The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1851-12-04
The rar,n. !.

- u :" a
Since the election q movement is making
among certain democrats of Pennsylvania,
to procure "modi6caiiono of the tariff,
which, we presume, means an increase oil
tax ON the consumer of coal and iron. II
deemed adyisably by The people at large we
shall moi object 10 the increase.
To change Of the great and leading fea-
,ure Of the tariff of ls46, which Distinguish
es il from whig ,ariff.-or the tariff of '42
we are emphaiically opposed. To a
change of the graduated schedule of taxes
made for the chief object of raising reve-
nue., we have no objection. No objection,
because, we are not welded to any sched-
uie, and are willing TO acknowledge any fair
and reasonable change that promises well
to the treasury and he people. But to all
increase Tor the purpose Of taxing the labor
ing portion of the community to afford Incl
dental protection to the capitalists, we do OBJ.
ject.
The tariff is legitimate child Of England,
cunningly devised 10 raise money from It's
own citizens 70 pay the expenses of govern
meni. Protection is an aller-thought, con.
cocted by the wealthy, TO throw the weight
and responsibility of payment on the labor
ing portion, aud is tie bone of concen,ion
between the rich aud the poor.
With whig poliucians, during an election,
protection is everything-a perfect "poor
mans plaster" that is 10 draw money from
'lhe lord knows WHERE" and make him in
dependent; genuine DR.. Townsead's Sar-
sapaiilla, that is 10 cure ali the ills that the
country is heir 10, and make everything aud
everybody great, glorious, rich and happy
especially the poor
But let US examine the proposed "modifi-
cation," and we can do it, perhaps, as we'll
by asking questions that may be answered
al leisure, as in any Other way.
The coal factor asks all increased da,y-
would he do SO unless he expected to be
benefited thereby
If you award the coal merchant ten per
ceut. will he share it with his workmen
Then who gets benefit?
Will the manufacturers of iron, and other
goods, be willing 10 pay an advance on ma.
terial, unless they are equally projected, and
can they afford 10 pay advanced wages, eli
their with or wihou, the increase '-.-'---
II coal. iron or manufactured goods are
raised to the consumer, and 10 correspond
ing rise in the price oil labor, who will re-
ceive the benefit
Is it not apparent, that while capitalists
are contending with each other in graspina
from the communicable consumer-ihe
benefits of the protection, the laboriag por-
lion, being the largest, have to pay yas
But the wbig will tell you that protection
does not increase, but reduces the price to
the consumer.
If the coal merchant cannot afford to sell
coal now at the present price, how can he
afford 10 sell it for less price under increa-
led tariff taxes, and pay the same wages TO
the laborer!
Competition il is irue, has powerful in
Huence over prices. But ii is dangerous
experiment 10 offer protection with the view
of inducing excessive competition in order
10 reduce prices; lay it is infamous; be-
cause such competition not only compes a
reduction of wages to the laboEcr, but leads
to disastrous failures, and consequent distress
among the poorer class OF laborers, from
which ,hdy never after rise, except, perhaps,
isolated cases of extraordinary enterprise and
verance.-Jefersonian.