The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1874-06-18
TARIFFS.

If you wish to resume specie payments
repeal the law reducing the duty on imports
ten per cent, and do not stop there. Pass
law that every three months, beginning on
the first of October next, you will add ten
per cent. to the duties on imports, until you
get the duty double what it is now. Then
you can resume specie payments and keep
up the resumption. As to resuming, you
might resume tomorrow, but you could not
keep it up a week until your exports are
much larger than they are now. Your ex-
ports must exceed your imports to the ex-
tent OF the interest now paid abroad on
national bonds, on State bonds, on munich.
pal bonds, and ON railroad and other cor
poration bonds, which are now owned in
Europe to an enormous extent. And you
must not stop there. You must export two
or three hundred millions of dollars year
beyond that, in order to pay your debt and
to get this nation on its feet. General Pat
terSon before the Ways and Means Committee.
We are not surprised that such declare
tons should come from the lips of man as
largely interested in manufactures as Gen.
Patterson, notwithstanding that he claims
to be a Democrat. The Democrats of
Pennsylvania have generally favored high
protective tariffs. The iron interest of that
State is immense; and that, in connection
with manufactures generally, is enough to
touch the pocket-nerve of each one who
takes any interest in the financial affairs of
the government. He not only fayors the
repeal of the law reducing imports ten per
cent, but he iayors the passage of a law
adding ten per cent. to the...d on inn
ports every three months.
Such legislation would be partial and
contrary TO the best interests of the people
at large. However specious and fair such
policy might appear, it would in reality
be legalized plurder. We did hope that
the day for such legislation had passed
away, and that men would not so outrage
common sense as to advocate such meas
ure, which is contrary to sound political
economy. For those who favor high pro-
tective tariffs must know that the consul
mer has to pay every dollar added to the
duties on imports. They may try to dis
guise that fact, and pirate very eloquently
and learnedly about building up American
industries and enterprises, and that the
people of the Union ought to be patriotic
enough to desire the manufacturers of this
country to be able to cope with those
in Europe. This is absurd now, if it ever
had any force. The United States are not
in their infancy; and therefore if the manu-
facturers cannot sell their goods on as favor
able terms and prices as those Of Europe,
they should not be supported by the people,
who have to make their money by hard
labor. As we recently showed, the con-
sumer has to pay the import duty whatever
it may be. 1t is roundabout way Of col
Letting taxes from the people. Instead Of
sending out tax gatherer, the government
places collectors at the various ports of
entry who are authorized by law to collect
a certain amount upon the goods of foreign
ers or those who bring them into the coun-
try. Now at first view, some would sup
pose that that was right, and that
the foreigner would be the man to pay the
money to keep up the government But a
little examination viii prove conclusively
that the citizens Of the country are the per
sons who pay it. It is upon the same prin-
cipIe that middlemen are injurioas to the
farmer, because every charge upon the
owner is added to the cost Of the g Dds; as
well as every profit in sale, until the goods
reach the consumer, is an additional charge.
If then the foreign manufactures, on &C
count Of being able to employ labOrera at
a cheaper rate, or buy the raw material at a
less price per pound, can sell his goods
cheaper than the home manufacturer, there
is no justice in making him pay high duty
Just to enable the one At home to compete
with him in price. This is 80 plain that
we are really surprised that there is nol
universal agreement about the fact
with eli consumers. II the one can sell
prints At eight cents per gard, and the
other can only afford the same class q
goods at ten cents it Is evident that am
law which VIII cause the first to be sold
after 1t passes through the custom houss 10,
ten cents also. win Just take two cents
gard ont 81 the CONSUMERS pocket Thi.
I Is then. legislation for the fonelit oi q fen
Il the actual expense and charge a. n.
many Therefore. it 5 seli-eTident tlsI
l,riII. which &c ls1ie1 ioE ll,s protection q