Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-03-30
FALSE CLAIMS AND PALACES

Protection like MormOnism, is based on
fallacies and supported by false claims. The
New York Times has been discussing some
Of these claims, and shows that the chief
one among them Is false. That one is the
| claim that the present high tariff, as a rule,
was imposed ier the sake, and with the pur-
pose, Of protection, and not with a view to
| government revenue. Putting aside wool
and WOODEN goods, the rest Of the tariff gem
orally was imposed for the purpose OF rails.
ing war revenue, and in few instances
where it was made a sort of compensation
in some cases where the internal revenue
| tax, the object there, also, was the increase
Of revenue. Seventeen years have passed
since the war; the internal revenue is cleared
Of ats war purposes; tine taxes are yielding
more than the government requires; the
public debt is reduced, and what remains Is
at a low rate OF interest. The time is come,
therefore, for reduction of the tariff to a
peace standard. As the high taxation had
revenue, and not protection, for its object it
must be brought down to the needs of
the ordinary civil requirements. If any
the amount of it should be lowered in pro-
portion as the taxes connected with it are
lowered. This would be going back to the
rule laid down by Henry Clay, the great
authority the protectionists bow to, whose
opinion is thus expressed: "As far as he
could go he would, and that was not to lay
duties for protection alone, but, in laying
duties for revenue TO supply the government
with means, to lay them so as to afford Incl
dental protection, - and he added that he
would say to all friends of protection, clay
aside all attempts beyond this standard"
There Is no warrant in the constitution of the
country TO carry even this modified protec-
ton to extreme that shall deny to an
American citizen his right to buy where he
can buy cheapest and sell where he can sell
dearest. No such principle as protection
for the sake of protection" is to be found in
that instrument. The United States Supreme |
Court, Judge Miller presiding, when case was
before him in which the Kansas legislature |
were for imposing tax in aid of establishing |
in the town of Topeka, de- |
cided; "To lay with one hand the power of |
the government on the properly of the citi- |
zens, and with the other to bestow it upon |
favored individuals to aid private enterprises |
and build private fortunes, is none the less |
robbery because it is done under the forms of |
law and is called taxation. This is not leg |
station. 1t is decree under legislative |
erms If it be said that benefit results TO
he local public of town by establishing
manufactures, the same may be said of any
'lher business or pursuit which employs cap
tai or labor. The merchant, the mechanic,
he innkeeper, the banker, the builder, the
are equally promoters of the
public good, and equally deserving the
i'd OF the citizens by forced contri-
buttons. No line can be drawn in
avor OF the manufacturer which would |
lot open the Golfers of the public treasury
o the opportunities of two-thirds of the
business men of the city or town." Here is
he constitutional principle clear and unmis-
akable, and what is here forbidden is the !
cry thing the protectionist OF to-day is in
is not only right, but is duty to rob
'eter to pay Paul, TO take from the farmer
nd from the laborer to give to the greedy
lonopolist who, while he receives his unjust
rejection is as ready 10 run down the wages
I those he employs any of those who re.
Give no protection. The system is erroneous
n principle, and is supported by false claims,
nd the peoples common sense and instinct
Or Justice will destroy it.