Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1850-10-31
The Tariff Humbug.


The whig press, notwithstanding the explo-
sion of their high protective tariff idea, readily
improve every opportunity that they consider
susceptible of being turned to account, and not
so much for the purpose of securing the adop-
ton of their favorite idea, as to apologize for
ever having advocated it. Our neighbor of the
Tribune, commenting upon a statement in the
Saco Union that the population of Saco and
Biddeford had fallen off the last year, thus sa-
plenty discourses -
"Thus it is that the industry of the North is
crippled, that selfish demagogues may carry
out their schemes of party success, and person
al aggrandizement, and thus our towns and
villages, which under wise and fostering pub
lie policy, might be the homes of prosperous
and happy people, are deserted, and their in
'habitants obliged to seek the means of Hveli-
hood in other and distant portions of the conn
try, or work for such wages as would degrade
them to a level with the down trodden millions
of other nations"
That the high tariff of 1912 stimulated the
business and interest of our manufacturing
towns, is very evident, but that the stimulus
was unnatural and carried TO undue excess,
which could not fail to produce reaction, is
equally true. And this has been the invaria-
bic history of high tariffs in our country. The
high tariffs of 1924 and 1928 ruined the manu-
facturers, stimulating the business to such an
extent, by removing the foreign competition,
that every body rushed into the business, and
domestic production beyond the wants of the
market being produced, a revulsion followed,
and for while business suffered
But our neighbor seems to think that under
the present system operatives will have to
''work for such wages as would degrade them
TO level with the down-trodden millions
of other nations" Now it is notorious fact
that in 1874, when the whig tariff of 1912 was
in operation, the wages of labor in cotton fac
tories were twenty-five per cent lower than
they are now, under the democratic tariff OF
1916. The following ideas, from whig
source are entitled to credit. The writer, a
correspondent of the Boston Advertiser, ad-
vocates a stoppage of the production, as the
only means of producing a reform. He says
without this there can be no permanent
change for the better, no relief that is worth
having. A fall of two or three cents pound
In the price of cotton may save us for awhile
from serious loss, or a rise in goods. (which is
not at all probable as we are now going on y
may have the same effect but either or both
OF these would IN the end prove an evil instead
OF benefit, and it is to be hoped that neither
Will occur, until there has been a verv con.;d-
cradle lessening of production.
To expect that all the ''coarse mills,, i, tho
country will stop would only be to no h.
pointed, and yet were such an Occurrence, rr,t
able, the good effect would be seen at onra
Were it known certainly that all the Ill
would be stopped for six months, it would nrS
ate rise in the price of goods large enough N
realize profit on the whole stock on hand
would pay for all the Inconvenience and loss
from such a measure.
The benefit would be three-fold LIST. from
the rise of goods on hand. I'd, from the de-
cline in the raw material. Sd, from the relief
to the markets by clearing out the accumulated
stocks, and bringing them into consumption -
There would follow also a reduction of wages,
which has already become an absolute necessi-
ty, and which all hesitate to make.
Some one may argue that a rise in goods
would open our markets to the British manu-
features. But this is not probable when thew
have been unable to send a bale of these goods
here for several years, when we are sctually
sending goods into their own dominions, and
paying the duty and in fact holding an auc-
tion sale in Montreal on the 18th day of this
very month If it be said that we shall lose
the foreign markets, we reply that this cannot
be, as long as the large stocks in those markets
and at home are sufficient for their supply.
As to the fall in the price Of cotton, it would