The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-09-23
Free Trade-Revenue Reform.


kinsons article on Free:Trade and Revenue
Reform, published in the October number Of
the Atlantic Monthly, is devoted to an expla-
nation of the effects expected to he hadupon
American industry when Free Trade princi-
ples receive the force OF statute law. We
| NAV state, in general, says Mr.. Atkinson,
that we expect to limit our work mainly to
the repeal OF restrictive statutes, and as our
prosperity is great even under restrictive
statutes, we expect it to become far greater
when freedom is restored, and intelligent
workmeu shall have full liberty 10 co.ope-
rate with capital in developing that COM
plese harmony Of interest which is the natu-
raj order.
1--WE seek only the abatement Of the most
oppressive taxes. and We expect the same
benefit which any abatement OF taxes would
give, only in larger measure, as We shall re-.
move not only the burden OF taxes now paid
| to government and not needed, but also the
bounty paid to special Interests. But the great
est benefit expected Is II. the reduction ol the
cost of manufacturing. 1t Is often mistakenly
| alleged that because duty Is imposed upon q
given article, the maker OF that article secures
an extra profit upon the home manufacture
equal 10 the duty. If such were the fact. the
injury ot protective tariff would not De as
| great as it is. as such profit, although secured
By an individual, might become in his hands
| part OF the reproductive capital Of the nation.
| The most obnoxious effect OF protection is, that
| 1t increases the general cost OF production.
| with very little If any permanent profit TO any
| one"
The Free Traders, therefore, expect
l. To enhance the prosperity OF manufac-
turers, by lowering the cost OF materials, and
| to make q much more ample consumption
possible to all consumers.
2. By the reduction OF tarif-taxes and the
free admission OF ships TO American regis
try, to restore the art Of ship-building TO the
country, especially OF ocean steamships; and
to give such ships and steamers profitable
employment in carrying abroad the abun-
dant manufactures which will follow reduc-
ton OF cost, as well as in bringing back the
large import Of foreign comforts and luxu-
ries.
Mr.. Atkinson shows in an unmistakable
way how these results will be attained, lax
ing as his special examples the manufacture
OF woollens, of steel and steel rails, and OF
boots and shoes. As 10 the vast number OF
branches OF American industry seldom named
in discussions on the tariff, which are now
crippled by the tarif-taxes on their materi-
ais, even the protectionist cannot doubt their
increased prosperity under free trade poll
CIV. SucL are the manufactures which can
not be imported to any great extent, but
which constitute over nne-tenths OF our in
dustry, and give employment, at the highest
rate OF wages, 10 our most intelligent ope-
ratiyes. We need name only few for illus
tratiou, such as the manufacture OF cooking
stoves, furnaces, harnesses, agricultural
tools, books, clothing, cheese, steamboats,,
cars, locomotives, bricks, coal-oil, clocks,
furniture, mattresses, printing presses, news
papers. and the thousand other employments
which musL exist in the midst OF every great
farming country, and which give to the far
mer by far the largest market for his pro-
duce. All this gain to American industry
could be fully realized and enjoyed, il abso-
lutte free trade were only possible.
Unfortunately the necessity for large Gus
toms revenue makes it impossible, at pres
ent, to gel the full advantage which the abo-
lition of customhouses would give u.s. For
the present tariff for revenue which shall |
interfere as little as possible with industrial
pursuits must be imposed The construc-
tion OF such tariI to yield at once
Sl2O. 900, 900 revenue is very easy.
The whole interest upon The public debt is
now more than paid by the excise taxes upon
whiskey, tobacco, beer, banks, and stamps.
The customs revenue Is. therefore, needed for
the same purposes 10 which it was applied be-
fore the war, and for no other, unless we
choose to include moderate annual payment
upon orr debt. AS the expenses OF the gov
ernment are now somewhat greater per capita
;nln in 1850, it is perhaps better 10 make u
larger estimate, aa;.. &c provide for a customs
revenue Of Sl?0, 10000 which sum, excluding
pensions and Indians, is on basis OF two J.
lars expenditure for every one In 1861.
This sum can be very easily raised from
duties upon tea, coffee, sugar. wines, liquors,
and fancy goods at substantially the rates now
imposed. with dulles upon sik fabrics at about
thirty-tve per cent. (he highest rate posi-
BILE to be levied without inducing smuggling
and fraud,) and with The addition, for the pres
ent, OF rates oil duty upon manufactures OF WOOL.
worsted, cotton, linen, china and glass levied
as far as possible at specific rates, but equal to
twenty per cent. dd rdlorem; all chemicals.
drugs, dyestuffs, together with wool, pig.iron.
raw steel, hides, lumber, leather, coal and
other so-ealled raw materials being added ~
the free list. Such iarif would interfere as
little as It is possible for any tariff TO Interfere
with domestic industry and home manufac-
lures, and would leave them free TO expand
and to attain prosperity OF which our present
eXorbitant tariff now deprives them. So lar as
revenue shall be derived from textile fabrics
under such tariff, it will be paid mainly upon /
the iRer or least necessary kinds OF goods, such |
as linens, silks, and fine worsted, cotton and |
woo!len goods, or such as depend mainly upon |
style and fashion for their SALE"
The taxes on tea and coffee are not especi-
ally onerous. 1t is true that consumers pay |
their taxes in the exact proportion in which !
they consume the articles taxed; but this |
rule applies, as well, to the taxes on iron,
steel, woollen cloth, and all other articles
upon which taxes are imposed The free |
trader taxes luxuries and comforts rather |
than articles Of necessity. 1t is better to give |
up one pound of tea or coffee out of five than |
IN ha sc |