Maryland free press. [volume] (Hagerstown [Md.]) 1862-18??, 1867-02-07
Ss-T The "rulo or ruin" politicians who nc

The "rulo or ruin" politicians who now
compose large majority of the Congress of the
United States, and who consequently have full
control Of the Government, seem bent on "run-
ming the machine at a reckless rate.
Amongst other schemes of ruinous and suci-
dsl legislation which are now pending before
Congress, is a new Tariff bill, which may indeed
DO well and truthfllly called "a bill of abomina-
TONS" and compared with which, our present
Tariff, slready but teo onarous and oppressive
upon the masses, is light and hardly to be felt
Aud yet Yankee capitalists aud manufacturers
are not satisfied with the enormous duties tina.
are proposed by the new bill, but clamor aloud
for more protection Ths Washington Cores
pondent of the Baltimore Sun, thus exposes some
of the Ubiquitous demands Of these insatiste and
Unsuitable eormorants who remind US foreibly
Of the horse-leeches daughters, spoken OF BY the
wise Solomon, who are always crying "g;ve,
give" and are yet never satisfied.
"kmong the delegations who visited the capt.
tai last week has been one pretending to repre-
sent American artists who ask for the i'm position
of duty of ono hundred dollars on every oil
painting imported into this country from broad.
There is general rush here of representa- tivss
and agents Of interests seeking higher protection
articles such as salt. ron lumber, Bessemer
seei, 60 All are anxious TO get the rates pvt
up, even above those in the notorious House BILL
now hung mp in the Senate.
at is understood that the lumber interest in
Maine, controlled so it is slid, by not more than
fifty persons, has agents here who are working
for an advance in the duty on Canadian lumber
OF not less than two or three hundred per cent.
above tho high rates iu the House bill. On fire
wood thev demand forty per cent, and ON rail-
road ties fifteen conts apiece.
''The machinery manufacturers ofRhode Island
are also r-p-oSoRted here by del. gates who de-
mani duty rangiag from seventy-fi five 10 one
hundred per cent. on imported machinery. The
duty is now from twenty Eve to thirty-fvs per
cent"
We are opposed to protective tariffs under any
circumstances. Although it may be very de-
sirable to encourage and build up domestic manu-
features and hom' enterprise, yet we should be
careful that in doing so, we do not grind down
and Cypress greater number than we benefit
"The greatest good to the greatest number" will
always be found n safe maxim of political econo-
my, and to this maxim the results Of protectiv 70
tariffs certainly do not inform.
Though theoretically protective tariff may be
a good thing and although u skiful and ready
writer may sot forth upon paper, its beauties in
very attractive light, yet when wo come down
to practical results, to 'stern, stubborn facts"
as Mr.. Gradsriud in "Hard Times calls them,
we invariably find, that your protective tariff
Expresses and grinds down that very class that
most need assistance while ita "protection'
is extended to those that could do very well
without it. 1t builds up the wealthy Capitalists
and keeps down the poor farmer and the strug-
Cling mechanic. 1t makes this rich, richer, and
tho poor, poorer.
But what care the demagoguss who now sway
the destinies of the American people, for all this,
provided they fill their hands and their pockets