The Cairo daily bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1870-1872, 1870-11-17
Ths Bulletin.
THE TARIFF.
A STRIKING illustration OF How |"
Works.

WCras.
fr,o,n tho Chicago Tribune, le'hi
r,o essential idea Of what is called
Election 10 American industry is 10
linda foreign competition by excessive
,.,.,ion with the productions of particular
;n,srcs. a, home, and thus enable them to
aY ,beir own prices. These special inter
ests happened TO be those that require a
,s-ce combination of capitol which will
no Benefited by a monopoly, and in which
the labor Of the operative is u mere Incl
Jen,ial expense. The interest Of the work.
men in the increased price Of the fabric he
work. upon, is one ofthose histories ofthe
protective system that eludes all investi-
ration. Capitol pockets the entire profit,
and labor gets the ci edit of asking for 1t.
Railroads have, within n few years,
crown TO be an immense home interest,
and il tho prctecticn!sis are honest, they
ouch, not TO obiectto extending the bene-
fits Of their own system to SO important an
clement of national prosperity. What
II these con panies should apply to
State Legislature, or to Congress, and de-
,nand an increase Of passenger and freight
tariff, for these reasons which are all
the protected interests claim for them
selves. 1t could allere, with entire truth
that railroad interests are great and grow.
ing and employ as much capital MS all the
manufacturing interests of the country
combined
Isl. That they create home labor, and
give employment TO home industry.
end. That they secure home market at
the doors Of the farmer, and bring the fac
tory and the workshop along side Of 'hc'
farm.
3rd. That their building and extension
has raised the value Of all the real estate
in the country; has built new villages and
cities, and brought remote wastes within
the reach Of settlement.
ith. That they have given diversity
10 pursuits, and educated multitudes to
new employments, taking them from tho
fields and placing them in the workshop;
and TIA, the supply of food TO these work
men is vast item In the profits of agri-
culture.
s,h and generally. Tha. any policy tina.
would increase the profits Of the company
would enable it 10 push its lines forward,
to spend moro money, and extend the great
and benevolent system, so that every man
in the community really has n direct and
immediate interest In paying such rates OF
freight as would ensure the greatest posi-
ble dividends, and also, in excluding COM
potion by competing lines.
On the protective theory. such reasons
would be perfectly sound. Railroad COM
panies can point to thousand direct bene-
fits they have conferred on the people
where any other interest can point 10 one.
Then why object 20 their dhubling tolls
and ffelghts1 Why are they not entitled
20 the benefits of this systems And why
complain il they ask III
IL e.
''if you increase freights YOU diminish
the value OF my farm; because tho increase
comes out ofthc price OF my grain Very
true. But, then. does no, the increased
price Of salt, iron, lumber, aud manuiac-
turcd goods Of all kinds also come out Of
the profits Of your labor Whatever Is
taken from you without equivalent re-
duces, not only the value of the farm,
but the profits Of labor In all is forms.
IL 1t 10 wrong for railroad 10 do
This why Is IL right for any other special
Interest TO do the same thingY The West
owes nearly everything TO its railroads, but
IL owes little or nothing 90 any mans
money invested In a factory. Every dol
lar added 10 the cost of such roads by
tariff, is just so much extra charge on
tho public 10 meet both interest and prin-
cipal. The public ARE In the hab, Of cur
sing the company for high chargcs, instead
OF the wicked legislation at the ountry,
that doubles the cost of their tracks and
rolling stock.
This ID fair Illustration Of the princi-
pie of 80 called protection. VIII some
one tell Us why double charges on railroads
would not be a public blessing, il double
prices for iron aud cloth are benefit TO
tho community us is claimed? The cncc,
!. the same In both cases.