Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1870-09-30
Tho Tariff.

publicans as. to the principles and
considerations which should guide
the Nation in levying taxes upon
imports; while we hold that Tariffs
should be laid for Revenue, and not
for Protection; while we believe
that the true policy for the West,
as a great consumer, is to seek the
market where we can buy the cheap
est-wc yet think that discussions
Of the abstract question of Free
rade and Protection have no pres
VT practical bearing. In the ex-
listing condition of the nation, free
trade is an impossibility, and as
sufficient revenue cannot be raised
from duties on Injuries and articles
of exclusive foreign production,
protection is, for time at least, a
necessity. No party, and but few
individuals in any party, advocate
now, or have ever advocated, the
raising of revenue for the support
of the government, by direct tax
alton. To duties upon Imports, as
far as possible, all administrations
have looked, with the assent of the
whole people, Tor the means to run
the machinery of the nation. To
these duties both parties are still
committed. The Hon. John 7.
Stoneman, who, with wonderful
good nature, latter much coaxing,
however,) consented to make the
hopeless race for Congress for the
Democracy of this district against
the Republican nominee, Mr.. Don
nan, does not pretend that he or his
party are for free trrde. He and
they declare themselves for a Tariff
for Revenue, and if, following the
example of the Democracy Of the
LIST Congressional District of this
State, they would get rid of the
Uncomfortable and oppressive exac-
tons of the Internal Revenue" that
Tariff for Revenue must exceed in
its exactions, the highest hopes of
the highest protectionist.
The war brought upon the coun-
try by the democratic party, has
burdened us with a mountain of in
debtedness. 1t is to the credit of
the Republican party that it has
pledged itself to pay this debt in
good faith, and is rapidly lessening
its aggregate. To continue the
work of reduction, to pay the inter-
est on what remains, to pay the
pensions to soldiers and soldiers
widows and orphans, and to carry
on the ordinary business of govern
ment, we must have revenue of
$500, 100000. Of this it is estima-
ted that about $l3O,OOO,OOO will
come from the Oppressive" and
"uncndurable" Internal Revenue,
as our Democratic friends denomi-
nate it, although this tax is now laid
only upon fcrmented liquors, dis
titled spirits, tobacco, banks, stamps
and incomes. Through the economi-
cal management of Republican
administration, Republican Con-
gress has been enable to remit the
internal duties on all the producing,
manufacturing and industrial in
terests of the country, except those
on liquors and tobacco-which, be-
ing retained, excite the ire of Dem
ocrats.
These six items yield one hun
dred and thirty millions only of the
revenue. Where will our Democra-
tic friend raise the other one hun
drcd and seventy millions estima-
ted as needed? They don't pro-
pose direct taxation, they don't like
the Internal Revenue, and they must
therefore collect it from imports.
But our imports (Which, by the
way, show a marvellous degree of
uniformity in value and amount,
whether made under high or low
tariff,) will not exceed four hundred
millions, and in order to realize the
needed sum our Democratic friends
must lay above 40 per cent. of aver
age duty, which ought to be regard
ed as a fair protective rate. The
terms ...Protcction" and ''Revenue,"
fher. have but little distinctive