The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1874-04-23
WEST AND EAST.
The Tariff Legislation Of the Past Twelve
Years,


To the Editor Of the Chicago Tribune;
ORION, Henry Co, Ill, April s, 1874.
SIR: Since the close of the war, has not
the policy of the Government tended to,
and affected the acquisition of, the com
mercial and financial ACKNOWLEDGMENT and
supremacy of the Eastern and Middle
States of the Union over the Western and
Southern States-of the capital and man
ufacturing States over the agricultural
States? Is it not this policy which has
produced the most noticeable Phenomena
in our condition since the War, as com
pared with the condition of the country be-
fore the War?
The agriculture of the West and South
is day producing the bulk of the export
able wealth Of the country. Their products
not only supply the vast home demand but
also pay the larger part Of our indebted
ness. Notwithstanding this, it is the East
which monopolizes the imports, which arc
mostly Injuries, spends money abroad in
European travel, spends money extrava-
ganty at home, and yet has money to lend
and, IN times of panic. money to hoard ::
while the producers of the West have 10
content themselves with homely subsis-
tence, and the producers of the South are
in a still more deplorable condition.
Naturally, this state of things could not
exist. 1t could only be brought about by
artificial means. 1t is the
RESULT OF OUR FINANCAI. LEGISLATION
Since the clnse of the War our whole tax
system, both impOst and excise, has been
framed and executed with a view To this
end. The tariff has not been for revenue
far from it. The whole internal revenue
system Is, in fact, so arranged as far as the
necessities OF the case will permit. as to ia
vor sectional interests. Both together
have been designed and manipulated by
lew In wing ones, who have shaped and
controlled the Legislation Of Congress by
natural and artificial powers. so as To en-
rich their constituents at the expense IF
the developers and earners OF the substan
tlal wealth OF the nation. Since the sue
cess OF the last Presidential campaign there
has been an entire subsistence of all war
talk. 1t IS logical, therefore, t. conclude
that the cruel war is over at last, and
that its fruits are all secured and this
question forces itself: Is this advantage
of the East over the West and South
this establishment of the political supre-
macy OF capital and monop lly aristocracy
over the people, and the perfect mastery
by IT over all their industries-the
LEGITIMATE FRUIT OF THE WAR?
After all, was MT the War the culmina-
ton OF a long conflict, dating from the rat
lhcatlon OF the Constitution, between the
interests OF different sections of the coun-
tryE As 1t was upon Il e tariff question
that the South first threatened to secede.
was not hnal secession undertaken ;uainly 10
avoid submission to tariff protection, which
the South knew would be ruinous to her
Moreover, was not the determination to
force this monopoly upon the South and
the whole country the real motive in the
Eastern and Middle States that reused
them to and nerved them in the War
against Secession, and more at heart really
than patriotism, which was the motive in
the West, or animosity to slavery. which
was the motive of but few fanatics :?
1t is overwhelmingly apparent that this !
conflict of interests is still going on and
Judging from the anti-monopoly uprisings
all over the country, it promises 70 be an
lrrepressble one. There are MANY among
those most alive to the injuries that on |
press them and the dangers that threaten
them, who ere determined against lonper
SUBMISSION and, as it is chiefly through
protective tariff that one small section nf !
the country holds the mastery over ali tho
others, this conflict, in the nature Of tb;ncs
can never be settled to the satisfaction of
those oppressed except
BY ITS REPEAL OR BY IT'S NTrIJJF1cArroN
Que or the other is inevitable. We are
drifting dreaefully near to a repetition of
the saddest and most direful chapter of our
history. Qualification" 10 Gch.;a
word. "'ins
War is the last resort of kings Re-
peilion Is the last resort of peoples. Nav
Gov grant US peace and the preser walton
VI the Union. There seems TO me TO be
put one way to peaceably accomplish a re.
Peal 0, Protection, and that is upon the
ground OF Its URconstitutionoLitn Even
after the demonstration of is damnable
injustice; even after the nation. 10 n man
Is convinced Of 1.-THE vote ON il. section
ally aud individually, will be governed bv
sself-interest. 1t will still be a conflict Of
interests, the result Of which may continue
.he present condition of things that of a
pormy iufiicting upon minority, not only
~ acknowledged but tyrannous and des-
r NOW, II there was ANYTHING tbot .bo
farmers and rati6ers OF ,ba .n sne
dreaded, and endeavored 20 eanana. p.i
every means that comprehans;ra 60 ~
Thought could suggest. it was an iole'
non like this by the General Govarn,p.
upon the government |
, NATURAL RIGHTS OF THE oovrp,
larry amendments show the iealnns r.:
they mad OF the Government being w;alJaa
~ power tor the oppression of the nso
Sse, OF nlinorlties, of weaker sections NJ
e'on Vi individuals. For this reason tbsn