Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1880-12-18
rmE TARIFF ISSUE.
Frank KRurd's Resolution. Hnar0-
slrccG Iva the EEouse, Presenting
"A square ISsue--What the Tariff
Should aBe.


dncca ia the House, Preaemtfn
"A square Issue-What the TART
should sse.
First tariff Is a tax upon imp0r
Ell goods, which is ultimately PAL
by the consumer, as the imp0rte
always adds to the selling price tn
amount of duty paid. Being a ia
paid by the citizen, it ought, there
fore, not be Imposed except to pro
vide revenue for the government
and only that tariff ought to b
levied which, with the least burdel
to the people, provides the neces
sary revenue.
Second-A tariff for protection
so-called, does not, in most cases
protect the interests it pretends I,
foster. While at first it may brins
large profits to those engaged il
manufacturing that which is as
sumed to be protected, it soon, by
these very profits, invites many per
sons into the business, from Which
result over-production, over-stock'
ing the market, low prices, reduc-
tion of hours of labor, shutting
down, Mt least temporarily, al
workshops, embarrassment TO pro-
prietors and, i'm many instances,
final bankruptcy, in which the large
profits made at first are swallowed
up, and the large wages at first paid
Workingmen, If saved up at all, are
consumed in waiting for business
revival, which, if it does come, will
ever be attended by the same con-
sequences.
Third-A protective tariff dues
not increase the wages of working
men, as is demonstrated by the fol-
lowing facts: In England, where
the policy of free trade has been
adopted, the wages of labOrers have
been higher than when the system
of protection prevailed. In Ger
many, where there is protective
tariff, wages are lower than in coun-
tries without a tariff or with tariff
for revenue only. The average
wages of American laborers since
the adoption of the present tariff
have, for the ten years last past,
been less, allowing for the difference
in currency, than under a revenue
tariff for the ten years preceding
1860.
Fourth-A protective tariff builds
up one citizen at the expense of an
other for every dollar of additional
price protection enables the manu-
facturer to charge must be paid by
another citizen. Such a discrimIna-
ton against one and in favor of an
other government ought not to
make. A protective tariff which
protects unequally works injustice.
A protective tariff which protects
equally is superfiuous, for if all are
protected they are in pre-
cisely the same situation as though
they had received no protection
at all.
Fifth-A protective tariff disturbs
The operation of the primal law of
trade, which governs all exchanges
Dy supply and demand of articles to
be exchanged, and openly and
violates the principle
hat every man ha~ a right, subject
lnly to a governmental necessities,
20 buy where he can buy cheapest,
md sell where he can get the best
price.
Sixth-The present protective
ariff has driven the American
CARRYING trade from the high seas
)y enhancing the price of materials
which enter into the construction of
so that American ship
builders can not compete with for
,igners engaged in the same busi-
less.
Seventh-A protective tariff in
,reases the possibilities of the crime
If smuggling, which, with our ex-
water front and weak navy,
t is not possible to prevent, and by
of which dishonest men !
ire made rich by violating the law,
md honest men are made poor by |
,beying it.
Eighth-A protective tariff shuts
,ut the American manufactures |
rom the markets of the world. |
Mexico and South America are sup |
,lied with manufactured goods by |
England. Our best interests demand |
hat the protective barrier our legis-
alton has erected should be broken
lown, that American skill and en-
erprise may have an opportunity
0 compete with foreign manufac-
urers everywhere. Our manufac-
urers need more an Increase of
by which foreign capital
an be brought into this country,
han protective legislation, which
axes money out of American
,ockets to put it into anothers's.
Ninth 10 the end that the pres
MT tariff shall become one for reve-
ue only, the following changes
hould be made: On all dutiable
rticles producing little or no revc-
ue to the government duty should
e reduced to a revenue basis, or
hey should be placed on the free
st; the duty upon tea and coffee
hould be restored, but only to the
xtent that this duty produces reve-
ue to the government; the duty
hould be removed from salt and
Iothing and other articles indis-
necessary in domestic life.