Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-02-19

admit that there are two sides TO this as
to all other questions, but from our
standpoint how the country at large. and
especially the South, can prefer Protec-
ton to free trade, it is difficult to under
stand.
In the first place, protective tariff Is
oppressive to all classes except those i'm
mediately interested therein, and even to
all those except the mill proprietors and
the manufacturers themselves 1t is, in
plain words, but the levying tax upon
every consumer for the benefit of the pro-
Queer of the protected article. We will
take the item of farming interests. for
instance, for the planter is the
one to whom the masses must look
for sustenance. The farmers Of the
West and South-thoseg great agricultural
sections-require farming utensils of
various kinds, of which iron is an essen
tial factor, for the purpose of cultiva-
ting their crops. Instead Of being per-
mitted to purchase these utensils where
they can procure them to the best adj
vantage, they are forced to buy them at
an artificial valuation for the benefit of
the protected iron manufacturer. But
it is not the farmer alone who suffers
eventually OF course the enhanced
price which he is forced to pay for the
utensils which are absolutely necessary
for the proper cultivation of his grounds
have to be added to the price which he
places upon his crops, and thus, in the
end, the consumers great masses of
the land who are forced to purchase the
necessaries of life-hsve to pay their
quota to the support of this protected
industry.
We select this item of farming utensils
to illustrate our ideas on this subject, be-
cause it is one which comes so directly
home to all classes. 1t is, however, but
one instance of many which might be
cited to demonstrate the great truth
that protective tariff simply means a
tribute exacted from the earnings and
pockets of the many for the establish
ment of privileged classes. and the en-
richment of favored few. Nor is this
the only point to be considered. Since
the protected articles largely shut out
from the country similar articles from
abroad, little or no revenue to the
government is derived from their i'm
portation. This revenue, however,
has to be made up. and for this
purpose taxes have to be laid. In con-
sequence, the people are doubly taxed,
first, as we have shown, for the benefit
of the protected manufacturer, and Sec
ond, TO make up to the government the
deficit caused by the failure to receive
the customs duties which the protected
articles would pay could they be i'm
ported from other countries under tariff
for revenue. And there is no class ex.
cepted from this double taxation, unless
it be the manufacturers themselves.
Always about the time of an election it
is customary for large Northern mill
owners to deceive their employees into
voting for protection by impressing upon
them the sophistrY that in case
the protective tariff is abolished, prices
of protected articles will decline in value,
and their wages will be reduced. This
argument too often proves effective, for
the employee only compares the number
OF dollars and cents he will receive under
protective system with what he would
receive should free trade, or a strictly
revenue tariff, be established. He does
not realize that even should he receive
seventy five cents then, where now he is
paid dollar, he can purchase more with
his reduced than with his present wages,
and that therefore, practically speaking,
his condition is really improved.
To the South, however, protection is
specially oppressive. Here We find the
home of the great staple, which is de-
manded throughout the world, and be-
sides, we have water power in album
dance. and ample supplies of fuel
readily accessible. With all these
advantages, we possess facili-
ties for cotton manufacturing
superior to any country in the world,
and if our natural advantages are util-
lied, no country IN the world can hope
to compete with us. We have therefore
no need of protection. To the contrary,
it will be, in every way, beneficial for US
to have the markets of the world thrown
open to US so that we may offer
to foreign nations freely our
natural commodities, and in return
be enabled to purchase what we need
wherever it can be the more cheaply
procured. And not only this, but since
with free trade, or a tariff for revenue
only, we could successfully compete in
cotton manufacturing with the entire
world, we would soon assume the posi-
ton which is ours by nature, and be-
come the great manufacturing centre of
the American continent Free trade,
therefore, so far from Gripping manu-
features in the South, would promote
them, and with them would come the
wealth which Is undoubtedly the future
portion of our section.
We have thus endeavored to give, as
succlnctly as possible, though as ex.
haustively as the limits of an ordinary
editorial article will allow, our reasons
for regarding tariff for protection as
wrong in principle, beneficial only to the
few, but oppressive to the many, and
particularly so to the South. We can
readily understand how even in this sec
ton certain private industries may be
protected to the advantage of those
specially interested therein, but taking
broad and comprehensive view of the
subject, we are convinced that the entire
country. and especially the South and
West, would be vastly more benefited
By light revenue tariff, and fair com
petition with the outside world.