Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1871-09-07
Senator Morton on the Tariff.

In late political speech, at St.
Louis, the Indiana Senator opened
up the tariff discussion in a noticca-
bio manner. His arguments are wor-
thy of attention. Below, we repro
duce what h, said on Revenue Re-
form and Free Trade
REVENUE REFORM
am in favor Of revenue reform.
The tact is we can't make a good re.
torn that the Republican party is
not in favor of, and our business is to
go on executing these things as fast
rs we can. But, allow me to say
that revenue reform is like the poor,
it is always present. There is always
necessity for revenue reform. A
changing condition of the country,
the change of the times, makes con-
slant reform IN the revenue system
here and there a necessity, and the
party that does not respond 10 the
wants Of tho country and the condi-
ton Of the country from year to year
that party comes short Of doing its
duty. [Applause.] Well, what is GER
orally meant when they talk about
revenue reform? They speak Of the
taxes and they speak of the tariff.
Tie tariff always requires q reform
and always will. A tariff that is a
proper tariff to-day, may, by change
Of the country aud trade, become an
improper tariff next year. That
which was proper FIVE pears ago may
now require change. l know that
changes are now demanded in the
tariff. I am for a revenue tariff, but
I want it so levied if it can be, as to
give incidental protection to our own
manufacturers without impairing the
revenue and, If any body is opposed
to that principle, it seems to me that
it must be because he is absolutely in
favor OF foreign producer as against
a home producer. (Applause. Let
me say another thing right here. We
are all interested ia having produc-
tive industry in this country. 1t is
best far US, 50 far as we can, to pro.
duce in this country all that we want.
1t is best for us not to have too many
employed in one thing, but to have
this employment so divided as to sup
ply all wants at home. There is no
market halt SO good as 6 home mar.
ket ] state that as a genera! propo.
sition.
fREH TRADE.
Talk about free trade, as some de,
between two countries where they
have unequal values Of labor. How
can there be free trade upon
equal terms between two countries
when labor is fifty per cent. higher
IN one than in tho other? want to
know how that nation eau compete
in manufactures that pays fifty per
cent. moro for labor and material
with the other nation that pays fifty
per cent. less. 1t cannot be done,
gentlemen; it is impossible. There
can be no tree trade upon equal terms
between two such nations, and you
might as well talk about free naviga-
ton upon two lakes where one is
two hundred feet higher than the
other. (Applause.l Is there free
navigation between Lake Erie and
Lake Ontario No, you lave to
pass from one to the other by means
Of the Welland Canal, and slow. tor
tnous and costly navigation. Yes,
there is free navigation between
them, but it is over Niagra, and l tell
you wherever there is free trade be.
tween two nations, when one pays
fifty per cent. more for labor than
the other does, they will go over
Niagara. (Appiause. There cannot
be free trade between two nations
on fair terms under the circumstance