The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1865-04-13

bounty to the extent of the excass of duty
1t is the paper question all over again, with |
the addition that thousands may get along |
without . newspaper or book, there Is no
possibility of doing without wooden and cot 1
ton goods for clothing II
1 The tariff laws will prohibit importationsI
as efectually as they have been excluded |
from the rebel states during the blockade IL
there may be smuggling, but legitimate trade
in the articles entering into the necessary |
consumption of every family will be stopped. |
and why? That our home manufactures may
reap-the enormous bounty that exists between
the present high rate of duties and the rate
sufficient to afford them a respectable profit.
If given article can be made and sold IN the
United States for one hundred dollars and the
like Article can be made in Europe and brought
here aud sold for ninety dollars, duty oil twenty
dollars would increase the cost of the imported
article to one hundred and ten dollars, and give
the home manufacturer a bounty OF ten per cent.
on his original price, The consumer then would
have tho privilege of selecting the article which
best suited him. The home manufacturer could
take of one per cent and have still handsome
bounty left But when, instead OF q duty of
twenty dollars, there is imposed duty OF nifty or
sixty dollars, making the cost of the imported
article one hundred and forty or fifty dollars, the
home manufacturer is allowed to increase his
price from one hundred to one hundred and
thirty-nine or one hundred and forty nine dol
lars and this enormous sum is collected for his
own personal benefit. In the first case, twenty
dollars would 60 to the government F.; in the sec
ond case, the foreign manufacturer, unable to
compete, sends goods, and the government
| obtains no revenue. The home manufacturer
| pockets the profits at the price he would be
| forced to sell if there was competition, and an
additional profit or bonus equal to the rate OF du-
ty beyond the point of prohibition. 1t requires
/ hnfa % To hat n r1rQ-
hibitory tariff deprives the government of all rev.
enue, and amounts to direct tax upor the con-
sumer for the exclusive benefit Of the manufact-
urer. g.. a.. .Ef...
The Z,aibss,e may well say that under such a
| tariff our manufacturers cannot but flourish, !"
but flourish at whose expense and for whose ben
eftP We have shown that in every case where
the tariff excludes foreign competition, it extin-
cuisines revenue, and that the increased duty be-
ing added to the original price of the article is
| that much extorted from the consumer for the
benefit of the manufacturer. The idea that far
mers win find better market in which to sell
their products, and cheaper in which to buy,
under prohibitory tariff is transparent absurd
iity. The manufacturer will sell his goods at
fixed price, because no person can compete with
him. The farmers have, however, an immense
| surplus of their products This surpl s over
what Is needed for home consump ion, is equal i
not greater than their entire profits Their
crops What is to be done with this Higher
to it has been customary to send this abroad and
bring back the proceeds in foreign goods. Now
the breadstuffs and provisions that may go abroad
will come beck in gold, and out of this gold, for
| ty per cent must be paid to the home manufact
urer in payment of the bounty voted to him BY
| the tariff. That is what the Tribune calls find
| ing dear market to sell in and a cheap one e
buy in. The crops OF the United States being al
in excess of the home need, the profit, and more
than the profit, must be sent abroad. There be
axchanpa nf pnmmnditias and mn mn
duce being sold for gold, they will of course
bring only such prices as the necessities of th'
foreign market will command. The gold being
returned to the United States the farmer vii
have to pay TO the manufacturer one hundred
and fifty dollars for the same quantity of cottor
or wooden goods, that, with his old, under
fair, honest revenue tariff, he could have import
ed for one hundred dollars. Yet that is calico
1 finding cheap market to buy and dear one tC
sell in, when in point of fact the very reverse il
the result.
The object, and the exclusive object of all tar
ifs under our form of government should be REV
ENUE. That tariff which will produce the mos
revenue is the only 'judicious tariff" and as ev
cry tariff of that kind necessarily affords protec
tion TO the home manufacturer, we in favor
of giving that protection. All Injuries and su
perfiuties ought TO be taxed TO the utmost limit
those who have the money to. indulge in them viii
have them any way, and will not feel or care fol
the duty. But essentials necessaries-the thing;
that enter into the daily uses of life should be
taxed for. revenue. Ii one hundred millions o
dollars worth of cotton goods will be imported Al
duty of fifteen per cent Gd ra'oTem, and ont
ly one million would be imported at duty of tor
ty per cent, then the duty should be fixed ut the
fifteen and not at the forty per cent. In the one
case there would be fifteen millions of revenue
and protection equal to the duty in the othe
case there would be revenue, but direct tar
upon the public of twenty-five per cent. for the
private benefit of the manufacturer. Chicdg,