The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1867-11-09
ABOUT TIE TARIFF.

and alongside of them the semi-official
unsalaried. The former collect the
money for the Government the 9TH
ers do it for their own private inter-
ests. The agency by which the great.
est swindling is done for the benefit
of private individuals--chiehy capi-
talists of the New England States--is
the protective tariff. 1t is claimed
that this tariff was passed to assist
American labor and industry; but
the reverse is the truth. 1t was pass.
ed TO make the rich richer and the
poor poorer; at least such are its eff
fects. Let us examine this point, for
few moments, in the light of incop-
trovertible facts.
According to sundry public docu,
ments in our possession, the eastern
capitalists now manufacture annually,
of boots and shoes, slo6,6l3,5e7. The
rate of protective duty is forty per
cent. and the amount of tax levied
is S42654, ,426. This tax is paid by
the consumer, not to the General Gov
ernment, as some suppose, but to the
manufacturer. OF clothing, the an
nual product is 5000, ,461, ,6l9. The
rate of protective duty is forty per
cent. also ; and the amount oftax ley
led is $50, ls4,647. This tax is paid
by the consumer, not to the General
Government, but to the New England
manufacturer. OF cotton fabrics, the
annual product is Sls4,277,074; and
the amount of tax levied is $64, ,495,-
975. AS in the former instances, this
tax is paid by the consumer, not to
the General Government, but solely to
the New England capitalist enrich
ing him, at the expense, and by the
sweat of the toiling millions of the
land, or wooden fabrics, the annual
production is $l59,603, ,16s. The rate
of protective duty is thirty-five per
cent and the amount of tax levied
is S55, ,76l, LOO. This, too, like each of
the preceding articles, is paid by the
consumer-by every man, woman and
child who buys and wears wooden fab
rics ;-it is poured into the pockets of
the purse-proud capitalist, and not a
cent goes into the Golfers of the Gov
ernment.
We have said that the advocates of
the present protective tariff claim that
it was passed to assist American labor
and industry, We have examined
late reports of some eastern manufac-
tories, and the following is the result:
Certain boot and shoe factories, with
a capital of s24, 600, 900, consumed
raw material amounting to &44, ,O0o,-
600, Paid wages sal 900, 900. Profits
SIS, 100000. A profit on capital of
sixty per cent Sundry cotton manu-
factureFs, with capital of 800, ,O00,-
600, consumed raw material amount
ing to s55,oOO,oOo; paid as wages
s2S, 900, 900; cleared ss7, 600, 900; be-
ing thirty=se5en per cent. profit on
capital. Woolen goods, capital $685.
600, 900; raw material consumed, s40,-
100000; wages paid, s1o,ooo,oOo; (;
profits, 900 being fifty per
cent. profit on capital.
But the qboye are not the only bad
features of the present tariff law. It's
prohibitive duties virtually shut up
the foreign markets for Western
breadstufs. The foreign consumer
has nothing but the products of his
labor to give in exchange for our
wheat, corn, beef and pork these, to
a greatIextept, are excluded from for
Ieigumarkets, by a prohibitory tariff !;
and we are thus deprived OF our best
customers. Our foreign customers are
compelled to seek new markets, where
the people viii be.willing to seek their
products in exchange for their over
plus of commodities. Our present
tariff law is a financial mo9strosity,
the like of which is rarely seenin any
age or cline. Practically it puts but
little money into the federal treasury,
but pours millions into the pockets OF
the rich capitalists of New England.
1t isa scheme to wiring money from the
many and give it to the few. 1t ie
among the crownipg acts of infamous
legislation, corruption and imbecility
of party who have seized the reins
of Government that they might plum.
der and rob the people; a party who.
in the name of "Union, have labored
unceasingly to produce discord and
disupion, and in the name of Repub-
licanism have nearly achieved a cen,
tralized despotism in the guise Of
'1oyalty" and patriotism have struck
at the yitals of Constitution, and sap.
! ped the very foundations of civil lib
erty; in the name of honesty have
robbed the people of uncounted mil
lions, and in the name Of economy
squandered the wealth OF the nation
a party whose honesty is peculation