The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1880-02-03
ABOUT THE SUGAR TARIFF.

one thing must be very clear at a glance In
this matter or the sugar tariff to wilt: that
the interests OF Louisiana form the least Of
the many considerations influencing the gov
eminent. We do not undertake to say that
the representations made by us and In our
behalf amount to nothing In determining the
action Of the department Certainly we should
not recommend All abandonment Of all
effort. Yet 1t Is a fact not to tie disguised that
II tho protection Of Louisiana interest were
the only element III the case, the sugar tariff
would not exist n moment. Everybody who
has inteligenty watched tho history of Con
gress knows this. The circumstance that be-
tween one-fourtl1 and onethrd of the total
revenue Or the nation acquired from imports
comes from tl,eartlcle OF sugar Is the oircum-
stance upon which our prospect depends. The
government cannot do without this revenue.
and this, and this eslone constitutes our
safety Furthermore. there ID no way
ny which tho tariff could be so adj.
justed as to injure Louisiana seriously
without still moro seriously ipjuring the
| United States. II Gopgress were to remove the
tariff from the low grades of sugar and con
centrate 1t upon the high grades. our interests
would suffer. since tho tariff on the low
grades is what forms our chief protection
but In that case tho government would lose
the revenue altogether, since no one would
Import refined sugars. The rcfiners would
Import only the lower grades. which they
could then refine. and, while tho Louisiana
sugar growing interest would be destroyed.
tho revenue from sugar imports would also be
d revenue. we may DO reasonably sure Ut pro-
lection especially In view Of tho fact that
tho manufacture of sugar from sorghum,
cornstaIks. beets and other Substances is
being fostered and the demand for protection
Il thus being nationalized. On tho other
hand. IL Is not to be expected that the duties
will be concentrated OH the lower grades
and taken off Of the higher grades. for In
that event great injury would be Inflicted
upon the people at large and great calamity
befall the refining interests.
The question as IL stands la. indeed be-
tween the reners and the government Lou
isiana may participate, but 1t Ia absurd to
suppose that anything we may say or do will
influence tho result any further than IA 1t
harmonlzes with tho necessities aud pro-
notes the plans of the government Fortu-
nately for us. the policy that produoes tho
best results for the TREASURY Is that which
affords the most ample protection to our
sugar industry In Louisiana. Tho bulk OF tho
revenue from sugar imports must be derived
from the low grades. and 1t Is with these that
our products. no matter OF what grade, prac-
tlcaly como into competition. These arc the
conditions that make our real safety. With
ont these we might declam with the clio
duenoc Of angels, yet never accomplish tho
faintest shadow OF result. The North. East
and West would look upon us as lunatics II
we asked them to beftiend us In such mat
tor for friendships sake. Hence we decline
to get excited over the present discussion be-
tween the Ways and Means Committee of
Congress. Hence we decline to be humbugged
into believing that there Ia any important or
effective principle at work In our favor except
tho financial interests of tho government
There has been too much nonsense on this
subject already.