Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1847-05-27

plOlllUllS tHel dlloSelucI, IL may uc lloPoi
for us to do the same by theirs,' sc. The
whole tenor of the report is to recommend
countervailing and discriminating Duties
sit is true" says Mr.. j., 'we must ex-
pect some Inconvenience in practice from
the establishment of discriminating duties
But in this, as in some other cases, we are
! left to choose between two evils. The in
conveniences are nothing when weighed a.
gainst the loss of wealth and loss of force,
which will follow our perseverance in the
plan of discrimination IN Tor do the in
conveniences of discrimination merit consi-
deraton. Not one of the nations before
mentioned, perhaps not commercial nation
on earth is arithout hem" Great Britain,
France, Portugal, the N Netherlands, Denmark,
Sweden, Spain-all have resorted to the
policy of countervailing and discriminating
duties, TO protect their commerce, says Mr..
Jefferson, and yet Tobacco Planter' says
| it is among the ':obsoete ideas" Again,
Mr.. Jefferson, in his second message to
| Congress, recommends countervailing re-
strictions to resist the inequalities imposed
upon our trade and commerce, after the re-
storation Of peace in Europe in 1902. This
has continued to be subject of negotiation
from the treaty cf 1894 to the present time
Under the 18th article Of that treaty the
British Government reserved the right of I'M
posing such duty as might be adequate to
coun,ervail the difference not payable on
the importation Of European and Asiatic
goods, when imported into the United States
in British or American vessels; and by act
Of Parliament, passed July 4, 1897, discri-
minatng duties were imposed upon Ameri-
can productions imported in American YES
sells, and among others, on tobacco. 1t was
also the subject of negotiation between Mr.
King, the U. S. Minister to London, in 1902.
and that government, and has continued to
occupy the attention of the different di plo-
matte agents from that time to the present
Many of the discriminating duties have been
reciprocally repealed. If this policy is an
obsolete idea it has become so since 1915
The act of 1912 imposed discriminating
duties upon tonnage and upon all goods i'm
ported in foreign vessels, and in 1915 that
act was repealed so far as relates to the tom
mage and navigation interests, upon the ap-
Mr.. Jefferson recommended and advised
resort to countervailing and discriminating
duties, If a system ofreci procal duties could
not be established by negotiation. If left
to choose between the two-to bear with the
f exaclions and restrictions, or to resort to a
countervailing polcy-he thought the Co
vernment should not hesitate, but should re-
sort to the countervaling policy to protect
its citizens, its commerce, and its interest.
Our Government has resorted to it to pro-
tect its navigation and its fisheries, and those
interests are now protected by such laws.
and by treaties based upon such legisla-
ton. Is there any reason that the tobacco
interest should not receive the same pro-
T lection. Let such a system be adopted -
Let there be discriminating duties imposed
upon the productions Of those countries
where our tobacco is prohibited, or burden
ed by onerous duties, and we shall soon see
the governments of Europe proposing re-
5 peal of all discrimination, and wiling to re-
ceive our tobacco upon the same terms thai
we will admit their productions. "lf'' says
Tobacco Planter,o ':the tobacco trade Ian
cuisines in consequence of burdens too hea.
: w for it TO carry, the obvious mode of re-
, lief is to take off or Tighten those hurdens.'
: Yes, sir, that is the obvious mode, and tina
t is to be done by the governments of Europe
imposing those duties, and we must make
J it their interest to do SO, by countervaiin2
t their restrictive policy. We have employed
the best talents of the country in negotiation
: upon the subject, but without any remedy
] or but partial remedy, and the other allerna
: tive suggested by Mr.. J. is left to US. Ne
gotiaton has failed. 1t has been tried lon!
enough; and although such policy may b.
! against the tender consciences and sckl,
philanthropy of free trade theorists, ] say
: without any misgivings OF departure from
4 duty by our Government, that | would no
5 hesitate to adopt system that would com
: pei justice to be done to this interest, ant
t place it upon terms of reciprocity of trade
] The system of s'Tobacco Plantcr'' woult
r be repeal Of all our dnies upon foreign
productions. Would that create a create
demand for tobacco abroad, and command
for it higher prices? No more would i
than repeal of the tariff Of 1912 caus
: ed a short crop of wheat in Europe the las
t year, or the potato rot in Ireland, and jim
creased the demand and price of wheat a,
; broad before the act of July, 1916, went
into operation. The free trade notions OF
Tobacco Planter" will never be exploded,
> for they will never have any existence, ex-
cept in the disappointed aspirations of vi
sionary theorists. No system that is free on
one side and restricted on the other, can
long find favor with a people who know
: their rights and are in condition to pro-
tect them. This gentleman would make us
dependent on the will and pleasure of the
governments of Europe, repeal all our du-
ties, and let us wait the "tard y action' of
those monarchies, to follow ''our liberal