Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1844-12-17
PROTECTION TO DOMESTIC IN
DUSTRY."

DUSTRY."
The wings everywhere display this mot
10. They profess a special friendship to
the industrial classes. They claim popu-
lar support on the ground that their policy
peculiarly benefits labor. Their idea OF
what constitutes "protectlon to home indus
trv," is expressed and embodied in the ia
riff of 1912. They declare against any
modification of it; and denounce all those
who think it materially imperfect or erro-
neous. and who seek to rectiiy it, as UNI
patriotic and hostile to the interests OF
labor.
We propose briefly to examine these
lofty pretensions, and to analyze the cha
racter and effects of the measure on which
they are founded.
The principles on which a tariff ought
to be constructed, are obvious and simple
1t ought, in the first place, to collect from
the people only such an amount Of reye-
nue. as is necessary to an economical adj
ministration of government; and 1t ought,
in the second place, to do so by such IN adj
iustment Of its details that the burthens Of
taxation which it imposes on individuals,
shall be apportioned according 10 the abll-
ty of each to bear them, and the inciden
tai advantages which it confers on business
shall be equally distributed. Absolute per
lection may not be expected or required;
but law which generally disregards or
Systematically violates these principles.
must be essentially unjust and oppressive,
By this standard, let as try the tariff Of
1912; letus see whether it really and tru-
Iy ",protects industry" or whether it first
imposes on labor all the burdens of Co.
yernment, and then sacrifices it to the ra-
pacity of privileged capital.
Some articles are consumed in and about
an equal degree by the poorest man and
by the richest. A laborer with an income
of two thousand dollars a year, uses as
much salt as John Jacob Astor, with an
income five thousand times as large. And
it is obvious that the revenue derived from
a duty on salt, is paid in nearly the same
proportion by'every man. This is true in
various degrees, of all revenue which re-
suits from duties on articles of necessity.
Such taxation is imposed not according
to ability to pay-not according to proper
ty or to income-but per capita ON man
as man. The burden Of it falls maiaIy on
the poor, who are least able tol bear its
weight. 1t is radically unjust Itviolates
the recognized American principle, which
the cost Of government accord.
ing to the ability Of those who enjoy its
benefits. ltwars against national prospe-
rity and individual happiness. 1t weakens
the incentives, and lessons the results Of
industry. 1t represses the productive en-
ergy Of labor, which is the spring Of all
public and private afflQence: and, worst
of all, il abridges the comforts Of the toll
ing millions, who must ever earn their
bread by the sweat of their brow; and
such is the intimate connection between
physical well-being and intellectual moral
cuIture-it retards their advancement in
the scale Of humanity.
1. Tie Tariff Of 1912 selects as the
principal objects of taration, articles
which Gre Of the general class Of ncces-
sarieg.
According to an official statement of the
Treasury Department. il imDoses n tav on