Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1845-10-30


en-, we nave but too conclusive evidence,
in all the indications, official and semi-ofi-
cial, oflhe new administration. It is Civ
Ell out, in ways to be understood, that
the head of the financial department is in
dustronsly engaged in maturing plan
fof reducing the tariff to the "revenue
standard" What that standard is, in The
opinion of the school Of political econo-
mists to which the Secretary belongs, may
be gathered from very elaborate report
ofthe Committee Of Ways and Means, OF
the House of Representatives, at the first
session ofthe 2Sth Congress, in which it
was declared, that
every duty is to be considered and is
properly denomnated, revenue duty, the
rate OF which yields the largest amount Of
revenue from the Importation OF the arti.
Gle upon which it IS imposed; and every
duty is 10 be considered and is properly
denominalcd, protective duty, the rate
ofwhich is so high as to be diminish the
amount Of revenue derived from the i'm
poltatons Of the article upon which it is
imposed, and the rates Of which require tc
be reduced, to increase the revenue, And
when given amount olrsyenue is desired
to be raised upon any given article Of i'm.
portaton, the committee regard the low
est rate Of duty which will effect the re.
suit, as The true and legitimate rcrenue du.
IT," committee add-"The prolec-
ton afforded under revenue tariff thus
defined, they would incidental. The pro-
lection afforded by protective tariff, &C.
cordng to tho same definition, is direc-
ard posilive--operatcs TO diminish or de-
stroy the revenue, and constitutes an ex-
ercise Of the power to lay and collect du-
ties, entirely indefensble in principle and
policy"
1t thus appears that "dircct and posi-
tive professionalism is, protection which
has the effect to diminish revenue from
any given article, is entirely nncrensible
in principle and poIcy"-,be only allow
able protection being that which is "inci-
dentaI' to revenue duty--thal is, Incl
dental to that duty which, without any
reference to protection, will yield the
largest amount Of revenue from the impor-
lalions Of The article upon which it is i'm.
posed.
The mere statement of this doctrine is
sufficient to show that il strikes a fatal
blow at protection, because that rate of
duty can, obviously furnish no stable pro-
lection, which is made to depend, not on
the degree ofprotection it would furnish,
but on the amount Of revenue i. will yield
since it is well known that a rate of dn-
ty on given article, which will yield lit
tie or no protection, my be the very rate
which will yield the most revenue. There
is not a protected interest in the country,
that can stand a single year, under the
application of such a principle as this.
The true principle may be thus stated
A tariff which, while it SHALL in the az
gregate Of its duties, yield the amount,
and no more than the amount, needed for
the treasury, shall be so adjusted in its de-
tails, us to throw so much Of the aggre-
gate upon articles needing protection, as
to give the protection necded-the balance
being thrown upon articles needing little
or no protection.
It's against the principle Of revenue
duty with incidental protection, in the
Proteau shapes it will be made to assume,
that We are doomed 10 contend; and it is a
contest with fearful odds, when VIC take
into consideration the power and influence
of the new administration, aided by the
deceptive application Of the sliding rule Of
protection incidental to q rerenue duty.
Nor is this the only aspect Of the dan
ger. The Secretary of the Treasury,
whose purpose to destroy the protection
afforded by the tariff of 1912 is no, at.
tempted TO be concealed, is engaged in
the unprecedented work of collecting
with the authority of Congress, and by re.
plies to certain questions propounded tc
manufacturers aud others; TO be answ eret
without oath or cross examlnation-infor
nation, to enable him to carry his distruc
tive purpose into execution.
Vermont has too deep an interest in ,ht
great question thus about to be forced Il
fearful and perlous issue, to remain in
indifferent or silent 1t is due 10 the grea
value of our interests involved in the tru,
principle Of protection, that we thoroughly
scrutinize the false prime pie on which, b,
q combination of its pretended friends will
its open enemies, protection is 10 be mad,