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

rsoniS he sale TO assume that if We remove du-
,ioo ~ the amount of sS5, 100000, consumers
wilI nave in addition at least s25, 5000, 600 boun.
tv now paid TO manufacturers. and at least
Sso, 600, 600 actually lost by tie increased cost
nj nroducton, or by the unskilful methods
If those who have attempted branches Of in
dustry for which they have neither means nor
skill, and which in many cases we cannot al
ford to attempt at all.
"At this moderate estimate OF saving Of
sl70, ,eo0, 900 year, there cannot be any doubt
that the effect Of The proposed free trade
measures would be very beneficial 10 Aneri-
car industry, especially 10 those branches COM
monty called manufactures.
AL the actions Of the Revenue Resormers
are based upon the following propositions
81. No tax can be imposed which does not
cause more or less privation to those who pay
il.
70. Tariff is only another name for tax, and
o tariff causes more or less privatlon in the
same manner that any other tax causes priva-
ton.
''3. All taxes upon commodities. whether
excise or tariff. are paid by the consumers OF
such commodities, In the proportion OF their
consumption.
"Hence We affirm that Discrimination should
be used in the selection of commodities 10 be
taxed, according to the purpose 10 which The
article is to be applied. We must, therefore,
repeat that we would tax those articles which
represent the result for which labor is exerted.
rather than those which enter into the pro-
cesses of labor. We would deprive the people
under the necessity of taxation OF one pound
of sugar in five, rather than OF one
shovel in FIVE; OF one pound OF coffee IN
ten, rather than Of one horseshoe in ten;
Of one gallon OF whiskey in two, rather
than OF one plough in two; of one silk dress in
three, rather than Of one ba.e OF hemp In
three: OF one cigar in four, rather than OF one
steel rail in four; because we know that In
true theory, and therefore in practice, 1t is the
fact, that ii We do not cripple the workman by
taxes on his tools, he can earn more sugar,
tea, coffee. whiskey, tobacco, and the like,
even though they are heavily taxed, than he
can possibly earn il his tools and implements
are heavily taxed aud these articles are abso-
lulely free.
"In Great Britain the tariff has been gradu-
ally brought down from schedule OF over
twelve hundred articles to six, and with each
abatement or repeal The consumption OF tea,
coffee, sugar, liquors and tobacco has so in
creased as 10 keep the customs revenue up to
the full or greater sum than that which ac-
crued from the whole list prior 10 such repeal.
"If We, therefore. consider our national reve-
nue. from the standpoint Of what article IS TAX
ed, rather than where or how, we may IND
that the abatement OF all customs dulles Will
very soon be possible, except upon those
things which represent such luXurles as may
almost be sale 10 represent The vices 0f the
people.
I'm the calendar year ending December 81
1870, the revenue under the excise and tarih
laws was as ioilows:'
Internal Revenue. e.................sls $50. 70s, ,207
Customs Revenue. .............. ls6,e25 994
sales OF Land. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 2.9e9, 2eo
Miscellaneous Observation-Disclosures. 2S,Ooo.344
lOLdl. S1Vo, ,EVOi OVo
When the national debt is paid, which will
be in less than twenty years, even by our
present costly and foolish method, we may
absolutely abolish our customhousea, except
so far as they form necessary part OF the
machinery for collecting q tax upon spirits,
beer, tobacco, silks and satins. These taxes
yield three dollars head, which is ample for
all necessary expenses in time OF peace,
other than interest and pensions. II the ad-
vocates OF high tariff persist in their at
tempt TO maintain the present oppressive
system, they will be entitled 10 70 further
forbearance; and the next issue will be free
trade, qualified by no other consideration
than the need OF O moderate customs reye-
nue..
''Protection differs only from Communism In
this that II attempts to enforce All intquitable
distribution Of our annual product under due
process Of law, while Communism, or Social
ism, invokes the force Of law under the mis-
taken idea that more equitable division may
be- had by statute. The two ideas are Identical
in principle, tend to promote the same antago-
nisln, and are equally mischevons and futile In
their o. plication. The reform OF the system OF
taxation Is a most essential element in the
great problem In social science which Is now
shaking Europe 10 its very centre; and unless
We are wise in our day and generation, and
shall soon remedy The abuse OF law by which
men are now deprived Of liberty and restrict
ed In matters with which statute law should
never medde, we may have In the near future
10 solve these problems only with grave dill
Guilty and many threateDings Of civil commo-
tion."
In conclusion, Mr.. Atkinson discusses at
length and with great intelligence the amount
of revenue needed By the United States to
support the government and TO pay the debt.
He shows that very large reduction OF tax
alton is possible without in any way embar-
RAISING the administration; and forcibly
recommends the abolition OF the income tax,
and the reduction Of the tariff to standard
Of fairness, that is to say, to that which will
produce the necessary revenue without op-
pressing any industry. As the reader must
have gathered from the extracts We have
made, the whole article is Of greatvalue, and
we hope that it will receive the widest posi-
bic publicity.