The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1845-01-17
Y From the New York Evening Post.
THE THEORY OF THE TARIFF.

own way without obstacle, promised to give pro-
manufactures, and the mechanic arts, were all to
be reduced by its operation. "Give u.s." said the
manufacturers, ga good feast out ofthe public crib,
and we will give cold cut to the merchants, a
side table to the mechanics, and the crumbs to the
farmer. You take care of US, and we will take
good care ofthem. 'assss~rs.a aessa''-
Let US see how in practice this theory has been
carried out. As to the manufacturers, it seems
that they are not content; for they cannot afford 10
pay higher wages to their workmen, and they la
Dor hard to prove that they cannot get as high
prices for theirproducts they did before the theo
ry was tried. They want something more for
success The currency must be submitted to the
theory ofa bank; left, as tnow is, more freely to
the natural laws of trade, does not suit them.
The raw material and the dye-stuffs used by them
are taxed so high by average duty ofve per cent
that they cannot get along fast enough. Their
profits are not great enough to enable them to pay
the iaborer his increased hire, nor the farmer an
advance on his produce. a,, a.i.ia
But the manufacturers, after all, though they
might prove their case hard one,g would not be
entitled to the first place in the sympathies of the
nation. Let US look to the most numerous class;
that which is most grievously oppressed, and which
has, generally, but one way of making its COM
plants heard effectually, which is the slow but
sure method of the ballot-box. The farmer gets
no more for any thing which he produces than he
did before the theory went into efect he pays more
on every article which he is obliged to 60 to the
store for, on every tool or implement which he
makes use of, and on every thing necessary for his
from the soil Ifhe buys an ingram carpet he
must pay 1O3 per cent protection to the manufac-
turer; his more wealthy neighbor may get wilton
under duty of 81 per cent For the cloth he
wears he must pay 4oper cent, while the, wool
which he raises is rendered of little value by the
foreign wool which the manufacturer gets at a duty
of per cent If he would make his wife or chill
dren comfortable in the cold and wet winter season
by garment of flannel, he must pay duty OF
100 per cent on plain article, while the citizen
can get his of finer quality at 40 per cent. Would
his thrifty house wife save her carpet, already SO
extravaganty taxed by covering of baize, on that
she must pay duty of 100 to 1870 per cent the
duty being always the highest on the quality which
costs the least. She must buy linen sheets and
towels, or pay from so to l60-nay, as high as per.
haps as l9O-per cent. duty on the same articles
made of cotton. e ..It
Should he feel disposed to indulge his daughter
in little harmless extravaganza on birthday, he
must pay duty of 60 per cent. on silk gown, or
IS per cent, en- a colored shawl, while the lord Of
the mills purchases fine silk for his wife at 20 per
cent, all embroidered collar for his daughter at 30
per cent, or a cashmere at even less duty.
"But," exclalms my lord of the spindle, "why
not clothe your children in homespun, and en-
courage the manufactures of your own country.
Come to my looms, and will supply you and take
your potatoes, your corn, and your pork in ex-
change And how stands the farmer them For
a cotton hankerchiefhe pays duty of l45 per cent
for check 100 per cent, for a gingham SO per
cent In Short he is met by the theory of the tariff
of 1912, which.ays to him directly you shall have
no plain cotton which is duliable at less than 20
cents square yard; no colored, printed, or dyed
goods of the same material valued at less than 80
cents; no vevets, cords, fusans, or moleski's, at
less than 35 cents. M ....
When the farmer makes his yearly journey to the
city, or his monthly visit to the neighborng town
Or store, he looks at his memorandum 10 see what
little nicknacks his wife needs for the comfort OF
his plain and quiet household. Broken tumblers
are to be replaced He travels from store to store,
and finds he can get for less than sixpence or
shilling piece. "But." says he, ''two years ago
bought some at 80 cents dozen, as good as those
you now show me at a dollar" The sorekeeper
ells him that the faults not his; for on those sold at
30 cents he made more profit than OIL these which
he now sells at dollar. "The article you got
hem" he adds, "cannot be imported here now, it
would pay duty of $50 per cent. on the invoice
price. But" continues he, by way of consolation,
'you then encouraged the labor Of some stupid
Dutchman. now you help Mr. - to treat his
riends to canvass backs and champagne; and he is
good American, or at all events an Englishlnan
who has come over to America to live"
The farmer next wants an umbrella. "Three
rears ago." says he, 81 bought good one for
oar." "Try this," says the shop-keeper The
armer takes his purchase, and, on riding home, he
caught In heavy shower. He puts up his um-
rea for protection In an hours time bis clothes
re covered with black inky streaks streaming
Trough the open pores of his umbrella, and the
ticks which were black when he bought it, have
urned into rattan again. When he returns to the
tore, he complains in no gentle terms TO the shop
eeper of his bargain. The explanation is soon
ven. The umbrella he bought three years ago
vas of Scotch gingham, which he cannot get now,
or it has duty of 20 per cent. The article last
ought was the best the domestic manufacturer
ould afford to make at the same price, and to do
hat he puts in a bad dye, and the umbrella maker
obliged to put IN rattans with the glaze on instead