Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1870-02-04
The TartH-Protectfon.

The TartH-ProtectfOn.
The annual contest over the Tariff is
Just beginning. AS usual the protection
lists have the inside track. The influence
of the New England manufacturers and
Pennsylvania iron-mongers, through their
| legitimate and carpet-bag representatives
upon the floors of Congress, and the power
of the wealth accumulated by previous
protective legislation, will doubtless again
enable them to pass a Tariff bill for their
benefit, and the agriculturallsts OF the
West and South must continue to be taxed
to support the wealthy iron, woollen and
cotton manufacturers Of the North and
East.
It has always been the most remarkable
phenomena in American politics that the
representatives of the great material IN
terests of the country should continually
and blindly give way to the clamor raised
by the few in favor of protection. The
more influential Senators and Representa-
tives of the West are beginning to throw
off the thraldom which New England pro-
tectionists have imposed upon the country
and are enl1ghtening the people in regard
] to the burdens heaped upon the masses
| for the benefit of favored few. The same
Congress which has protected manufactu-
rers by direct taxation, has also Indirectly
aided them by laying burdens upon the
producer This has gone on to such an
extent that our tariff laws are enacted to
enrich a few thousand to the detrlment OF
laboring millions.
We were struck with the figures and
facts presented il the late able speech Of
Mr.. Kerr, of Indiana, in the House of
Representatives, giving the practical
working of the present abominabie tariff.
He said that those who clamor for prOtec-
ton constitute but small portion of the
people of the country. Their interest
should command no more of the favor CT
solicitude of the government than those
of the people generally. It is estimated
that the total aggregate products of all the
industries of the country last year
amounted to Sc, 500, 100000. More than
one-half of all that was the result of a2ri
culture. Only $25O,OOO, OO0-less than
four per cent of the whole-consisted of
the total products of iron, woollens and
cottons. IN the production of the latter
amount little over three hundred thous-
and persons were engaged, while over
twelve million five hundred thousand we're
engaged in the production of the other
values. Yet nearly all our ubiquitous
tariff laws and duties are inspired, begot-
ten, and imposed in the interest of this
small number, and in a spirit of cruel in
justice and enmity against all the others.
To guarantee undue, unnatural and ex-
cessive profits to these few, the many, the
great body of the people, are compelled to
pay their full proportion of all public bur-
dens, and at the same time to pay incalcu-
liable millions as tribute for the benefit of
the few. To serve the latter they have
been shorn of their sacred rights of free
dom of exchange and to enjoy the inesti-
mable advantages of fair competition, of
honest prices and equal laws.
These figures present startling array
of facts for the consideration of the peo-
pie of the South. Having few or no dis
tinctive representatives in either branch
of the National Legislature, we cannot ex-
ipect our peculiar interests to be looked to
or promoted. The South must continue
to bleed for the benefit Of the Northern
manufacturer, and we see no help except
through the increased strength which the
new apportionment will give the West and
lSouth, or failing in this to become manu-
facturers ourselves. If our agriculturalists
must pay special tax upon their machin-
cry and farm implements. and cotton anl
woollen goods, and our railroads must pay
q bonus upon their iron, in order to ''pro-
tect manufacturing companies which al
ready declare twenty and thirty per cent.
dividends annually, and the shares of
which are upwards of one hundred per
cent. above par, much of the industry of
the people will be consumed and their
prosperity retarded.
We shall watch the debates upon this
matter and keep cur readers advisc d of its
different phases. There is nothing of more
interest to our people in their depressed
condition. They can lily afford to be
taxed to support other people, and their
Industry is needed to keep tho wolf away
from their own doors rather than to en-
rich and ornament the palatial residences
OF others.