The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1845-07-24
The TarlfE-The Course OF the Cabinet-Th
ResuIt

J
of subscription has nearly expired.
The Tarlf-The Course OF the Cabinet-The
Result.
It's pretty well understood by all parties, that the
principal feature in the administration Of the govern
ment will be the modification Of he tariff for the
purpose OF reducing it to a revenue standard The
Secretary of the Treasury has announced that he
has for some time past been actively engaged IN
procuring evidence in favor of reduction and has
appointed commissioners or agents in some OF the
principal ports TO examine and investigate the Gus
tom-house returns, and furnish the department with
flcts, to be used in the Secretarys report TO Con-
gress and in his new tariff system.
1t TO have been the principal object OF every
Secretary of the Treasury, and OF every adminisra
ton, to make this tariff question complicated as
possible, and to get together mass OF matter entire
ly irrelevant to the subject, and of earthly use but
TO confuse the question: and place beyond the reach
of common understanding 1t appears to us
one of the most simple questions connected with
the administraton-cne upon which the two great
parties of the day differ less'than any other-one
which could be most satisfactorily arranged with all
interests, it not for the efforts made by the
ultra organs of both parties TO widen the existing
differences The use made of this question in the
last Presidential campaign, by both parties, had a
very serious effect upon the principles OF each. The
present administration made use OF il as best suited
Its interests. The people of Pennsylvania were
most astonishngly deceived at that time They
went for the tariff, and both parties advocated the
principles of protection strongly in that latitude AT
the South whenever il became necessary, a more
liberal construction of the tariff was recommended
AT that time both parties were equally culpable
While the democrats qulbbled about the tariff at
the north, the wings played similar game
about the bank at the south, and both
have been equally committed. Had the Wings
elected their candidate, they would have
bee as intentionally situated in relation to the
bank, as the Democrats now are in relation to the
tariff. The party were pledged in favor of bank
at the North and against it at the South while the
Democratic party the leaders in the several States
made pledges in favor and against the tariff, as it
best suited their interests. What will the people of
Pennsylvania say to a reduction of the tariff, and
what will they think OF party which, in shor, six
months have advocated protection and free trade !The
position of the Government relation to this ques-
ton has very little TO do with the question itself
The President and his cabinet have obtained power,
and now we must expect they will use that power
and commerce The people have, under false rep
reservations, delegated their power, and they must
abide the consequences.
We have, in these few remarks merely alluded
10 the position of this question when the pee.
pie were called upon to give their votes in IA
vor or against. A review of the influences which
have been brought to bear upon the tariff. in
connection with the position OF parties, canno,
h,,t La al. n
ton be divided into three sections, each advo.
Gated by powerful party The first, and probably
the most influential, is the Proteconists in favor of
average per duty sufficient to afford proec-
ton to every interest, for the rapid establish
ment OF domestic manufactures, and for the accumu-
lation OF revenue TO meet the expenditures of TO-
vernment, ordinary and extraordinary. The second,
or what might be called upon this subject the Con-
servative party, is in favor of a revenue
tariff; that Is, an average per cent duty sufficient
TO yield an income to government large enough
to just meet the current expenditures without
producing single cent of surplus. The third OF
what might be called the Radical party, is in favo,
offree trade with all nations and the adoption of the
most liberal system of commercial intercourse
The principles of the first or high tariff party have
predomnated, and in the last twenty-five years have
been in full force. In 1923 Congress passed an ac,
advancing the average rate of duty several per cent
in consequence Of the distress and ruin that had
overtaken the manufacturers of the Eastern States
This tariff act was enforced until 1892, and in the
meantime the manufacturers were rapidly getting
rich and that interest prospecting, but strong anc
bitter opposition to that act made its appearance
the South, and threatened notification and dssolu
ton of the Union unless an immediate repeal o
that act was granted. The high tariff party arrang
ed the differences and the result the celebrated
compromise act of 1892, which continued in opera
ton, and which was considered a conservative mea
sure by both parties each believing that it made sa
crfices tor the other. The representatives of the
free trade party OF the South, considered the com
promise act as guaranty that no higher duty should
after the expiration OF that act be enforced than It's
last stage required, viz twenty per cent II unfor-
tunately happened that in 1892 the year the compro.
mise act expired, the times were very hard. thou.
sands were out OF employment, agricultural products
were not bringing remunerating prices, every de
partment Of business stagnant, every interest
the country depressed and the treasury of the Gene
raj Government empty and in debt; we say it wa
unfortunate at that time for the friends of more Ii
beral construction of the tariff, as it gave the friend
and advocates Of protective tariff strong argument
IN favor OF adopting another act similar to that o
1873 The distress existing at that time, and the de
pressed state OF all our staple productions and ou
markets generally, was attributed to the reduced
average duty OF the last years of the compromise
act, and the imposslbity of any industry in this
country successfully competing with those of En-.
rope The arguments advanced were cer,ainlv very
plausible, the times were such as gave them weigh,
and Congress passed an act advancing the AVERAGE
rate OF duty upon foreign imports to about the stan.
dard Of 1923 1892 Very fortunately for the friends
OF this high tariff, times rapidly improved mmedi
atey after, andthe prosperity of the country since
has been of the soundest and most healthy nature.
This state of things has of course been attributed
entirely to the operations of the present tariff BY ii
friends, and they profess to look upon the slightes