New-York tribune., 1869-04-02
NEW-YORk DAILY iTklBUkk FRIDAY. APRIL 2. 1869

tariffs is proved by the same evidences. and
if they have also carried with them Incidental
rotectionr-incidental, not accidental OF SIM
ply unavoidable prOtection-they still fall With
in the principle and conform to the policy Oh
those who take this last turn upon us. so IN
separately connected and lnterdependent are
revenue and protection in our system
of business and conditions OF the
national finances, that we need not
stop to choose between tariff for revenue
with Incidental protection, and tariff for pro-
lection wiNh resulting revenue. Make tariff
either the one or the other, or contrlVe Its de-
tails so as best to meet either design, and both
objects viii be fully accomplished .o.ul
Free-traders are in the habit OF saying to
their chosen audiences that protection In It's
very nature and objects, is antagonistic to rev.
enue; but they are refuted by all our past ex-
periences Their revenue tariffs have in every
case, and under every variety of cireumstan-
ces, beggared the Treasury; our protective
tariffs have in every instance replenlshed 1t.
little more ciphering and great deal less
sophistry would bring them to the truth OF
facts al the knowledge of principles.
aging success before the multitude that have
neither the time nor the material for reflection.
A tariff, they say, is tax upon consumption
and not upon property; the people without
taxable property or income are immensely the
largest consumers, and so the tariff equality OF
rates is unequal in its burden, and always
against the laboring people. who have little or
no capital. We answer: First, the people never
yet imported more than the One-tenth In value
of their total current consumption. Second,
large portion, probably more than half, OF these
imports are luxuries, which poor people neither
buy nor want, relieving to this extent OF the
burden, and so bringing up the taxes of the
rich toward their due share in proportion to
ability. 1t is, indeed, probable that an equit-
able distribution is thus effected; but If 1t be
not quite balanced in this way, we answer,
thirdly, that protective tariff, by the discrlm-
nations which its own spirit and objects prompts
gives exemption ojust those commodities which
the poor consume, for they happen to be exactly
the goods which do not compete with domesuc
industry. Tea, coffee, spices, and all uoplcal
productions were first made free OF duty under
the highest of our protective tariffs In the year
1882, and it is only when the exigencles OF the
Treasury demanded revenue from all possible
sources that these common necessaries OF LIE
were again subjo tied TO import duties. The
protective principle lays its hand on nothing
that does not oppose it. 1t stands by and al
lows foreign luxuries to be taxed, but it Is not
responsible for this. 1t is the revenue principle
which rules in such cases, and protection never
opposes revenue. ..I.' r
- hor n NJ charge
of inequality in the distribution of tariff duties
npon consumers. There are necessary taxes for
State, municipal county, township, poor, and
school purposes which fall altogether uponprop-
erty and income. These in the aggregate are
far greater than the whole revenue from Gus
toms at their highest figure, and here there Is
place and opportunity for reaching property IN
relief of labor, and throwing the fair share OF
the public burdens upon all parties according
10 their respective abilities to bear them.
II will, of course, be objected that protective
duties fall upon some goods which the non
capitalists require, and ought to be allowed to
obtain TAT the cheapest rates; goods that are
not luxuries, nor. of tropical production, and
whose consumption is not optional. But what
are thesei In every case, and in every
item which the principle of protection
covers, they are those manufactures which
give labor to the domestic producer, when
he is allowed his opportunity, so that wherever
the principle interferes. it is for the good pur-
pose of securing to the people, whose only capi-
tai is their industry and skill the conditions.
the opportunities, and the rewards by which
labor lives and thrives.
But, If all other arguments fail, the absolute
NECESSITY of raising an immense annual revenue
is upon u.s. and we only turn their own doctrine
upon themi when we insist that the utmost prac-
ticable amount shall be raised from foreign i'm
ports, levied in the wisest way. ....
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