New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-07-01
LOGIC Run OUT.

The grumbling ShOe-bosses in their recent
manifesto, markedly asserted that our people are
paying $l8,OOO,0OO more for Leather, Boots
and Shoes, than they would do i'll the absence
of any tax on the importation of those articles.
They did not even attempt to prove this other
wise than by showing what the duties on those
articles wOud amount to provided they were
all imported instead of being mainly made at
home. The World having indorsed this alb
surdity, we asked if the average price of In
dian Corn in this country is enhanced twenty
cents per buShel by the fact that imported
Corn is subject to that rate of impOst. The
World replies
owe export Corn, and it Is OF great staples In
1862 exported nearly $1,000 eco worth and II you put
duty Corn of cents 90 cents per bushel it would
make difference, just it would make no difference
in the price of raw Cotton"
Correct, Sir! And we likewise export
Leather Boots, and Shoes, as we more largely
export Lumber. Yet you have stoutly insisted
that the price of Lumber throughout the Union
was enhanced twenty per cent by the duty OF
that amount, though we were every day ex-
porting Lumber. Don't you see that your
foot is caught beyond recovery
That we do not export Boots and Shoes so
extensively as Corn and Lumber is true; but
we export them largely, as we could not do II
their price were enhanced 80 per cent by the
Tariff. And we predict that the returns OF the
fiscal year which closes with the present
month will show that our exports OF both
Leather and Boots and Shoes are increasing.
The World says:
"THE TRIBUNE not only did not deny on the 9th OF
June that we are taxed eighteen million dollars for the
luxury Of wearing boots and shoes, but it actually
pointed TO place called the Scamp the spot where
this money could be found and named two prominent
dealers in leather Messrs Schultz and Bailey the head
aud front of the offending takers"
We did not "denyn at first what we could
not suppose any one believed and which
one really ioes believe. Ask the grumbmg
ShOe-bosses, " Do you sell your wares 30 per
"cent. dearer because of the duty imposed on
"their imported rivals 7n-and they will unan-
imousy answer, "By no means We sell for
" cost; and that is not governed by the duty
"on imported Shoes" This is perfectly true,
and just as true of Leather as of Shoes.
We "DOinted to place called the Swamp
HEADQUARTERS of the Leather INTEREST," in order
to expose the absurdity of the grumblers'
assumption. According to their logic, the
American People are now paying at least Sl2-
100000 more for Leather than they need or
would if this article were imported free of
duty. Now, if consumers are paying this,
somebody is receiving it: and who but the
great Leather magnates of the Swamp. s..
Schultz, l. II. Bailey, &c.2 Now these we happen
to know as intense Free-Traders, addicted to
just such logic as that whereby the Shoe
bosses and The World implicate them as mo-
nopolists and gigantic robbers. We, therefore,
offset one clique of Free-Traders against
another saying, "If the Tariff robs consumers
" as you pretend, here is crowd of yourselves
Caught with mountain of the plumber on
"your backs Please restore itm If Free
Trade were the true doctrine, that is just
what they ought to do; but it is false, and
the Swamp is not den of thieves. Hence
forth, we trust, its oracles will cease to talk
as though it were.