Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser., 1882-04-21
Tariff Reform.

The question of high tariff, prohibi
tory in its nature, and of low tariff, iu-
dlciously adjusted for the purposes of re-
venue only, is the chief economic issue be-
tween the two great political parties in
TINS country; and, now that the Republi
can party from mo ives of prudence, shows
a disposition TO order halt il not to max,
re'fea' In its policy decentralization and
Federal interference with the internal at
Fairs OF the States, bids fair to become tie
leading issue upon which the opposing
parties will invoke popular support.
A low tariff has always been one of the
fundamental principles of the Democratic
party, and in successive national platf rms
1t has promulgated the principle OF tariff
tor revenue only Thr Republican party
on the other hand, has repeatedly in is
platforms of principles. upon the hastings
and in the legislative ha Is, enumerated the
principle of ''protective tariff" and as "A
political organization stands commit ed
to that policy.
lhe principle OF t.fif1 for ro'ec,ion
to infant industries was first successfn lv
established by the CID Wing party under
the leadership "i MF Clay, and the argu-
ments then Jagged in its favor as a princi-
pie of Gat tional policy rather than one of
internal ecoromy and justice, were not
without force and effect. While our chief
manufacturing industries were still real V
IN the lntantile stages Of progress, the ar
gument that they must be protected from
the competition Of the old established for
elgn manufactures, We're foreib.e and ef-
fectlve. The representatives from the as
rlcultural States We're then appealed to as
a patriotic concession, to consent to tax
their constituencies with impo duties in
excess of the necessary revenues of the
Government, in order to establish self
supporting manufacturing Industries with
in this country. The policy then advoca-
ted by the Wigs was so manites,lv wise
and polite as for a time t. command L e
approval OF the country. But as these
manufacturing concerns gradually became
rich and self-sustainIng. the people de
manded that the pro ecti0a bc withdrawn
from them, and, JUS prior 70 the civil war
import duties had been reduced 10 a very
low rate, and manufactured goods were
obtainable at correspondingly low prices.
During the civil war the necessity Of
largely increased revenues justified heavy
increase st import duties. After the close
of the war, when the Fedora debt ha,an
to he reduced so as "a admit Of reduc-
ton of revenues, the people began to cla-
NOR tor a reduction of high tariffs. AMI the
Democratic parry began % re- lssert ITS low
tariff principles and 70 demand tariff
limited to the requirements If The Frder-
al revenue. / was then that the Hepub-
lican party, backed up by be rich manu-
featuring corporations which were sub
sidized by the high tariff, frs sar.e,i the
idea Of protecting American labor" The
fac that these rich cyrporarions were in
fants in need of pro eciian was deemed Il
very weak argument. 50 The manuf.crur
ing laborers were put forward IS tn" par.
ties needing protection; though lie pro
position 10 ts- agric,s',f-a'labnrcrs ta prn-
ia. pirc'~riag iahorers seemed hardly
II F"Iicy M. such. however. HIS been