The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1874-08-04
agricultural department.
CONDUCTED BY ALBERT CHAPMAN
ABOLITION or THE TARIFF.

pusTRy.
lion. James g. Blaine, Speaker of the
liousc Of Representatives, in his letter
accepting denomination to Congress,
discusses the subject Of protection to
American industry, and the burdens
which would be imposed on the people by
the abolition Of the tariff, with great
ability. His views on the subject are so
sound that we have made lengthy extracts
1t is a pity that every voter in the count.
ry could not be induced to read and
ponder on the wise words Of Mr. Blaine.
Much of the argument applies to Vermont
and the whole country as well as TO
Maine. Mr.. Blaine says:
Without attempting to argue the ques-
ton 10 its relation to the whole country,
let lis see how this new doctrine would
affect Maine. The process would be
simple the results readily deduced, the
effect blighting and disastrous to the last
degree. For come years past, to deal in
round numbers, the federal government
has been collecting revenue of $780,
600, 0O0-one-third from internal taxes,
two.thirds from tariff duties. 1t is now
proposed by the Maine Democracy to
abolish all these duties, and have "free
trade" with an "unfettered and unre-
stricted commerce" In other words,
the Maine Democracy proposes to raise
the two hundred millions of dollars in
gold coin now obtained from tariff duties
by "dircct taxation or by system of
excuses" which might prove even
more oppressive than direct taxation it.
self. There is no other mode open under
the constitution by which the money can
be raised than the two named, if the
tariff be abandoned, and Mr.. Titcomb
declares for direct taxation, Now If the
money is to be secured by direct taxation.
as Mr.. TttcoInb proposes, it will be found
to be Names great misfortune that the
Constitution requires the tax to be levied
in proportion to population and not ac-
cordng to wealth. By the ninth census,
Maine has about oue.sixtieth Of the total
population of the United States, and her
share of S3,250,000 in gold coin; the
single Congressional district whose cou.
stituents am addressing would be called
upon for 100000, The peculiar hard
ship of raising taxes in this way is made
manifest by the simple fact that Maine
would be compelled to pay nearly one.
half as much az Massachusetts,, while she
has but one seventh of the wealth of that
highly. favored and prosperous common
wealth. To properly estimate the ex'
hausting and oppressive nature OF this
enormous tax, you have but to consider
that it would be three times as large as
the present State tax, and would neces
sarily be levied in addition thereto.
But if, against Mr.. Titcomb's policy
the direct tax were avoided, it would be
necessary to have instead Of it a system
of excuses as onerous and as odious as
human ingenuity could devise. A heavy
internal tax would inevitably be levied
On all manufactures, and, indeed, upon al
the products Of the field and the forest
The shipyard and the quarry; and every
form of industry would be burdened AND
horne down by the exactiops OF the tax
gathercr. And these grievous hardship'
would be imposed on our own people il
order that foreign countries might have
the benefit of our markets for their pro
ducts without duty and without tax
Our lumber interests, embarrassed anC
oppressed, would have to compete will
the untaxed products Of the Canadian
forest our manufacturers would pay
taxes for the bene6. of European fabrics
our bodybuilding would be destroyed BY
the taxation, which would render it in
capable of competing with Provincial
bottoms, and, under the spell Of Demo
cratic free trade, our coasting and lak'
commerce, confined TO cur own people
since the foundation of the government
would be thrown open to the whole world
Taxation in all forms is one Of the bur
dens Of civilization, but instead o
ameiorating its severity, aud. if possible
getting from it such compensating ad
vantages as wise legislation can provide
our Maine Democrats propose to make
to the last degree oppressive to our owl
people and beneficial only to the aliel
and the stranger
To the people of Maine, at this yer.
moment, these extravagant declaration
Of the democratic party have painful
significance, for it is well known that tn
authorities Of Capada are trying to negc
tiate with our government for a reciproc
ty treaty, which, like its illustrious predt
cessor and namesake, maintains the reciI
rocity all on one side The treaty of tha
name which was terminated in 1866 wa
cruelty oppressive to the people Of Main'
and inflicted upon our State, during tn
eleven years OF its existence, a loss OF Fl
ty millions Of dollars. 1t presented tb
very singular anomaly OF giving to th
Canadians the control in our own marke
Of certain leading articles on terms fl
more favorable than our own people ha
ever enjoyed The utmost stretch of II
Divine command is to love our neighbt
as ourselves. aud can certainly see not
ing in personal duty or public polio
which should lead us to prefer our Can
dian neighbors to our own people
The treaty Of reciprocity now propose
is understood TO embrace the admission
Canadian vessels to free American regi
try and inl enjoyment of our coastiI
and lake trade. Thus the ship.buildir
and commercial interests of the Unit
States, reviving so prospcrously of lat
and just recovering from the terrib
blows dealt by British-built cruisers d
ring the war, are again to be struck dow
by giving advantages hitherto undream
Of to the ships Of the very power that i
licted the previous injury. And the der
ccratic party of Maine have pledged ther
selves in their State Convention TO t
policy that includes this disastrous alta
upon the interests Of our State, and the
candidate for governor has fully comm
ted himself 10 the extreme doctrine a
nounced by the convention
The form Of reciprocity proposed
the government Of the Dominion of Ca