Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1846-12-02
Southport, Nov. 80, 1916.
RATE AT WHICH THE WORLD BUYS
THE PRIVILEGE OF TRADE.

RATE AT WHICH THE WORLD BUYS
THE PRIVILEGE OF TRADE.
Ever S nee we began 10 turn our thoughts
10 the subject, we have had the conviction
forced upon US, that, next 10 Gods living
image in man, there is nothing on earth
which has a more sacred and inalenable
right 10 be free Than trade And the more
we have attended 10 tie subject, the more
we have found This conviction rive:ed upon
our mind, and our sense Of the vast impor-
lance of the subject rendered strong and in
eGaceabIe. This has been the result Of
reading The arguments Of The opponents OF
our views hardly, if at all, less than Of at~
tending TO The thousand demonstrations and
the thousand conclusive Arguments, adj
vanced by the friends OF the doctrine. Eve
ry time we read an article, or listen 10
discussion, on any branch Of the subject,
or on any one Of lis many contested points,
we find ourself just where we always were,
osIy little more SO. But we have TOO
often called The attention Of our readers 10
the subject 10 be entitled TO the poor prvi-
lege Of extended PREDATORY remarks.
We were, not long since, attending 10 q
number of tables. made up oil many a good
ly row of figures, showing tho amount paid
by the people of Great Britain for the priv
iIegc OF importing (only part of course)
the products and commodities OF other coun
tries requisite 10 meet their various wants.
We say only part, because it is well known
that exorbitant duties always occasion
iimi ed supply Of the commodities on which
they are exacted, and, in spite OF revenue
cutters. government soldery, police, and
what not, high duties and extensive SNUG.
Cling operations do, and always must, go
together. In proof of the fact last ted
we have statements made by Parliamenta.
ry Committees on the subject, that govern
ment is often defraudcd by smuggling 10
the amount of millions IN year on a single
article. And this, notwithstanding all that
can TO done by an immense navy and stan
ding army. n most formidable police, a
most energetic government, and abundant
Nominations, from pulpit and press, against
tue "c'ying imiq"ity" of defying law, and
deirauding government, by evadng the
payment of duties. We have abundant
grounds, then. for saying that the people
olGreat Britain import less than they want
by very large part Of the whole; and pay
the government for what they do import
millions less, every year, than the laws for
taxing commerce are intended to exact. -
Her system OF duties on imports is, there.
fore, system of oppression and wicked
restrictions upon the commerce of her peo
pie with olher nations. And this while
size is tho most commercial nation on earth,
and while her people are necassitated to
make commerce their main dependence
both for prosperity and subsistence.
In the revenue table, which we were
examining, we fonnd that the yearly aver
age Of duties on imporlaiions, was sol 700,
$50. The cost Of collecting the above
amour, was put down, for Great Brit
ain, al trile less than Eve per cent and
for Iceland al about Ten and half per
cent. Allowing the cost Of collecting to
be seven per cent, as the average Cor both
countries, the above amount becomes $685.
12S,9i0 We now suppose the charges
and profits Of importers and wholesale dea
leIs on their OUTLAWS, 10 be thirty per cent.
The du les, Of course, making an Increase
of importers outlay corresponding 10 their
amount, and port OF the total on when
his charges and profits are estimated This
addition swells the above sum TO the amt
Of 1927 ,567, 622. The retailers profits.
on the above additions TO the prime cost of
impo'ted commodities. will not be less than
fifteen per cent-makiug an aggregate Of
1926 ,9j3. Such is the amount, al
very moderate computation, which the Brit
ish government exacts Of its subjects al
home Tor the privilege OF buying from 9TH
er countries part of what their wants re-
quire. And while she taxes her imports
Mt this rate, other nations feel, somehow,
oblig tied I, d. about The sam, by her err
p,'if,