Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1881-10-12

VI "VHVNWB pfotectloh ny tno uON-
ernmen,. It's duty and business has
been recognized by the industries as
merely to plow and plant and grow
its cotton and grains and sell the same
for any price which tho paupers Of
Europe and the rich manufacturers at
home would pay. But now tho Ameri.
can agriculturist is TO take his scat in
tho council chamber in the industries,
and to carry the war for protection
into Africa. This may be another
mode of expressing the idea that the
already well.protected sugar.growers
Of Louisiana will unite their influences
to that of other protected industries in
securing further tribute from refners
and the people, and that the African
Of the Southern States shall be made
to pay more for hls "sweetening,n or
be compelled, in his perpendicular
drinking" to take his constitutional
straight
The cotton spinner now pays the
machine manufacturer full 40 per cent.
bonus, and yet he is not happy the
woolen manufacturers pays 80 per cent.
on imported feeces the papermakors
add to the profits of the wood-pulpist I;
the sugar refiners increase the returns
of the planters; the clothing manuiac-
turer increases the cost of wearing ap-
parel by duty on all imported thread,
trimmings and woolens that enter into
the make up Of the clothing of the peo.
pie; almost every article of necessary
use now contributes its quota of per
cent. to the profit Of the manuiactur.
ers, and the people in the end are the
payers, and yet the crudities OF the
present tariff do not satisfy the "indus.
tries The people Of these States
will welcome the discussion and will
take an active part in the work of
modifying the present tariff Manu-.
facturers Of various kinds have very
greatly extended their plant, and are
no longer confined to one section OF the
Union. The discussion cannot, there.
fore, take sectional bias, nor invoke
those feelings and passions that from
the chill of denominations to the pres
ent conglomerato measure has always
attended the debating of any tariff re-
form, The extension of cotton manu-.
lacturos to the Southern States has
taught that decided measure of pro
lection muy be gained by carrying
the factory to the cotton fields and
saving the transportation Of the raw
material. Tho growth of iron manu-.
iactures in Virginia and Georgia has
been very great since 1865, and all
over the West the gradual mingling
Of manufactures with agriculture has
taken place These industries are
allies, not hostiles; they do not prey
upon each other, nor is there any ne.
cessity in making one OF them pay
tribute to the already splendid pros.
pcrity Of the other. When the ncces.
sites Of the country demanded an in.
crease of revenue aad the lite of the
nation hung upon the issue of battle,
or when tho credit of the country dc.
manded extraordinary sacrifices to
maintain is falr name, the agricultur.
lists interest submitted to taxation and
tribute without murmur. But no such
necessities exist at present--of revenue
we have more than the Treasury can
use. We are anticipating the maturi.
ty Of national obligations, and reliev-
ing posterty of its proper part of the
burden OF saving the Union. There is,
therefore, no excuse that the Treasury
requires any higher duties upon i'm.
portations When the issue comes be.
tween few hundred thousand pro
tected manufacturers and fifty millions
OF consumers, without the pressing ne.
cessities of the National Government
to aid the former, the decision will be
neither doubtful not difficult The dd.
mintstrdtion of the present tariff has
destroyed sugar refining in Baltimore
its protection has been most baneiul.
Any reform will be a benefit to that
industry. Revision of the existing
tariff in the interest Of the people, by
purifying its administration, by cor.
recting abuses which permit the do.
strnction OF an industry at the port of
Baltimore, while il fosters the same
industry in New York, will be wei
coined by the whole country. But re.
vision by manufacturers in their own
interests and in further burden to the
people will not be possible in the year
of grace 1882.