Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1871-01-13
Ees Tariff Does Not Protect the Pro
&neHrs Generally.

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The Tariff Does Not Protect the Pro-
xneers Generally.
III a former number of the JoURSAL we repu-
dated the classification of the Republicans of
this District, and of our Congre essicnal represent
ahvs with the mouopolists Of Pennsylvania.
Cur action in the premises has elected the re-
proof Of the newspaper p0ter Iau,aias of this Dis
tflct, the Toledo Go nmercial. With self-import-
ant egotism 1t designates our actorfas an act of
assurance, proceeding from Free Trade paper.
In regard to hs action Of our cotemporary we
are free TO admit that much latitude of express
siOn should ever be granted the head of family,
aud even If an occasional ft of z arrulousness
should possibly take the place of sober judge
meut and Of sound logic, we may readily attr-
butte II to that femenine propensity, which some
times influences the masculine gender, of claim.
ing both the first Gnd also the last word. When,
however, hat garrulousness merges into mis-
representation, or even what is still worse, into
positive untruth, we may not regard it thus char
itably, and car only attribute such action to
conditOn Of 0i6cious monomania or Of defective
morals. Such is the position now occupied by
the Toledo Commercial in relation to this paper.
1t has made positive and wiful misstatemen
Of the position occupied by us on the tarifques-
tios, and as self '.sttuted censor it desgnates
our discussion Of it as an act Of assuroa:e.
The position taken by the JOURNAL has been
70 favor Of leyying the highest amount O. tariff
on foreign imports that may bring revenue to
the government. We are utterly opposed to any
system OF taxation the object of which is to er-
rich favored interests. We CLAIM that the pr,.
vailipg sentiment Of the people Of this District,
which is asserted in the State platform of the
Republican party, accords with such views, and
that the further retention of official power by it
will very much depend on he. adoption of such
progressive policy.
Against such concl uson the Commercial de-
murs, and in justification of its action quotes the
following paragraph from speech delivered in
1s44, BY HENRY CLAY, at Columbia, 8. c., to a
delegation OF Cab met makers, as an illustration
Of the position now occupied by the Republican
party on this question. Mr.. CLAY's remarks as
quoted by the Commercial read as follows:
have ever thought it desirable to see our
country enjoying a real and practical independ-
euce Of the rest of the world. As conducive to
this object, have believed that our arzans
ought to be. protected against the rival prOduc-
tious Of foreign ar;izans, by system Of policy
moderate reasonable, certain and stable. And,
te'the support Of such encouragement Mt of our do
nestle industry, and the fostering of our own
countrymen, rather than the foreigner, the die
tates Of my heart, alike unite in promoting my
exertiUns, whether in public or in private life.
In regard to the real and practical CONNER
cial Independence of this or any other civilized
and enterprsing nation from the rest Of the world
II is simply absurd to entertain the thought, and
impractieabie in ts attainment. The interests
OF nations, like those Of individuals, are init
mately blended together so that reciprocity OF in
teroourse confers mutual benefits, which tends to
the we'll BeihgOf the whole. The Chinese have
illustrated that policy of exclusi veness for
many centuries which, together with their great
wall. are monuments of costly folly, of whcih
In commercial and fiscal sense, the present tariff
IS almost facsimile.
The Indians are also contending for this same
privilege of real and practical independence of
the rest Of ths world. Their beet is to provide
q hom, market with their squaws as privileged
laborers.
That the working classes aad consumers of
Iron may see the workings of this system of pro-
srlte aud reasonable, we copy the following state
ment given By the Iron aud Steel Association Of
che production of pig iron in the United States
in 1869. From it the people may perceive the
relative amount Of taxes which they pay the
government aud this favored interest, This item
is but one of many which may be furnished as
illastratiOns.
Tons
Made from anthracite coal "97l 1850
bituminous coal ........ 553, ,34l
chafohoal 80. ............. 1872, 80
Total domestic product. .....l ,9l6, ,64l
Imported, as per custom house returns 1906
Total consumption in 1869. "..2,O49, ,947
The tariff on imported iron of the above class
is 80 per ton. The prime cost of similar ar
ticlo manufactured at home is increased just that
amount. or the amount consumed, l,9l6,64l
tons were:producO by our home manu- facturers,
an l33, 1906 tons were imported.
II will be seen from these figures that the tax
paid by the people on pig-iron amounted in 1859
10 tls,4i0,523. OF this vast sum the govern
msnt received only the tax on the quantity i'm
ported, namely, $l,I99,75i. The balance, or
lT,2to, 1859, goes to the monopolists.
If the pig-iron manufacturers do not realize
the bsnI6Osncs Of protection we are much mis-.
taken IN the matter. On the other hand, how
are We 10 regard its unjust and oppressive inAu-
snces on Earmsrs, m mechanics, aud the consumers
Of iron generally.
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Chronicle Almanac. 1t affords us pleas