Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-12-22
PRoTECTIosIsr CURIosIrIKs.

One Of the curious and misehievous re-
suits of our protective System is TO make
number of articles grown in this country
dearer in our markets than they would be if
eur soil did not producs them. 1t is as if
fine was inflicted on every -inhabitant of the
United States because these articles are
part of the natural produce of the land in
which he lives. This is a curious fact, but
it is fact, unfortunately for our pockets.
Sugar is grown within our limits, and be-
cause it is so heavy fine is levied on every
family in the United States. If we had the
good fortune to grow no sugar, we should be
amply supplied by the Brszils, West India
Islands, Tahiti aud Mexico with better
article for less money. Salt is another in
people for the ofense OF its home production;
and our butter-maktrs, our bacon-curers and
other important interests, and every
man and woman 10 the country, must have
weight put upon their business or an
expense levied on their income because
there are three or four salt monopolies levy
ing tribute upon their fellow-citizens. Cop
per is another glaring instance of the same
abominable injustice. We need not enlarge
the list; these things are enough TO make
the curious and anomalous fact we are dis
cussing understood. The 1rGdesman, one OF
the best monthlies published in Tennessee,
in the December number copies paragraph
from the Chattanooga Times, in which an
attempt is made to reply to former article
in the APPEAL upon the anomaly we are
pointing out But that publication gives no
reason why we ought to pay more for sugar,
because we grow the article, than we should
If we did not grow it. Neither does it show
the justice of levying a tax upon the farmer
and the pork-packer because salt is made
atSyracuse, in New York. The article first
lights on steel rails, aud asserts, By impli-
cation, that putting a tax of $28 upon
them made them cheaper. Bold as such pro-
lection statement looks, the December number
of the 1radeSnlGr, page II, makes 1t. the
American people may, therefore, expect that
when the Tariff Commissions recommenda-
ton TO take $40 off the present tax becomes
law the price OF steel will be higher than be-
fore. As the Iradesmdn says this "is
curious result OF protection" That the Bes.
semer process was a new one, and conse-
quently a dear one at a not very distant
day, and that certain results in price were
the consequence, our Contemporary neglects to
mention. 1t asks the APPEAL to tell it
whether, without our competition with En-
gland, we should nov be buying steel rails at
$40 ton. We will reply when the pro-
tectionist writer informs US whether, in his
opinion, we should now be getting steel rails
at $40 ton if the recent election had given
a msjority 10 the protectionists. AS TO |
sugar, that writer assures the world that 'sit |
Is not a necessary article, but luxury" The |
and the consumers, who often |
give very hardly-earned money for sugar,
entertain different opinion. Again,
the paradox that the way 10 |
cheaper a commodity is by adding
to its cest BY putting a tax upon it, this
writer, lost in the cloud and hsze of pro-
-ective fallacies, doubts that sugar would be |
made cheaper by reducing the taxation. He
viii know how it is if Congress brings the
'ugsr duty down 10 "a tax for revenue
only." The IfGdeSnoa Is SO Eure- that the
right way to cheaper products is 10 add to
heir cost that it says: at is sheer nonsense
o undertake to say that, were all protective
arif struck down, the people would, Eve
ears from now be getting an projected arti-
lies as cheaply as now" And this sort Of
ogic, this absurd violation Of common sense
8 the rubbish with which the people are 10
'e induced to pay tribute to sugar monop-
lists, iron monopolists, salt monopolists, and
ottOn-tie "PopPycock" monopolistsi The
IfodesmaH, We are sorry to say, is right when
asserts that evil would follow "the sudden
destruction, or sweeping and radical modii.
alton of that 1.-THE protective) system"
has injured the health of COM
nerce, and il cannot be treated as if no dam
Ige had been done; pallia,ives must precede
ure. In justice 10 the 1radesman we copy
Ia frank admission: "There has no doubt.
'een over-protection, in many instances
ending to bloat certain industries, create
nonopolies and produce other evils usually
Intending The dollhouse policy in business
Ind economic Affairs" In conclusion. we
Ienture TO assert that the Tradesmaa does not
Expect that IFS expenses will be increased
hould the Generals proposition
o reduce the postage on monthly periodicals.
De adopted, nor would it seek ability to pub
ish that periodical cheaper by persuading
congress TO increase the postsge. In short
'ur cotemporary is well aware that what
Increases the cost Of production increases the
10 llinO nrica /