The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1842-02-01
From, the Boston Alias.
THE TARIFF.

From the Boston Alias
THE TARIFF.
Further notes upon the Tariff and Free Trade.
Government, whether represented by one
man or the million can learn wisdom but
from two sources-its own experience, and the
experience of other nations. The former is an
expensive and dilatory mode of instruction.
and that government is best, in this respect at
least, which can reap harvest of knowledge
from the bitter fruits of experience ripened by
others. Read the following:
Russia was prosperous in 1916, II, rs
and 10; but, fascinated with the theories of
| Adam Smith and ]. B. Say, she adopted new
Tariff in 1918, on the plan of letting trade
regulate itself. In this plan she abrogated her
prohibitions and lowered her duties. The
country was Immediately deluged with foreign
goods, and in due course drained of her specie
as we have been in past years, to pay for the
surplus of those imports, which so far exceeded
her exports. The most disastrous consequent
ces took place. Circulation was stopped
Distress and wretchedness overspread the land
The manufacturers first fell victims to this
mistaken policy. Agriculture next felt the
shock, and finally bankruptcy swept away a
!
whose cupidity had paved the way for the mis-
cry Of the country"
| Here is experience-here are known and
undenable effects, resulting from equally well
attested causes; and how was the evil correct
ed? By a return TO Protective Tariff. The
following extract is from the Emperor of
Russia's Circular, written by Count Nessel.
rode, in 1927, on the subject of the new Tariff:
"To produce happy effects, the principles Of
commercial freedom must be generally adopt
ed-Ihe State ich'ch adopts, ,chile others reject
fhem must condemn lis otcn industry and CON-
merce to pay a ruinous tribute TO those of other
nations.
From circulation exempt from restraint
and the facility afforded by reciprocal ex.
changes, almost all governments at first re.
solve TO seek the means of repairing the evil
which England has been doomed to suffer
but experience and more correct calculations
because they were made from certain data,
and upon results already known, of the peace
that had Just taken place, forced them 10 ad-
here 10 the prolibitJry system.
"England preserved hers. Austria remain
ed faithful to the rule she LAID down, to guard
herself against the rvalship of foreign industry.
France, with the same views, adopted the most
rigorous measures of precaution, = and Prussia
published new Tariff in October last, which
proves that she found it impossible not to fol-
low the example of the rest of Europe.
SIN proportion as the proiibitory system is
extended and rendered perfect in other coun-
tries that Stale tchich pursues The contrary sys-
fem makes from day 10 day, sacrifices more
offensive and more considerable.
at is with the most lively feelings of regret
that we acknowledge that it is our own proper
experience which enables us TO trace this pic
ture The evils which it details have been
realized in Rusias and Poland, since the con-
clusion of the act of 1918. Agriculture with
out a market-industry without protection,
langush and decline. Specie is exported, and
the most solid commercial houses are shaken.
Tine public prosperity would soon feel the
wound inflicted on private fortunes, if new
regulations did not promptly change the actu-
al state Of affairs"
"Erenis haze prored that our Agriculture
and our Commerce as nell as our Manufactures
are not only paralyzed, but brought TO the brink
Of ruin"
Here is experience for our guide, against the !
theories of our free trade philosophers.
LIE, it be borne in mind, however, that we
do not quarrel with the doctrines of free trade
when rightly applied and understood. The
very term 'trdde,' implies dealings between
two partIes-and to make it free trade, there !
must be no restriction on either side. Trade |
is an exchange of commodities money repre-
sents the value and settles the difference. Let
the exchange of commodities between us and
England be free on both Sides and no one will
complain. Make it free on our side and re.
strictive on theirs, and it " condemns our in.
dustry and commerce to pay ruinous tribute"
to the commerce and industry of England. To :
call such situation of things by the name of
free traic. is as absurd as to say that boxing
match between two persons, one of whom has
his hands tied behind him, is fair fght. be.
cause forsooth, one is free to knock the other
down as often as he pleases.
A friend. whose opinion value higher than
that of any theoretical writer living has Illus
trated the absnrdity Of a free trade country who
will take nothing from US she can do without,
excepting gold and silver, in return Tor what
we buy, in the following manner: 60 to my
estate in the country to pass the summer, and
, =, surrounded with twenty farmers. They
;n,orcbanoe labor, tools, horses &C., with each
o,her-and they cultivate their farms and get
in their crops by an interchange of labor and
tools, without payment of a dollar. On my