The Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1843-1852, 1844-08-28
TERMS risgHE ps2LEAR ARs PER HNuM,


which furnished clear and conclusive answer TO
every argument now advanced in favor OF the |
protective system. hat then were the princi- !
Piles of Massachusetts, in 1S242 She stood shoul-
der to shoulder with South Carolina in opposition
to the tariff OF that year and is worthy Of spe-
cal remark thatwith the exception Of two or three
votes from Western Virginia, there was not single
vote given in either branch Of Congress from any
State south or southwest Of the Potomac in favor
OF that measure. But, in lS25,a great political
alliance took place between the East and West,
one OF the fruits of which soon seen in the
new attitude suddenly assumed by Massachusetts
In regard to the protective system. Mr.. Webster,
from being the leading opponent of that system,
S az onee became .ss prominent supporter And
distinguished statesman for sacrificing his constu-
tional scruples his principles of political economy
of political justice, and of equal taxation was that
it had become the interest Of Massachusetts to sup
port system which, Ito use his own language in
1S20) was calculated to 'favor great capitalists,
rather than personal industry or the owners of
| small capitals" to make "the farmer give more
than he does for all he buys, and receive less
for all he selis" and finally, "to diminish the in
dustry, impede the prosperity, and corrupt the
morals of the people, Such, sir, were the con-
elusive arguments urged in advance against the
tariff Of 1924, and such the great principles Of
justice and equality which Massachusetts sac
rihced at the shrine of her pecunary interest.
Accordingly Mr.. Webster voted for the tariff of
1898, and has ever since been prominent sup
porter Of the interest of"large capitalists" making
| "the farmer give more for all he buys and receive
less Cor all he sells;" and at the same time "dimin-
ishing the industry, impeding the prosperity, and
| But the honorable senator from Massachusetts
Mr.. Bates has selected certain votes given by the
representatives Of the South including myself in
creasng the duties upon certain articles in the tariff
Of 1928.
Now, will inform that senator that those votes
were given to defeat that "bill Of abominations I"
urged upon the country to promote the special in-
Fl teress Of Massachusetts. We that this system
OF protection was about to assume more gigantic
I dimensions, and to devour the substance Of the
country, and we determined to put such ingrcdi-
ents in the chaice would poison the monster and
commend 1t to his own lips. This is what is some
times called fighting the devil with fire." policy
which, though l did not altogether approve,
adopted in Difference to the opinions of those with
: whom acted. In 1882, the public debt having
been extinguished, the tariff Of that year was pass
ed, retaining all the more oppressive features OF
the act of 1928, and relieving the manufacturing
s ss!2ss all shs burdens es and
: out OF this grew the compromise Of 1888, which
was regarded final adjustment of the question
OF protection, providing for gradual reduction o
} the dutesstill they reached the revenue point Of
q 20 per cent. But in 1912 the manufactures again
beseged the Capitol and in violation of the faith
D solemnly Plighted by the act Of 1888, induced
n Congress to pass the present tariff, ncomparably
: more unjust and oppressive, l shall hereafter
show, than the tariff of 1882.
e Having thus closed the historical review Of the
protective system, shall now proceed to answer
some OF the prominent arguments in favor Of the
= tariff of 1s4a.
And shall first examine an argument of the
senator from Maine, which he ventures to draw
from the historical facts have disclosed. He SAYS
that from 1879 to the present time, every increase
otProtective duties has invariably produced an
! increase Of revenue, an increase of foreign com
. . n1erce, and diminuton of the price Of ,nanueac
tnres foreiRn and domestic. Now sir am han
Ply to meet tho honorable senator upon proposlt6r
: Of fact so broad tangible. and comprehensive. We
have seen, then, that the temporary duties of1SlG
were 25 per cent, and that after eight years hac
{ elapsed, the Manufacturers came Congress
] though these temporary duties had been prolonged
= till 1896, and declared that far from being able
to undersell the foreign manufacturers with pro
" lection OF % per cent they could not maintain the
: competition unless the protective duties were
: n raised some SO per cent. higher. This additona
protection was accordingly given. Did it produce
e that reduction Of prices which the senator from
q Maine has told invariably results from increased
u protective duties? Precisely the reverse. II
less than four years, the manufacturers made still
}, more clamorous appeal to Congress, declaring tina
u they would be totally ruined and their capital an
3 initiated, unless Congress would add so per cent
more to the protective duties. And upon this allie
CATION, the tariff of 1928 passed, raising tn,
protective duties greatly above so per cent a.
fact that in every stage Of the progress of manu-
$ tacures, from 1916 to 1925 there has been an in
/ creasing necessity for protective duties clearly ant
conclusively demonstrating that they were higher
in 1928, as compared with the price of foreign
s manufactures, than they were in 1916. What
: ever reductions. therefore, may have taken place
I in the price of domestic manufactures between
1916 and 1928, still greater reduction took place
! IN tho price of foreign manufactures during the
}, same period And if, as the manufacturers de-
cared, double the rate of protective duties was re
: CURED in 1928 to enable the domestic manufac
turers to meet their foreign competitors in our owr
markets that required in 1916, it follows that
f the fall in the price Of domestic manufactures in
: the interval was 25 per cent less than it was ir
e foreign countries. Owing to the reduction Of the
K circulating medium, the accumulation of capital
and the great improvements.in machinery, there
has been progressive and unexampled reduction
: IN the price of manufactures all over the world
since 1916; and although the reduction has been
Ilooo IN, he. In,k Co. l..O IL