The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1844-07-12
wooDsFIELD OHIO FRIDAY, JULY ~, 1874.


cents per annum; or, in other words, tariff of
absolute prohibition against foreign clothing would
give to the domestic makers 10 cents more per
annum to each man than they have received under
the late and existing laws. And notwithstanding
the American tailor is called upon to defend the
cause of home protection against foreign competi-
ton, or else be driven from his shop board.
But there is one more fact, Mr.. Chairman, which
l desire to give the committee from this report
1t is this that under the operation of the first three
fourths of the present year, there was imported
into the country $l75,0O0 worth of ready made
clothing; nearly twenty times the annual amount
imported during the periods mentioned under the
is claimed that the present is tariff of home pro-
lection!
But, sir, let me ask Of gentlemen how the boot
and shoe maker, tailor, and halter, are benefited
by law which gives them but 33 1-3 to so per
cent. protection, when at the same time, it places
similar imposition upon all other manufactured
articles which they have to buy' The tailor pays
on his boots, hat, and clothing; and the clothing
of his family; and upon his salt, sugar, pepper,
spice fish, &C., far greater tax than is levied to
project him. So, also, with the halter, and boot
and shoe maker They all pay, more or less in the
protective tax upon their articles of family con-
sumption, many times the amount of protection
secured to them. I admit, sir, that if each man
could, by law, be equally protected, neither would
lose at the end of the year, nor could either be
gamer; but such cannot be the operation Of an
insdious protective tariff The protected classes
will get along pretty smoothly, but the unprotect-
ed will feel the disadvantages of the burden i'm
posed. The farmer you cannot protect, because
there can be no competition to his business from
abroad. The law, therefore chains him down, and
tells the protected classes to fleece him at their
discretion. Yet, SIR, the farmer, too, is exhorted
to go for protection.
shall now pass on, sir, to some other positions
assumed by the advocates of an exorbiant tariff of
protection. Gentlemen in this discussion have
said that the fathers of the constitution were pro-
ectionsts, and refer to the revenue law of 1890 to
establish this declaration, quoting from the pream
BILE of that law as their assumed evidence in the
case The word "protection" is found in that
preamble, admit; but does the preamble fix the
mpositions upon foreign goods specified in the
law? The law ITSELF sir, is the true test; and by
reference to the act of 1890, you will discover
that the average duties upon imports were about
per cent Descending from this period to 1915,
the tariff laws averaged but an ad valorem scale of
duties of Is per cent Sir, it is ridiculous for gen.
temen to charge that disciples Of free trade
who advocate a revenue tariff of 25 or 33 l-3 per
cent. upon imports, while the fathers of the GOV.
ernment, who levied tariff of from to Is per
cent are claimed as having been the advocates of
the federal doctrine of protection. leave them
TO reconcile they the contradictory positions
which they occupy in the attempt made by them
to misead the public mind, and impose doctrines
on thel country as emanatng from the fathers of
the constitution that never were originated or
joined by them
Sir, the end and object of this high protective
policy should arouse the agricultural interests of
the country to just sense of the ultimate burdens
that will rest upou it, for the prohibitory character
of the policy is certainly tending to direct tax
alton as that it exists. Can any one doubt the
truth of this position, with the arguments of the
advocates of protection before them' Do they not
assume that the manufacturers of this country must
be protected by law against the competition of
other countries? And how is this competition to
be prevented but by destroying it. 1stnot insist
ed that such protection will, in a short time, enable
our own manufacturers to furnish all we need, and
at prices as low as any other country! What
source of revenue, ask, then, will be left to sup
ply the wants of the government, after the impor-
tations of all foreign goods are at an end' But one
sir; and that the landed interest of the country
The farmers will not only have the State govern
ments to support, but the general government,
with its immense expenditures. Think you, sir,
that the interest which has been begging the gov
eminent for half century for indirect bounties to
support it, will agree TO contribute cent for its
support! No; the cry of oppression will be raised,
and appeals to the sympathies and patriotism of the
country to save them from destruction; and as now
they will be heard, and the burden rolled over
upon the farming class of the country as it ever
has been. There is no ear 10 hear their remon-
STRANGE, no eye to pity them; they are to be the
ments of the machinery of civil government are
to be sustained, and the manufacturers into the
bargain. Sir, nearly all the revenue collected and
consumed by the government is drawn from the
pockets of the farmer by the indirect operation of
the tariff, and the manufacturing class, if their
prohbitive system is carried out, will change this
indirect ltax of eighteen millions of dollars, to a
direct tax of the like amount. And if we submit
much longer to their dictation, the chains of a
manufacturing despotism will be fastened upon us,
and the interests of all the other classes sacrificed
to its unhallowed cupidity. Sir, as remarked
before, do not wish to be regarded as the enemy
of this important branch Of national industry and
enterprise, whilst tits kept within its proper sphere;
but when its gigantic strides to power and exclu-
siveness already threaten to annihilate Gas il now
paralyzes) the agricultural and commercial inte-
rests of the country, il is time to prescribe bounds
Il