The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-03-14

amount equal 70 the whole value OF the imported
ten millions worth of foreign goods are sold twenty
per cent below the price Of the domestic the loss on the
latter will be twenty per cent on over one hundred mil
injuries, industry and home trade are parayzed Men
cannot form any reasonably sao estimate Of their years
business ENTERPRISE is checked and much Of is power
lions inflicted on our home industry by the import OF
ten millions OF foreign commodities
II may be urged that the country has gained Dy tnm
reduction Of price, and by the being thus sup
piled twenty per cent lower than would have been psd
to the producer DO better as
can DO advisable to compel manufacturers to sell
loss without profit and thus DO compelled 70 aus
be advisable TO abandon our homo markets to foreign
manufacturers and allow them 70 advance their price,
upon whom we wholly In their power, then sucn
events may be regarded as beneficial
ADVANTAGE OF HOME MANUFACTURES
Conflicting opinions this subject have troubled pur
national legislation during its whole history one 49, tnas
as we must Manufacture or obtain least ninetenhs Of
what We consume from our own industry, We snonio
ns q as
from the price OF labor and other conditions peculiar 70
our country Another opinion is, that as goods are
purchase where goods be obtained cheapest Infs
Is entirely plausible and In some aspects true II the
cheap labor countries could spulae TO furnish US ui
supply the whole population their lowest rates. OF
good quality not increasing their price according 70 ne
magnitude Of our demand and take payment in all such
agricultural products consumed by our manu-
facturer and further that tho terms should not be
changed TO disadvantage such propositions might be
worthy of consideration but certainly not Of adoption
The incidental advantages Of manufacturing for our
selves worth all the difference between tho low prices
abroad and the higher at home These incidental sens,
intellectual activity increasing enterprise and capital,
greater progress In the common arts Of life and in the
fine arts stimulus to the inventive faculties; but more
than all these and above them ALL is the advantage Of
furnishing full employment to the entire body Of the
the usual mechanical employments can do No nation
can attain to its maximum Of wealth which does not
by its national policy furnish sources of employ
attain its due development OF wealth and power which
does not work its own mines going into the bowels Of
the earth well cutvatng its surface. may be
stated more broadly: no nation can MAINTAIN real in
dependence suitable self-respect make due progress In
civilization, and attain to that accumulation OF capital
needfu TO progress In the nseful arts unless II produces
its own food and clothing builds its own houses,
makes Its own furniture provides for its defence by
develops its mines and maintains sys-
OF internal transportation and intercourse adequate
it affords employment to ali its laborers and full
scope for all the mental and physical activities Of its peo
pie. It requires combination Of such advantages to
develop the power and resources of such a ter
ritory ours, and such q people as occupy It,
Our public policy has not reached these require.
expenditure OF less than one hundred millions annually
all raised by duties upon imports but enough has been
learned from past experience successes and failures TO
warrant the conclusion that the people OF this country
pay three hundred millions of national taxes in
addition to moro than hundred millions Of State and
try including tho whole power Of It's labor brought
into full action With proper economical system all
% Se sy %
resort will be had to remedies Injurious to national credit
and reputation.
These and similar considerations are pressed now be-
cause, although main purpose Is to reform and i'm
avail that our system Of taxation Is the best which man
devise II the annual products Of our industry do not
furnish the means OF paying It. II that industry Is
checked parayzcd by competition with cheaper labor
or IL kept in suspense by commercial fluctuations which
threaten prices reduced not TO be remuneratve
then the revenue must suffer in proportion to the pres
It just necessary in any wise system Of national
revenue TO stimulate, sustain and increase productive
power Is to impose taxes and distribute the burden
with impartialty and skill.
NECESSITY FOR REGULATING DUTIES on IxruR1s
Itsscms 10 be imperative necessity TO increase
the duties upon foreign commodities competing with our
own, especially In those departments Of industry upon
we Gr shan ,n our
kept In full vigor and active operation lest II the homo
supply should diminish, prices both at home and abroad
The internal taxation has, In large number OF cases.
partially or wholly ncutralzcd tho discrimination ere.
toforo made In favor OF our own Iaboring classes
The high price of gold Is failing to exercise IL asi
naseaee IN the repression Of % mpo.,ationy I'm;
A. accounts lead to the belief that they arc to be large
beyond all precedent The gold duty Is beginning TO be
barrier for the goods sold at great advance for
the medium OF remittance Thus door Is opened by
which commodities may be poured in upon us in
quantities sufficient TO reduce prices far below the
which our laborers afford TO produce them. This
will diminish tho internal revenue to an amount far
beyond the increase Of the duties upon importation
II not only necessary that the duties upon imports
should be regulated 10 prevent ports OF entry
from be ng flooded with goods not imported BIZ our own
merchants with their full knowledge OF the wants OF the
country but commodities sent hiiher by foreign manu-.
and spectators with the double purpose OF
azing profit upon our financial position and OF over
whelmng our domestic indusry-that industry which
suffers even when threatened-whch we cannot afford
TO put in peril much less 10 see overhrown, even for
year.
The experience We have bad In this country or the
bad working of appraiscment system, organized
under existing laws and as carried out in custom
houses should fore upon MS the adoption OF the Eu
ropean methods OF specific duties No such abuses can
and defraud public Treasury. There revenues are
scd upon specific duties, not mainly, but almost
altogether. The British tariff contains three hundred
and eghtytwo specifies to one hundred and thirty
ad valoren duties Belgium, which is one OF the richest
countries OF Europe in proportion 10 its populaon-a
country in which the various departments Of civilized
industry best blended for their mutual Advancement
has troc hundred and thirty specifics in her tariff o.
sxty-six nd vaorem duties our nrin has thousand
four hundred and thirty nine adj vaorc duties and -four
hundred and seventy eight specifics The Belgian tar
presents feature well deserving the attention OF ourlcgs
laors and statesmen. IL Is special schedule by which
linens coming from France charged with specific
duty until the quantity OF four millions OF pounds weight
has boon imported when the amount imported exceeds
quantity and does not exceed six millions OF pounds
WEIGHT the duty increased upwards OF NIFTY per cent
and when the quantity exceeds FIX millions or pounds
weight all Imported within the year IL charged double
the rate OF the first four mlllons The lax manufactures
OF Belgium OF the most important Of its In.
dusires and this careful and paerna government has
taken this method of saving their markets from being
overwhelmed with French linens to the injury Of their
working classes
schedule Of proposed changes Of duties and pro.
visions in the tariff accompanies this report,
which Is commended 10 the consideration Of tho
Secretary OF tho Treasury and OF Congress. az
indicating. In degree, what the peculiar condition
OF the industry foreign trade and financial pc
sition Of the country seems 10 demand.
The Indications however, very strong that some
prompt action Of Congress may be required for the relief
OF the country before any revision OF the tariff can be
effected. The great temptation TO send goods 70
this country, and the great movement In that drec
ton already commenced has attracted attention abroad
and given us full notice Of the danger: II this move
mont should continue 1t may become not only expcden
but necessary nerpose special temporary legislation
70 check commercial movements which, however benc
fetal TO those who devised and are carrying them out
cannot but bring disaster upon our working classes and
heavy los nnl,n rexnnue