The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1861-05-02

The principal fact which the above figures
disclose Is the great error made in estimating the
income derivIble from duties ON foreign imports
under the new tariff, and the correctness of the
position taken by this Journal at the same time
that those estimates were made, that there would
he a large falling off in the receipts from this
source, owing mainly to the ten per cent. tariff.
The following was our language in our issue Of
April 81, 1860:
One of the principal arguments advanced by the
Ministry in favor OF the high tariff was that il was
necessary to supply the deficiency in our revenue,
created by the reduction Of the duty on liquors.
That deficiency, as we have Just shown, and a. the
report Of the Minister Of Finance will uuquestiOnably
corrObOrate, Is more than made good 10y the property
tax law, and any further increase IL our duties on
foreign merchandise IS not only unnecessary, but
must prove detrimental TO our commerce, by check
ing impOrtltions, driving away our shipping, and
gripping trade generally, and thus may defeat the
very end which Is sought to be gaiued-an increase
Of revenue.
Now, what Is to be the result Of this financial
scheme, which the Ministers have set on foot with
such a flourish Of irumpeis; Those who have looked
at il most thoroughly think it will have powerful and
immediate results, some Of which may be stated
lst-To decrease the amount Of every description imported
merchandise.
H-Asa necessary CONSEQUENCE . tie foregoing, to reduce
ths number Of merchant v,s,sls coming here
Ji--Tp drive away the whaling fleet to ports where they can
obtain iheur supplies with less cost
4th.-Tc create a general staruation in trade among foreign
S Ta1l fg'. domestic pT-ia-s rau,ei rs a falling on in H.
shipping and 70 create "harl times from one end q tie
i.lani- O. lie other
II this theory Is correct. and all experience goes
20 support il, our high tariff scheme very much re-
sembies the plan which the old widow adopted with
her hen, that lay the golden egg every day, and II
we are not mistaken, will produce a somewhat similar
result. such, at least. Is the firm conviction Of by
far the larger portion Of our merchants, and Of nine
ienths Of the foreign community Of the kingdom.
The decrease in the amount OF imported goods now
paying five per cent. wiH be immciigteiy teif, and We
feel safe in predicting that the sum total Of such
goods imported during 1861 che first year II the
operation Of the new tariff WiH he reduced AZ least
one fourth, and that the total revenue from customs
for 1861 will not exceed that Of 1859, while its opera
tion will have resulted in reducing or driving away
both our merchant and whaling marine, and cuuse-
quently iuiuring cur domestic aud foreign commerce.
II sucn result follows, It Will not be simply temporary,
but permanent.
Other causes have unquestionably helped %
produce u decrease Of revenue as above exhibited,
but the principal cause has been the new tariff.
This may not appear perfectly clear To our
statesmen. nor the reasons trhy it operates thus,
hut it is none the less a fact that it Is so.
- Tariffs, in the language Of a contemporary.
speaking Of the changes made in the recent
American tariff. are dangerous weapons TO
play with. even in times of profound peace and
harmony. They are questions on which parties for
a long time divide. To tinker at them does not
argue very well for either the wisdom or states
manship Of those upon whom the duty has
devolyed of guiding the ship of state through the
breakers by which she Is at present surrounded
The free trade policy is fast gaining ground
in every quarter Of the globe over the exploded
notions Of protective theorists. Light duties or
none at all are found to work to the advantage
IF every country, far more than high duties.
Is every year reducing the number Of
imported articles subject TO duty, and we believe
the British tariff now applies to less than
twenty different articles. 30 too with France
her policy, under her present liberal and en-
Sovereign, Is every year tending TO free
trade. The main cause of this Is the fact that
trade and unrestricted commerce 20 hand in
and no government can afford now-a-
u place an embargo or drawback of any
kind on it, commerce, which i the grand
ever or handspring that enables its people 10
provide for the support of the government
\ prosperous and industrious people. be they
English. American OF Hawaiian,
packed up by a thriving and vigorous COM
nerce. far more readily find the means and
ar more cheerfully support the government q
" direct taxation, than when trade. COM
nerce and industry are crippled by heavy or O.
unusual emhargoes. We do not wish 70 ha :