The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1882-03-09
THE TARIFF, THE SOUTH AND THE
FARMERS

his hinges, screws bolts, nails,
etc. His ironware for pottery
pays IS per cent; his crockery 40 per cent;
his cutlery IS per cent; his glassware ~
per cent; his linen 10 per cent; on his
clothing he pays for wool hats GO to so per
cent, wooden clothes So per cent, leather
for boots and shoes % per cent, hosiery 30
per cent, alpaca dresses 60 per cent,
spool thread 20 per cent, needles 80 per
cent, medicines from so to go per cent,
carpets GS per cent, coarse blankets l0l per
cent. These are only a few of the scores of
articles that are thus taxed, articles that the
poor must have, that the farmer needs.
Surely these are most Ubiquitous figures.
But we are told that the government
must have revenue. True, yet
placed, when we announce that the rev.
enuc thus received by the government was
last year in round numbers some $l9l ,000,-
900, ard the bounty received by the manu-
facturers was $3.50 900; and yet the
agricultural population alone stand to the
manufacturing in the ratio of to |, and
the first with the trades and professions
stand to those engaged in manufactures as 6
to /. If this is not downright injustice and
iniquity, we fail to comprehend the
meaning of those terms. But we are told
as SENATOR MORRILL,, of Vermont,
recently said, and the fallacy is repeated
Ntrs Af 10
thoughtless people, that the agricultural
interest is compensated for all this outrage
by the home market created for their farm
products through these manufacturing
people and their wants. What an alb
surdity when applied to the country at
large, or to this section of il; when the
figures demonstrate that the south buy
and consume more of the agricultural pro-
ducts of the northwest than do all the
manufacturing states, in proportion to popu-
ation. This settles that question beyond all
doubt. Take off the high tariff and our
population will not decrease, but find new
modes of employment, ifindeed it be found
that manufactures will not then pay, and
the iarmer will sell his products to the
Englshmen or others who may send the
manufactured articles to our shores. But
the point that we more particularly desire
to make this morning is that, if such tariff
be reduced so as to allow fair competition
with manufactured goods from abroad, then
the south will be so much benefited in her
manufacturing prospects and possibilities
The proposition is that the lower the tariff
the better for the manufacturer that manu-
features on the spot nearest the raw mate
rial The three elements of cost in manu-
iacture are the raw material, the labor. the
interest on the capital invested. The first
or chief one of these we possess Mt our own
doors cotton, wool, leather, etc. The
sharpenod foreign competition begot by q
low tariff on the iar-oif New Highlander cap
italist will force him to reduce the cost of
such material. TO effect this he must
come to the spot where it is grown,
and save the heavy expense OF
its transportation in bulky form.
We here ought to be able to produce for
and offer TO our people in the immediate
locality, and to the world, cheaper manu-.
featured article of cotton goods especially;
and absolute free trade, indeed would be q
summum bonum to the cotton planter and
the cotton manufacturer in these parts
Another view This almost prohibitory
tariff has forced the consumers of oul
farm products to stimulate their production
elsewhere. Hence, we find England urging
the cultivation of cotton in other parts o.
the world, which increased sup
ply by so much cheapens the price
Not only this, but she encourage.
and aids the growing of the cereals etc.
and by so much again diminishes tn,
worlds demand for our own products
How, then, in view of these facts that star,
us in the face at every turn, an agricultural
interest can advocate high tariff, we mr.,
positively at loss to conceive. OR how w,
who grow the raw material in the shan,
of cotton, furnish the wool
leather, etc, can ask the continuanc,
of that system which keeps at splendid in,
+ tcrcst, millions of capital in the north an,
east that would otherwise come here, is ON,
of the problems beyond our powers to solve
Ike oil the iniquity as against cotton ant
wool, and the San Marcos, the San Antoni,
and the Guadalupe rivers, for instance, vii
be visited by scores of capitalists in searcl
OF mill sites TO transfer their skill
, and labor, The lands around and abou
them will be required Tor the workmcr
and their families; they will appreciate |,
value, and the country will Ill up rapid,
/ with thrifty population, A calm review
: of the facts and the logic of events sustain
to the letter all these positions. Tho low
tariff revenue system from 1916 to 1861 set
$ ties the questions beyond all dispute. All
. that Is required NOW is an intelligent dis
closure TO the general mind to undccoivo 4
A from the effects which the skillfully placed
Q spectacles of strange fallacy have so Ion,
0 held upon the country.
\
: Tnr Washington Chronicle of rcccn
. date contains several notices of Texans nov
g in that city seeking preicrmcnt at tn,
hnnto IF thn al 49,.