, 1873-05-05

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THE DEMonALIZ1Na EFFECT OF pR0TEC.
TI0N.
An extraordinary Convention was held recently
at Drattleboro, Vermont, and held for IN OK
traordinary purpose. After long and careful
comparison Of ledgora and bank-books, the delo-
gatoB unanimously resolved thnt, whou oyory-
body WAS dishonest :horo was no profit in It
therefore, that it WAS bottor to bo honost This
WAS Convention Of the manufacturers Of ma
uilla paper, aud tho Convention was called in
consequence Of tho fact that in tho zoal Of COM
petition aud tho dcBtro to undorbd ono another,
tho market WAS filled with paper, in which tho
qurcs contained but a.. a, 20, ind down as low
"a 16 shoots, instead Of the lawful a.
The man who put up a sheets in
q quro complained vehemontly Of tho dishon-
esty Of thoso who put only 20 shoots in q quiro,
and were therefore able to undorscll him, while
tho virtuous gentleman who sold 20 sheets III u
ouiro declared that tho wrath OF hoavon should
fall on thoee who plundered the public by soll-
Ing 1G Hheots as quiro, or 500 instead' of aso
sheots in a roam. Even tho 1G~sheet men be-
camo aatshed that some others might cut undor
them and put up only u sheets in quiro, and
tho Convention resolved unanimously to be
honest hereafter, and each put up the lawful
number Of Rheets in 4 roam.
Tho manufacturers Of manilla papor nro pccu-
linrly protected by the tariff. In the nrat place,
thoy aro allowed to import their raw material
froo OF tax, and . their manufacture is pro-
tocted by duty OF 35 per cont In
gold, equal, NTH tho incidence of the
tux, to 45 por cent currency. In
other worda, tho man who wiahcB to purchase
MANILA paper not mnlo in tho United States
| must pay As cents tnx on every dollars worth
| before he can uHo 1t. Not contontcd with this
privilege, it appears that those manufacturers
hayo been engaged in plundoring tho consumers
by selling them reams Of paper short from ono.
twelfth to one-tlird the legal number Of sheeta
Tho infant industries, protected as they arc by q
special tax upon tho country Of 45 per cont
whoro thoy managed to swell this Is por con-
intb 80 por cont by robbing tho packages aold b.
thom to tho unBuspeotiug public.
Tho resolve Of tho Brattleboro Convention
VAS all right, 30 far as 1t went. It failed. how
over, In tho extont Of tho reformation proposed
In addition TO ita conclusion that tho manufao
turor Of paper who would soil less than 48
Shoots for a roam was guilty Of fraud upon til
public md IN outrage upon the trado, tho
should havo further resolved that CongroBB ha
le7iod tax by which tho purchasers Of manill
: paper received ono-third less paper for tho
money than they wero entitled to, and loss thu
the peoplo Of any other civilized country receive
for tho same money, and that, as nono {
, the proceeds Of this confscatlon YVES paid inI
tho National Troasury, this robbery Of the peopl
> as well ~ that Of selling short reams, should
Il stopped by tho repeal Of that tax. But tho Co,
0 yonton did not do This. The moral sentiment
g Drattloboro did not riao high enough to discov
: eny iniqutty other thnn tho undermining OF o,
. manufacturer by another. Tho fraud upon IL
o public was thing OF courHc. 1t WAS now Il
o national policy. Thore woro but two olasses nc
10 known TO tho law-tho pluckod and tho pluckel
y Tho ono produced, tho other enjoyed; the q
J. was governed, tho other governed.
y Why ahould the pnper.mnkora mako IN
l. ception Of thoir trado7 What was tho tar
l. but notorious, confessed license for robbery
10 1t waa q practice Of tho French monarchB, |
fore tho Revolution, whenever they got new
sorlto, to loyy new tax and devote tho p,
coeds to Aor support. That mas open md uud
1t guisod plumber Of tho people. Tile levy Of a
II tax for any purpose other than revenue for t
10 lawful expenditures Of tho Government is
ty leas q robbery bocauso levied to mako cert,
8, trades and occupations moro rroltal
of than they would othorwtao 10. There
NJ no possible moral dlfroranco botwoeu uaki
or man pay ayo bushels OF corn extra to moro.
or the profits On pair of shoes, than there is
ho selling 800 aheets ofpaper for arean which out
ch to contain 480 sheota In both caseB thore
tit tho taking Of mans property witAout ooua