO from lS4i, and
would raise the average rate OF duties little Tor his
year.
But have given these examples simply to prove
the proposition that duiies may be mpos In such
wav as To tax the entire amonnt OF imports IN refe-
renee the standard OF 20 per cent. IN conformity to
the act of 1888; raise the most revenue by CLASSIC
flying articles according To The rate OF duty they will
bea to avoid prohibtory duties altogether 70 DIS
cminate necessarily and justly, by laying on the less
ntabe articles no more tax than their Importation
will bear for the sake of revenue TO YAK the im orts
actually consumed the lowest possible average rate
consistent with revenue; and to reach maximum al
valoren duty according to the amount Oh iupor'a'lon
and of revenue upon articles Ut primary importance
needing nroecton most, and most capable of bearing
the burden of revenue. And SUCH tarih as 'his
thus land 10 what would define Ia De discrtmindf
ing tariff for rerenue. Such tarlli lald Tor 40
600 600 of revenue could la to be equal, harmo-
ni,ns and mode rate and therefore permanent and
sufficiently protective for every interest IN the whole
country. :, -.
1t seems to me tha, he who smiles at The idea OF a
discriminating tariff for rerenue is ossfai 10 ieho-
rance of The subject for whilst do cherish the per-
fctIy Bile doctrines of free rade do not al
nit the dogma that "where protection commences re-
venue ceases" 1t viii not bear scrutiny. ii am
told that where prohibition commences there revenue
ceases will admit it in general sense But "a thou
sand examples may be given of increasing revenue
with increasing protection. There are IN fact, but
two elements of protection by Legislation known TO
me.
The first and minor element is the q,iantum Of
tar imposed the second and major element Is the
amount of foreign competition excluded from the home
market by the tax. Thus, take one hundred dollars
worth of any article of importation you choose and
ascertain if possible the precise amount of duty 1t
would bear without excluding any portion OF II from
importation. Suppose that duty to be III per cent,
ad valorem. Such duty on such an amount would
produce ten dollars of revenue, and would give pro-
lection only to the tent which that ten dollars the
quantum of tax, would tend to raise the price OF the
foreign article here aad often raises the price not
at all But let us suppose that ~ per cent. tax
would not prohibit the importation of the article en-
tirely, and that would diminish its importation only
one-tenth the Government would then receive 20
per cent upon 80 in value, or get SlS in revenue IN
stead of $40; and the domestic producer would have
the foreigners fabric taxed 20 instead Of 10 per cent
and have one-tenh of the amount OF his articles
excluded from competition with him. Go further I:
let suppose that to doub the tax as IN this case
would exclude one-hae Of the Importation OF the
foreign article, still the Government would receive
30 per cent. on so, SO revenue, as much as under
the 10 per cent tax and the home producer would
be still more protected by having one halt OF the To-
reign article excluded from competition IN the do
nestle market This, though, is too plain to be dis
cussed Our people well understand the proposition
tHdt idT veCeHue tdTHu eau anu VIII 6NO SuAhSiohs
protection and wonder both that those who oppose
protection for projections sake should deny that
tariff will afford ample scope and verge
enough for protection, and that these who seek pro-
lection for its own sake should not be satisfied with
the amount which the large revenue now required
would surely give. Revenue is to the protected IN
terests as it were the natural sunlight and soil and
| am certain that the moment they seek more heat
and moisture than Nature Affords with proper cult
walton by industry and skill, they Will become mere
hohose plants which too costly for common con-
SUMPTION which too insipid and artificial TO- the
unvltated taste and too sicky and faint to bear the
rude shocks of our climate which they are sure to
encounter in the vicssitudes of political elements
Better far that the good fruits OF our home industry
should be planted in the open air, in the genial sun
and soil Of the broad bosom of fertile and pro-
life land, for the millions to enjoy and partake OF,
than to be pent up in the suiocating artificial tenn
perature of the brick walls and glass roofs of the
wealthy few, which cannot protect them from the
storm when il shall come, as it will come, to devas-
tate and scatter them where they cannot bear the
breath Of Heaven do not love the hot-house fruits
or vcget bles, but ! do love and gratefully enjoy
every variety of the fruits and vegetables of the free
aied garden. do not advocate the thought or prac-
tce of forcing by legslat the growth of protected
interests of any kind but do devoutly wish to see
every interest of my country every where flourish
and prosper under the natural causes which exist,
aad which are infinite and uder the legitimate ope-
ratons Of our Institutions which are necessary and
growing larger and larger the mighty resources OF
our country become more and more wonderfully de.
veloped.
To be continued.