Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-06-02
THE ENQUIRER
RICH MOND, VA.
Monday Morning, June !, 1916.
THE TARIFF.

| my and Tor time al least abated the public Gu
riosity for news from the Sou,h, attention is d.
reced TO our domestic policy at Washinslion.-
The Tariff, one OF the great issues OF the last can
yass, has slept too long on the floor Of Congress
though the monster debates on the Oregon ques-
ton and the Mexican war measures have had an
efectual agency in delaying action upon all other
subjects Al present there is a sort OF calm in
our foreign relations, and we have confident
hope that the House OF Representatives will once
grasp the subject and embedy, in fair and equi-
the people for proper reduction Of The Tariff
No subject has been more searchingly discussed
and none more powerfully indicated BY The De.
mocralic triumph Of 1874.
But how, ask the Wings, can The Democrats ad
vocate reduction Of the Tariff in view Of the
large war expenditure probably aboulto be ncress.
cd and Of The recommendation by the n. Y. News
10 collect al least half of it By direct taxation, in
preference 10 public loans?
We shall let The News answer, and in our
opinion il does so satisfactorily:
"Nohing can be simpler. We want now as
For that reason a reucnue Tariff is all The more
necessary at this time, rather than tariff ull OF
prohibitory duties, which are from their very ma
,ure fatal 10 revenue"
This view is strongly enforced by Mr. Walker,
who, in his great Treasury Report, looked al The
contingency OF war expenditures. Are not the
! following passages based upon reason and com
mon sense
THE duties for the quarter ending The seth
September, 1914, yielded 81 Oil ,SS5 80 more Of
revenue than The quarter ending Both September,
| lS45; showing very considerable decline Of The
| revenue, growing out of diminished importation
of The highly. protected articles and The progress
sve substitution Of The domestic rivals. Indeed,
many of The duties are becoming dead letters, CT
cept for the purpos Of prohibition, and, il not re-
duced, will ultimately compel their advocates
10 resort 10 direct taxation 10 support The 60.
yernmen,. In The event Of war, nearly ali the
high duties would become prohibilory, from The
| increased risk and cost Of importalions and if
there be, indeed, in the opinion of any, a serious
danger OF such an occurrence, il appeals most
strongly 10 their patriotism TO impose the loves,
rerenue duties on all articles as The only means Of
securing, al such period, any considerable in
| come from The Tariff"
The present war with Mexico, then, instead OF
,hwarting, should induce a reduction OF the du-
ties 10 revenue standard. The manufacturers
have had direct protection" enough. The country
wants rercnue to meet the heavy calls upon its
patriotism in the hour OF danger and revenue
! rect taxation.
i, Indeed, war is in itself protection" 10 domestic
! industry; being calculated to diminish our COM
merce and check the flow OF importation into the
| country. To this extent, il renders any other re-
sriction upon International intercourse mischie-
vous aud ill-timed For these reasons in order
to increase the revenue, we should reduce 80
| present heavy duties and facilitate importations.
! We shall not argue The merits of the Tariff
Our mind is made up, and SO is that Of the people
Of Virginia who sent fourteen staunch represent
taives TO Washington, to vote for Revenue Ia
riff, as they will surely do. The Wings look for
much advantage from the late National Fair
They underrate the intelligence and independence
Of Congress- in supposing that their solemn con-
vctons are 10 be swayed by an exhibition gotten
up for political effect, We have already shown
how, in our opinion, this exhibition should pro-
duce directly the opposite effect TO what was in
tended by its MAJ gers. II the manufacturers
can sell their goods cheaper than foreign nations
why do they need "protection" against foreign
nations? Their theory confounds itself.
In the Union we find, in the form of commu-
nicalion briet but strong analysis OF The nature
of this Fair and some Of its striking characte-
rislic.. twill be seen lhatthe writer pays COM
pliment TO the "small factories" of Virginia and
Maryland For the credit Of our city, we are
pleased 10 see that the hannels Of our city were
cheaper than any other exhibited; especially back
ed by the statement which we knew 10 be true,
that the intelligent agent Mr.. Jones' asks for no
higher duty than that 10 be found in the proposed
modified Tariff We have already referred 10
some articles Of Virginia manufacture, which
compared SO well with their Northern rivals at
The Fair. The Loom" published al The Fair,
Of which we have copy, says, " S. Sutherland
Of Richmond, Virginia, Eve rejoice to see the
South coming in,) displays ONE highly finished
Rifles and fowing-piece-at prices varying from
thirty 10 fly dollars. Cheaper than the i'm
ported article, and better" A gentleman in
forms us that the iron plates for iron ships manu-
factured at the Belle Isle Works by VIM. S.
Trpett, Esq, bore the palm over five other 81
milar specimens from The North. Indeed, it is
said that the iron ore of Virginia is greatly supc-
ror 10 that Of any other portion Of the Union
But 10 the sketch from The Union
PUBLIC EXHIBITION OF THE PROTECTED La
Dor OF THE UNITED STATES.
Chairrncn-Is it your opinion that every protection OF
a commodity operates as tax to the community at
large,
Yes; most decidedly
afr. V.Riers-And, further nlisdirec,ion of CO.
| pita labor /?
Yes; IL is tempting parties embark in trade by 6c
titinus support, which. in The end, may prove fa!a
cious one. | have often wondered how any rulers
could consent TO incur the responsibility OF such po
Mr. TafnsM-Then you cannot conceive any circum-
under which protective duty can center per
/ manent and general benefit upon the community!
think not. While II operates IN favor Of The party
intended 10 be protected, il is the communi
ty The real question at issue Is do We propose t"
serve the nation, TO particular individuals:
| Chairman-Would you remove our own protection
without any foreign country removing theirs
Most certainly, and without asking them feel quite
confident f we entirely drop system Of protection.
in very little time il would be race wnh other coun-
tries which should be first in for The benefit OF
that trade which should then onen-l Eridenee ~
Jlmes Deacon Hume late Secretary 10 the Board Of Trade
before q Committee Of the Houseef Commons.
The opening of the immense structure upon
! the GTOUDQS duldCeHl lIC SiiJ aha PtPo-
iarly termed the whigwam of The National Fair,
took place on Thursday Of last week. It is got
len upvery ered,ably and astefully, upon plan
similar to the scmi.decennial exposition of Paris
with this exception, that here an admission
fee is demanded. while there The public have free
ingress. u,,;.h Il.
,,ted,h novemenl-it having originated from a
commi,lee of treasurers, selling agents and CAPT
aiss representing New England s corporations alton
who visited this city about TWO months since )
and with view to influence the votes OF mem
bers Of Congress against the proposed revenue Ia
riff which is soon to come up for consideration IN
The House Of Representatives.
Feeling desirous of observing all that was ma
,;oneI an1 n.cnliar 10 a country having as an
honorable Senator from Arkansas asserted 50 per
cent. of its population devoted 10 asIicullurs,
entered the building with The hope lha5 m my CUT :
U %as doomed Sou 10 disappon!@sn Where asked
myself are the samples Oihs various descriptions
Of ,ha, staple OF which fifty TO sky n'iiE Ts o.