The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1871-06-29
A PROTEST AGAINST THE TARIFF
BY the Shoe Manufacturers of the United
States.

N Ao'i"N'"G fio'cSs a6atuse thS
present ruisous tariff was signed by 375
boot and shoe Manufacturers OF Mas.
sachusetts, aud by ten Of New Hamp.
shire. Instead Of protective" tariff
the present tariff may well he called a
destructive tariff. 1t has taxed out of
exiutence one entire branch Of American
industry, that of ship building, aud is
serious industry 10 almost every branch
of trade:
The undersigned, engaged in the
manufacture of boors and shoes desire
to call attention Of their fellow manu-.
facturers and the public to certain facts
illustrative of the bearing Of the present
tariff upon their industry. The legis-
latiun ofpther countries has aimed to
secure for manufacturers and artisans
the raw materials Of their Industry at
the cheapest possible rates Every
country pursuing this policy has rapidly
developed it's manufactures The s2.
posite system has generally prevailed in
our country, aud has ret ,rded the nat
ufally vigorous growth of our industries.
Whatever measure OF prosperity they
have attained has been in spite of au
adverse and depressing system Of taxa
ton, aud is due to the intelligence, skill,
aud industry Of our people. These
have enabled them to triumph over both
natural and artificial difficulties.
The tariff tax upon our leather
amounts to thirty five per cent. From
the earliest period of our history, Amer.
icons have enjoyed such advantages in
the manufacture of leather us have cna,
blcd them 10 undersell all competing
nations. This tax, therefore, is totally
unnecessary as protective measure.
The duties on cotton aud silk rubber
webbing are thirty Eve aud City per
cent respectively. As few of these
goods are manufactured in this country,
these protective duties are benefits IL
the few and burdens to the many. The
duties on hastings aud serges are eighty
five per cent. Although these highl,
protective duties have been levied fol
four years, they have succeeded in stim
ulatipg only two establishments to en-
gage in making these articles, and that
TO limited extent. Moreover, the
quality of their products is too inferior
to supcrsede the use of the imported
| goods.
The combined taxes upon al the ar
ticies forming the materials Of our 10.
industry yield the government rev auue
Of only s3,5U0, 900, while they impose
upon the manufacturers Of boots aud
shoes a tax of $4,000 900 = which
must eventually be paid by the wearers
oil these necessary articles.
The direct consequence of these pro.
tectiye taxes is such an Increase in the
cost of our products as prevents our
competing with the manufacturers of
boots and shoes in other countries. OF
late years, there has been an increase Of
twenty tive per cent in the productive
power OF given amount of capital and
labor engaged in our manufacture
through Improved machinery aud new
processes. This gain, which should
have resulted in cheaper boots and
shoes, has been completely nullificd by
protective taxes. The legislation Of our
country has driven our products from
the markets Of Canada, Mexico, the
West Indies, and South America, which
we had cujoyed for more than a century.
1t had transferred the manu- :acture Of
our products to great degree to Can.
ada, where il enioys greater ADVANTAGES.
aud is subject to fewer impedimcnts. ia
the prosecution ofbasiness. Thus, our
country has to this extent lost the be-
uefits of this Industry and giving her
wealth to others, though a system Of
tariff taxation, professedly framed to
foster aud encourage American indus
try, but which expels il from America
and increases the wealth Of other ma.
lions.
In addition to the direct influence Of
the tariff upon our production. the sys,
ten Of protective duties indirectly i'm
poses grieyious burdens upon il by To-
crsasing the cost of our buildings en-.
gines, machinery tools and supplies as
well as railroad Transportation. itraisos
tho prices Of house rent fuel. food
clothing, and all supplies SO as 10 rem
der cxaravasaut wages d nc .essity 10 on,
workmcn. This apparent increase Of
wages, however. Yields no substantial
benefit TO our workmeu. because il is
all consumed 10 the enhauccd cost q
living.
We believe that an entire removal Of
all protective duties would greatly ad.
vance our industry. as We should then
have the markets Of the world in which
Ia sell our or,,lncta ,b,s I,rcoly in.