, 1876-02-28

THE CANADIAN TARIFF.
Our neighbors in Canada arc just now hav-
ing SEASON of unpleasantness on tho sub
ioct Of the tariff. At tho elections for Parlia.
mont, the Ministry allowed the manufaetur-
era aud merchants to understand that an
increase Of the tariff would be proposed. III
anticipation of this, tile manufacturers pro-
ducod and tho merchants supplied thcm-
selves with large "stocks On hand" on
which they expected to mako largo profits
aa soon as the tariff was increased But
when the Minister laid before Parliament his
estimates Of receipts and expenditures, thoro
was not tho slightest mention Of any pro-
sec.ivo tariff. Tho consequence is extreme
disgust on the part Of tho e3lcctant spocu-
1ators, and the beginning Of an agitation for
tariff 60 protective TINT A1uoriean goods
will be excluded.
THIS is but m illustration Of how little
men learn from tho experience Of othcrs
The Canadians hare had IN opportunity to
obsorvo tho workings of protection IN this
country, and, despite the melancholy md
pitiahle atory, somo Of them havo now got
hold Of tho deluBion and ara pressing its
adoption. Just rs the American manufac-
turers, al a class, aro about demanding relief
from tho weight Of protection, the Cana-
dians are demanding that the 1oad DO placed
on them. Tho manufacturers Of Canada
may well thank the Ministry that has refused
them this increaso of tariff. Had it becn
giycn, there would, Of course, have been q
profit on tho goods on hnnd to tho extent OF
tho increase Of tux, less the decline in con-
sumption. In the meantime, thero would
have been genoral advance along tho whole
limo Of items entering into tho List Of pro-
duction oqual to the increased tariff. Lnbor,
tho cost Of machinery, raw material, ronts,
commissions, aud tho innumerable List OF e1-
pgnses which go to mako up tho cost Of pro-
ductiou, would bo increased, so that thu
goods produced aftor the tariff would laavo
the producer no moro margin Of profit
under the protection than he had before tho
protection was voted him, and ho would find
that consumption had declined proportion
ately with the iucrease OF prices What
then? Why, thero must be further increase
of the thrift, moro protection, In order to on
ablo tho producers to sell their second crop.
Tho Same condition of things would prevail
after tho second advance in tho prico of
goods nil Gambia would be bn q atriko for
increase Of wages, and tho cost Of everything
would go up until tho second vote OF proteo-
ton would utterly fail to cover tho cost OF
production, md oven Yankee goods would bo
selling cheaper in Canada than they would
be produced for In any part Of the Dominion.
a further increase of protection would be-
como necessity, and in time fourth, fifth,
sixth, and eyon seventh, incroase would be
required to prevent CANADIAN manufactures
from stopping. By this timo tho prices Of
ing; on many things tho ta1 would OF noces-
sty range from 90 to 12o per cent, on othors
| 10 to 90, and thuA down to per cent. Con-
sumption would fall OF from ono.fourth to
one-half, and in some lines OF goods produo.
ton would cease. Tho capacity to produce
would exceed tho demand, and, in order to
cqualizo production and consumption, tho
mills, furnaces, shops. and mines would
hnye to close for two days in a week !;
then ono wcok in four; then one
month in thrco; then two aud three
months ut time; mud then on]y bo worked
apasmodlcally. rhon tho protected " labor +"
Of Canada, instead OF continuous employ
ment, would have but ono tlay's work OF four,
and bo months at time without dollar OF
wages; tho savings In tho banka would bo
consumed by the unemployed; idleness, with
its attendant consequences, would take the
place OF industry and thrift; poverty, mud
| ,yort anil ,1eu+ffuffon xvar1I rerr,ft {ha .,..,