Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1846-06-05


provoked by the United States. in the seizure of
Mexican soil. This, however. is not question
to be settled now and the declaration n thai Cor
eina,e1t preceding our materialis changes the
aspect Of pubic affairs
The Tariff.
Now that the heavy and well planted blows of
old Rough and Ready Tayloron the banks Of
the Rio Grande have broken up tae Mexican army,
and for time at least abated the public curiosity
for news from the South, attention is directed to
our domestic policy at Washington. The Tariff
one Of the great Issues of the last canvass, has
slept too long on the floor Of Congress; though
tile monster debates on the Oregon question and
the Mexican war 1neas6ires have had an efiectual
agency in delaying action upon all other subjects
At present there issa sort of calm in our foreign
relations, and we have confident hope that the
House of Representatives will at once grasp the
subject and embody, ina fair and.equitable reye-
nue. system, the indsputable wishes OF the people
for a proper reduction of the Tariff. Nossubject
has been more searchingly discussed and none
more powerfully vindicated by the Democratc
triumph of 1874.
But how, ask the Wings, can the Democrats
advocate reduction of the Tariff. in view ofthe
large war expenditure probably about to be in
creased and of the Recommendation by the n. y
News collect at least half o. it by direct taxa
ton, in preference TO public loans
We shall let the News answer, and in our opin-
ion it does So satisfactorily
% Nothing can be simpler. we want now as
much money can be collected by a Tariff
For that reason a rerenHe Tariff Is all the more
necessary at this time rather than tarif tull oil
prohibtory duties, which are from their very ma
ture fatal torevenue'
This view is strongly enforced by Mr.. Walker,
who in his great Treasury Report, looked at the
contingency Of war expenditures. Are not the
following passages based upon reason and COM
mon sense?
sThe duties for the quarter ending the 3Oth
September 1914, yielded S2,0ll .8S5 so more of
revenue than the quarter ending 3Oth September,
1916; showing a very considerable decline OF the
revenue, growing out OF diminished importa-
ton of the highly-proectad articles and the pro-
gressiYe substitution of the domestic rivals In
deed, many of the duties are becoming dead let
ters ercept for the purpose of prohibition, and, II
not reduced, will ultimately compel their advo-
Gates to resort to direct taxation 10 support the
government. In the event of war. nearly all the
high duties would become prohibtory, from the
increased risk and cost of impoEtatons, and if
there be, indeed, in the opinion of any, serious
danger of such an occurrence, it appeals most
I
reueilae duties on all articles as the only means
of securing, at such period, any considerable
income from the Tariff
The present war with Mexico, then, instead of
thwarting, should induce reduction of the du-
ties, to a revenue standard. The manufacturers
have had direct g protection" enough. The coun-
try wants rerenue to meet the heavy calls upon its
patriotism in the hour of danger. and a revenue
Tariff is necessary to prevent recourse to direct
taxation.
Indeed, war is in itself" protection to domes-
tic industry being calculated to diminish oui
commerce and check the flow of importation into
the country. To this extent, it renders any other
restriction upon International intercourse mis-.
ehieros tit-tireu. For these reasons, in or
der to increase the revenue, we should reduce the
present heavy duties and facilitate importations
Richmond Enquirer.
/