The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-04-04
The Tariff Question.

New York, on last Monday, IL reference to
the Tariff bill, now before the House. 1t was
at once profound, brilliant and humorous.
Mr.. Cox charges the Radicals with bad
faith in refusing to reduce the taritf-a policy
to which they pledged themselves so soon as
the internal taxes should have been reduced.
The pledge was made in 1861; it has not
vet been redeemed, although last year
$50, ,0Oe, 900 were resigned by the internal
revenue, and during the present session
$50, 900, 900. He contends that this treachery
is running the country. Great Britain and
France prosper by a reduction OF their tariffs.
Among us the contrary policy has prevailed
to such an extent that our shipping interest IS
well nigh ruined, so that boanties must be
invoked to save it, and the sweat, care
and brain OF labor are sacrificed for the benc-
fit Of greedy monopolists.
The attack upon Mr.. Kelley, who repre-
sents the iron and coal interests OF Philadel-
phia, was particularly telling. "If should
'sask him." exclaimed Mr.. Cox, ''do you op-
''pose all foreign competition with what we
s.can produce against cheaper foreign pro-
'sduction, he would say Yes Ii l ask
'tagain II the article from abroad were
sfabulously low, 80 as to injure home trade
ssand production, would you restrict and
! ssprohibit? by all means Then read to
''him Bastrat's fable, with my new glossary.
s.He would close all windows, sky-lights,
shutters, curtains, blinds, bull's-eyes, OPEN
'ings chinks, clefts and 1ssures, whereby
''the sun enters to prejudice Of the merito-
''riouS home manufacturer of candles, lamps,
''candle sticks street lamps, matches, ex
''tinguishers, and the producers of oil, tai
slow, rosin and alcohol! He asks to shut
s'out the sun as q free trader, denounces his
''cheap and plentiful light rs destructive OF
s.home industry He would guard the home
''market from this British gold-bought in
''truder! That luminary has no right to
''compete with Pennsylvania coal gas. His
s.labor is cneap-pauper labor. Half our
s'time he mandates us with beams. II Joshua
''should command the sun to stand still
"over Philadelphia, the coal gas business
"would be ruined! Our home market is
''already glutted with this commodity. When
che appears, the market for candle sticks
''and gas burners trembles to its fall Con-
''sumers greet him-as If he were not an
s.alien! Qucnch his light, and artificial
1>o Iic iptn
ois not limited He strikes at agriculture.
s'Tallow is drug. Oxen and sheep are af-
elected. It is foul blow at meadow, meat,
''wool, hides, manure. He plugs up the oil
'swell. He interferes with the harpoon trade,
s'and thus interieres with the price OF iron.
ssThe very whales will blubber no more over
stheir lost lights. He invades, though
s'feebly, Alaska There are fifteen thousand
'Alents depending on seal catching for ell,
"&c. The sealmen Of Pribaloy are appalled,.
''They applaud the efforts of the gentleman.
s.Even the four million Of seals bulls and
''cows-meet en- naasse, to extend their flip
t'pers to the gentleman. What, too, becomes
''of the gildings, bronzes, crystals, lamps, in
gorgeous saloons? Close the dome OF this
"Capitol from the light. Let Our ceilings,
$50 richly escutcheoned, only be iumined
''from Pennsylvania gas; even as they are
''set in Pennsylvania iron! Build an opaque
'rocf-rbbed with Pennsylvania steel-oyer
':the land, regardless of expense, that every
''coal bank in Pennsylvania may furnish,
''and no Nova Scolian bank shall compete,
''for the coal to be consumed or the gas 10
"be made. And then there is the match bu-
"siness. Shall that be forever discouraged,
''my sunheams? Forbid it, Almighty Con-
''gress Reject the gratuities Of God reject
"wealth, comfort ABUNDANCE cheapncss-
severy thing foreign which interferes with
'our artificial production, at higher cost
sThe gentleman, to be consistent must pen
''of nature and the divine economics"
This was bad enough; but the merciless
Congressman went on to show that his
tarif-loving brother was opposed, not only
to the laws of nature, but what is more Sc
rious to an American politician, to the prin
cipal Of equality. 1t was shown that he was
robbiug from the farmers plough, the black
smiths anvil, the carpenters adze, the wood
mans axe, the merchants steamship. He
was making our commerce pauper, and
helping the Clyde builders to countless mil
lions. He would not even allow the Indiana
farmer to sell his surplus corn to England
for two blankets, but would keep him shiv-
cring with one. Equality" said Mr.. Cox,
sis justice; inequality is protection, and
protection is robbery"
The effect Of the speech, from which we
make these brief extracts, may be judged by
the fact that Mr. Gilfilan, of Pennsylvania,
refused to allow MIR. Cox an extension of
time to finish his argument The latter had
only time to substantiate his principles by
showing the effect of the tariff in enhancing
the cost of two articles Of prime necessity
iron and salt. 1t was due to the speaker
and to his great theme that he should have
been fully heard and fairly answered.
But what he has said is enough to raise q
storm all over the couptry. Will the |