The evening Argus., 1869-12-06
THE TARIFF ROBBERY.

The Radical New England party, while
doctorinv the nation for the negro com:
plaint has all the time, vampire like, been
sucking its life blood by means Of an op'
pressiye tariff, which is little else that rob
bery Of the masses under legal sanctions.
The late discussions of the relative merits of
free trade and Of protective tariff as gov
ermeu,a policy, has awakened an unusual
interest in the question, and demonstrated
to thousands of taxpayers who have been
in a negro eclipse, that the Radical tariff is
robbing them. The outrageous injustice
and oppression of our personal tariff, and OF
the whole system has been so clearly shown
in these, discussions, that the revuision
against it at the present session OF congress
will most certainly lead to its modification,
and pave the way to the ultimate elimina'
ton from American ststesmanship OF the
whole theory Of protective tariffs.
The iniquity OF our present tarltf laws Is
shown and illustrated by the duties levied
on the two articles Of pig iron and lumber.
The case can not be more pointediy and torci'
bly, pres ented than by the following extracts
from the St. Louis Republican:
"Tae single article Of pig iron illustrates
most strikingly the I'M ustice the protective
tariff Devised for the advantage OF those SUI.
fering patriots, the iron makers of Pennsyl'
vauia, who are growing rich BY selling iron
for nearly twice as much as it costs to pro
duce it, while another class, Western farm
ers, who are taxed for the protection OF
these suffering patriots, are growing poor by
raising wheat for less than 1t costa, TO pro
duce it. The tariff on pig iron is nine dol
lars per ton; aud under this tariff we import
cd last wear only l05 900 tons from abroad
which Welded the slight revenue OF SPAS
55j. Tho total home production Of pig irof
for the same wear was about 100000 ton'
As the tariff Of nine dollars per ton on I'm
ported iron really is, and ls intended TO DC
an addition to the price Of every ton OF iro
consumed in the country, we paid on thl
home production Of 100000 tor
$l9,500,OOO as a special contribution
those who made it. In other words, iC
every dollar we paid TO the government
revenue, we paid $3.50 to the iron maker
for protection This is said to be tosterIn
home industry; but the truth is the very r.
verse. Pig iron is the very rudest iorin
which iron ia seen; after it is reduced iro
the ore. The real manufacture begins al
that operation and rises through 'he s'
cessive phases Of bars, rails, moulded wa
boiler iron, sheet, rod, chains, tools, IMP
men,s ana cutlery, TO the most delicate Tor
in which we see iron and st
manufactured. All these interests u'
to have pig iron cheap, for it is the mater
thev use in their manufacturers. But
tariff of nine dollars ton on it increases
cost BY that amount and to that extent
courages the industries founded upon
While, therefore, the tax benefits one ma
featuring interest, it is special injury
score of others. equally worthy, besides
ing burden to the millions who use |
fabrics Of any kind.
The same effect is illustrated in the q
Gle of lumber 1t is the very rudest form
wooden manufacture, for it is the raw ms
rial for all the varied processes by VII
boats, ships, houses and bridges, all of tt
agents of comfort and instruments OF wea
are produced. The real industry of
country needs cheap lumber, and it co
not be too cheap for the common good of
But we impose on it a tax of twenty
cent, which increases the cost of
one fifth to one fourth to every carpel
and every builder of boats, bridges
vessels. Last year, this tariff yieI
$2,250,0 in revenue to the governn
and about $l6,OOO,000 to lumber produc
Thus, the socalled system Of protection,
stead of fostering and encouraging home
dustry, is, in fact, burden to it for it |
tects few manufacturers and at the c
of all the myriad interests using the
terial which these manufacturers produce