Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1878-05-22


consume, and consume to an extent equal to
the largest capitalist, a bounty is paid to the
manufacturers of more than five times as
much as the revenues which are collected
upon them. The report of the secretary of
the treasury shows that for the fiscal year
ending June 80, 1877, $3.50, 956, 493 OF were
collected from customs.
Now, if the consumption of other home
manufactured articles bears the same proper
ton to similar articles imported that the SIX
articles already mentioned bear, we may APP
proximate the amount of bounty paid by the
whole people in the last fiscal year to the
comparatively sr1stii uuH1'1e! of vaPitaliets who
are engaged in manufacturing by multiplying
the amount of revenue collected 10y five which
shows
The bounty to be- $500, 7S2, 465 35
And 1t makes the sum S7S5, 73s, 1858 AZ
which was, under the present tariff system,
drawn from the pockets of the people in order
to put $3.50, $50, 493 OF into the treasury.
However clear may be regarded the consti-
tutlonal power of congress to impose tax
upon imports for the purpose of raising reve-
nue. necessary to support the government, |
deny the constitutional power of congress to
impose or increase the amount of such tax
for the purpose of protection.
The object and purpose of a tariff law must
be revenue, and in every instance where the
duty is increased above the strict revenue
point for the purpose OF protection it ls a
usurpation of power to substitute one industry
at the expense of all other industries; to fos-
ter and enrich one small class at the expense
of all other classes.
The whole system In its operations is I'M
equal, unjust and oppressive, because it ex-
torts four or five times as much money from
the people, under the name and pretense of
revenue, as the amount of revenue which the
treasury actually derives from 1t, and builds
up and enriches single industry at the ex-
pense of every other industry and every other
in view of the present necessities of the treas
ury, it may not be wise to abolish it. But
every consideration of justice and sound pol
icy demand that the duties should be reduced
at least one-half, and adjusted with view to
revenue, rather than protection, and, as far
as may be, in favor of those least able to pay.
Every citizen should contribute to the rev.
enues of his government in proportion to the
extent of the interest he has to be protected
by it, and in proportion to their respective
abilities to pay. A tariff reduced and add
justed as suggested would, in my Judgment,
produce almost if not quite as much revenue
as the present high protective and almost
prohlbitory tariff produces, and relieve the
people of more than half the immense bur-
den 1t imposes, and give to the home manu-
facturer Incidental protection to the extent of
about twenty per cent, which, with the nat
ural advantages this country affords, will in
nv opinion enable him to compete success
fully with all the nations of the earth. But
whether this be true or not, the manufacturer
cannot Justly demand more protection than a
strictly revenue tariff will give, cannot ex-
pect, and should not desire, that the burdens
of the whole people should be increased to
pay him bounty.
Justice and sound policy demand that
these evils to which have referred should be
effectually and speedily remedied. Under
these exorbitant and unjust exacGons, and
this policy or continued CONTRACTION, property
has not only greatly deprecated in price, but
has almost ceased to have a convertible
value, and labor finds little,employment, and,
when employed, no adequate reward.
The measures referred to have day by day
increased the burdens of the people, while
day by day they have diminished their ability
to pay, robbed labor of its earnings, and re-
duced honest industry from comfort and in
dependence to penury and want.
If this policy is persevered in, it will not
only perpetuate the almost universal discon-
tent now prevailing, but rapidly popularize
the idea of reputation, mu-murs of which
are already not unfrequently heard. No
greater calamity could befall the country
which you, Mr.. President, and all of us must
deplore. And if we would avert it, and the
possibility of even greater evils, we should
not forget that a people taxed beyond their
ability to pay, and under system which Is
unequal and unjust, and by the exaction of
that unjust system find themselves reduced
from comfort and independence to poverty
and want, may easily fall into the error of
Reputation, while the more restless spirits
may possibly be driven into the more fatal
errors of bread riots, labor-riots, and the law
less demands of the commune.
Abolish every act of class legislation; and
while we carefully protect the equal rights of
all we should as far as possible promote the
interests of the largest numbers. All of our
properties, depending as they do upon the
productive industries, agricultural, mechan1-
cal, manufacturing, and mining, these great
interests should be fostered and encouraged
in every legitimate manner and by every le-
gitimate means, for when they prosper all
other interests prosper, and when they Ian
guish or fail all others languish or fail with
them; but neither one of these great interests
should be fostered at the expense of the 9TH
ers.
The following table. taken from the report
of David A. Wells, special commissioner,
etc., shows the comparative values of the
products of agriculture and manufacturing.
Mr.. Wells says:
leading industries of the country would appear to
be substantially as follows:
Agriculture 81, 2S2, $4,000