The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-06-22

fact the plan drawn ont by him, and which we
published at length at the time, which has been
subsequently acted upon and carried out with
70 much success. In the general feeling OF sat
isfactiOn which tae consunlmation of the treaty
has caused throughout the ssantry, it lie but
right that a fair share Of the merit of it should
| be awarded where merit is due.
| The SIMPLE TARIFF-E'aE LAST PRINCIPLE
THROWN OvEgBoARD.--When in December last
Mr.. Guthrie developed before mankind his pro-
posed tariff, the fruit Of life's meditation and
profound financial study, it was found even
by those who were in favor of reduction in
the revenue and who advocated it on that
ground, that in every other respect the Secre-
tary's lucubration was q heap Of absurdities.
Some Observed that many articles which every
one, not excepting the Secretary, thought were
taxed at too high rate in the tariff of 1916,
were taxed higher still in this new project;
others remarked that many articles which could
well afford duty of five or ten per cent 10
the knowledge and satisfaction of every one,
the Secretary included, were, without any APP
parent motive, proposed to be admitted free.
We might quote many instances, but shall
merely refer to one or two. Lead, in bars and
| pigs raw material, pays now twenty per
cent; the Secretary, in conformity with the
| general IDEAS thought this duty too high, and
he proposed that it should b, raised to twenty
| five per cent. Watches and watch IL .terials
are articles Of luxury not manufactured here
| Well, calculated as q source Of revenue, they
pay now ten per cent, and form somewhat
Il
every one else. that they could we'll bear that
rate of duty, and he then proposed TO have them
admitted free. The motives OF such contra
dictions are worthy of the attention Of the mo-
ralist as well as of those who have made par
ticular study of political economy. There was
| principle to which all considerations ought
to have yielded, and The Secretary of the Trea-
sury knew it. That principle was simplicity.
Simplicity had been introduced on a large
scale in our foreign appointments and diplo-
matte habits; it had superseded all other con.
siderations for our greater welfare at home
and our greater glory abroad. The effect
Of simple tariff to regulate the revenue and
the finances Of the country, could not be but
equally beneficial, according to the views then
entertained by the government. The Sccre-
tary OF the Treasury therefore resolved TO d.
vide the whole tariff, with the exception of
brandy and liquors, in tive classes, free articles
and dutiable ones, all OF these latter to be
liable to the same duty Of % per cent al pa
loren. Lead, watches, as all articles which I'M
| der the tariff Of 1916 pay 90 Is, 10 or per
| cent, should therefore be elassed either under
the head Of 25 per cent, or that Of free goods,
! for simplciiy's sake. This simple system found
| many admirers. The letter Of an appraiser in
the Boston Custom House, which is on file at
| the Treasury Department, eXtolled the system
| TO the skies, on the ground that it would give
| 10 cause OF misunderstanding between impor-
ters and Custom House officers as to the rate OF
duty chargeoble on dutiable goods! The truth
Of the assertion is evident Others contendcd
| thas the system was still too complicated, that
| tive classes were ona too many. Some simple
men, more simple than The administration
| more royalist than The king, proposed that
! there eheuid be but one rate of duty on all ar
! ticles OF importation, SO long rs any duty
should be found required for purposes Of reye-
| nue. and that This duty should be fifty dollars
per hundred pound weight-lct it be brandy,
| ostrich feathers, diamonds or barley.
But the tariff question, whatever may be its
Importance to the country at large, was not
much thought Of at Washington. The Ncbras-
ka question afforded more food for popularity
and Bnncombe speeches. and soon absorbed all
other topics. We admired the consistency of
the administration in proposing this simple
system, in spite Of its deficiencies in
some respects. We knew that governments
want iirmuess Of principle Just as much as in
disiduals, and We had At last found the princ-
pie which General Pierce had adopted as the
basis OF his government for the balance Of his
term in The White House. This principle was
impliciy-simplicity abroad as at homc-sm-
plicity everywhere and forever.
II is due TO the administration to state that
they have carried this principle Of action far
tber Than any other they have adopted, AMI |
stuck to il longer time. They now abandon ii |
in aiding to put forward new tariff, divided into
nearly as many classes a that Of 1916. We shall |
examine with what chances Of success this new
scheme appears. III reductions Of the revenue
are magnificent and simplicity is gone. None
Of the amelioration which eight years expert |
encc has suggested 10 our merchants are to be |
found in it, provisions. and simplicity is no
more. Tho administration has thrown over
board il last principle What re-
mains on The wreck?
TIE WArrIuSG pI,cEs. - Tie Forest Groyc E3usc,
schoolys Mountains j. open for tho reception Of
Visitors. II has been newly decorated ana furnished by
its present propulsion, BIZ David Noe and Will com
MEDIATE upwards Of 200 inmates. The surrounding
scenery Is delightful and Tho establishment Itself easy
q ocecas from Now York That popular summer rcrol
tie Pcquot House, Now london, Conn. was rcopencd