Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1869-12-24
TIE TARIFF QUESTION.

We have long teen of the opinion, which
we have seen no occasion to change, that
every nation has the inherent right of levy
ing a tax upon the introduction Of foreign
merchandise, whether for the purposes OF
revenue or the protection Of home indus
try, or for both of these objects combined.
To what extent and in respect to what
articles this tariff right shall be exercised
is purely a matter of governmental discre-
ton All nations must have an adequate
revenue, and this they must secure by
some system of taxation. The simplest Of
al the admissible methods, the one least
Objectionable, and the least likely to be
felt as a burden, is a tax on imported mer-
chandise. The addition of protection to
this object simply makes the tax serve two
purposes at the same tne-the one being
that Of revenue, and the other that Of pro
lection to domestic industry against the
cheaper labor Of other countries. A tariff
for the latter object, when circumstances
require it, Is, in our judgment, as legitimate
AMI proper as one that mainly contempates
I'll ormer. We see no distinction in the
two cases, 50 fer as the right OF wisdom OF
imposing terif is concerned. They are
b ,h grounded ia the imperative necessi-
ties Of national life.
Experience shows, as a matter Of favt,
that the American people are the pro
ducers and manufacturers of an extended
lss Of articles necessary for their own use
and consumption. which are also the pro
ducts Of other countries; but which, owing
to the cheaper rate Of foreign labor, cannot
in this country at present, without the pro
lection Of a tariff, be produced at pric.
that viii enable US il our own market tc
compete with the foreign production. Thi.
is the undeniable fact with which we have
to deal Shall American labor then be
uadssold in the home market, and thus be
thrown out Of employment; or shall it, fol
/ the present at least, be protected agains
the pauper labor Of Europe. We have NJ
obi ction to a free list Of articles not pro
duced or producible in this country; bu
when We come to those that we can our
selves create, and viii do SO with proper
governmental encouragement, then we be
lieve ia a protective tariff to the full ezten
Of its necessity, in opposition to the doc
triue Of free trade.
The American people have, first ant
last, tried not u few experiments upon thi
subject = modifying and changing th
tarif according to the ascendancy Of this O.
that political party; and facts abundant,
show that home industry and home man
ufaeturos 10 large and important branche
thereof have fourishcd when they hav
been suitably protected, and as uniforml.
/ laDguished when this has not been Ii,
case. Such a fact, as practical guide t
/ legislation, is worth more than a thausant
theories Even if the present price of Ger
tain articles be increased BY protection
the people can better afford to pay the pric
than to be uudersold in their own marko
/ by the starvation prices Of pauper labor
Ia the end, as Alexander Hamilton clearl
saw, ard the history Of beetsugar produC
tion in France amply proves, protectio
that encourages domestic productio
cheapeus the price rather than increases il
Manufactures thus protected make
market for agriculture, and agricultur
t feeds manufactures, and to a large extel
supplies the raw material. We have OF