New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-02-19
THE FREE TRADERS DILEMMA.

The Free Traders are remarkable for the
harmony and consistency of their arguments
relative to the pending Tariff bill.
1. IL they denounce it az class legislation"
in favor of manufacturers, they admit that 1t
will stimulate manufacturers into additional
activity, and by leading more to go into man
ufacturing will cheaper our supply of manu-
featured goods but
O. AS this is what the whole country wants,
they deny that it will stimulate manufactures,
and therein deny that it is class legislation.
3. They insist that the reason why it will
NOT stimulate manufactures is because so many
will rush into manufactures that competition
will break down the business but
A. They thereby admit that, so far from man
ufactures receiving no stimulus, the stimulus
will be excessive.
8. If they admit that it will aid manufac-
lures, they must admit that manufacturers, In
order to avail themselves OF its ald, Wlil COM
pete for more men, and that wages VIII rise )
but
6. As this would cause all working-men 10
90 for the tariff, they deny that 1t VIII raise
the price of wages, but assert that IL VIII
raise the cost of living.
z. In asserting that the working mans cost
of living Will rise, it would follow, as he
lives on food raised by the farmer, that the
farmer must get moro for his produce.
s. But, as this would cause farmers to go tor
the taIiff it becomes necessary to deny thae
the farmer receives the increased price when
the working classes and townspeople pay Ior
their food.
0. If they allege that q high tariff will check
A.
importations, it follows that it will lessen the
annual balance of trade against us and the
flow of gold and bonds abroad to- pay for the
excess of our consumption over our produc-
ton; but
10. AS all our real statesmen and sensible
business men regard our enormous outflow OF
bonds as the greatest evil of our situation, ana
whatever will check it as national saving and
economy, the Free Traders are driven to ailege
that our imports of goods under high tarln
will be as great as under a low One
II. Admitting that our impOrtations will not
be lessened it follows automatically that on
the same importations high tariff will in
crease our revenue; bat,
10. As this is just what our Treasury needs
and the people want, they while still insisting
that higher tariff Will not lessen importations,
deny that it will increase our revenue thus IN
effect maintaining that 30 per cent. and 6O per
cent. of the same quantity amount to the same
sum.
In this dilemma, they denounce all protective
tariffs az class legislation for the exclusive
benefit of manufacturers, which, however, would
speedily ruin them; as prohibitory tarlff,
which, however, does not diminish imports; as
q measure which at once increases our I'M
portations. and yet destroys our revenue by the
excess of tax it collects from every imported
article; as a measure which will raise all prices
to buyers and lower all prices to sellers; and,
finally, as a gigantic robbery of the people by
a few the proceeds Of which, after the commits
sion of the crime, are in nobodys possession,
but are diffused so evenly over tho whole peo-
pie that nobody has made n cent by it, while
everybody ho, lost query: Can all these
things be!