Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1881-11-20
THE TARIFF LAWS.

One of the unaccountable things
in Southern politics is the opposition
that has always been manifested
against tariff. 1t has always been
SO. 1t was the agitation of this
question which brought about the
notification troubles, so thoroughly
squelched by. General Jackson. 1t
is true that Henry Clay, who was in
his day the champion OF a protective
tariff, had large following in the
South, but as a rule, politicians, and
especially the Democratic politicians
of this section, have opposed the
doctrine of protective tariff, and
in discussing it have treated it as
something oppressive of the South.
~ nlfR6u 8sdla 9.. ssasstta.nd why the
question should be treated In that
way. Ii a protective tariff IS ben
eft to the producers of manufactured
articles in the. North and East, 1t
would be beneficial to the same classes
in the South. And ii under the tariff
laws manufacturing pays, 1t pays IN
one section as well as another. 10
hear Southern politicians who are
opposed to the tariff laws, talk about
them, one might be led to believe
that they were enacted for only one
section of the Union, and did
not apply to the other.
We have no doubt that many people
who do not take the trouble to in
yestigale for themselves, but who
believe whatever politicians tell
them, are of the opinion that the
tariff laws confer privileges on the
Northern people that are not con-
ferred upon the people of the South
NTo need not say to well-inFormed
persons ttat this is wholly untrue.
A convention OF tariff men was
held at Chicago during the past
week, and the meeting has provoked
a good deal of illiberal Discus
sion as to it's objects and pur-
poses. A few Southern papers
have endeayored to make it
appear as the beginning of new
movement to Cypress the Southern
people. Such thing is absurd. 1t
is utterly Ridiculous and shows those
who make such intimations to be un
worthy of their positions as leaders
of public sentiment. The New York
Tribune gives the object Of these
tariff conventions as follows;
Apparently it is the aim of defend
ers of the protective system, by
means of the strong conventions
which they have planned, to prepare
public opinion to demand an irtelll-
gent revision of the tariff, if any re
vision whatever is to be attempted.
In this aim they deserve hearty sup
port from men Of every shade Of
opinion. For no man who has any
comprehension. of the marvellou
interdependence of modern indus-s
tries, or any understanding OF the
influence ola system Of taxation upor
the prosperity or growth of indus
tries, viii deny that incalculable
injury mag now be done by an I'M
wise and ignorant change OF duties
Men ought to agree on that poln
who disagree on every other. Thus in
tel!igent protectionists and free
traders were for once heartily united
in eondemning the stupid and blum
dering tariff framed under the leader
ship Of Dir. Fernando Wood, ant
supported by a large majority O
Democratic members of the House
Every sensible man saw that such {
tariff would PROSTATE our most i'm
portant industries, and bring dis
aster upon great number of homes
and thrifty Ia orers throughout tn
land.
If there is to be any modification @
the revenue system, then, the frs
aud most ardent desire of all con
serYative and patriotic men should b
that such modification may be mad
with great care, with great patiene
in attention to details, and with tn
aid OF the best information at th
command Of experts in every branc
of t ade or industry. It has lon
been evident that such investigate