The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1882-10-28
THE TARIFF.

The following is from the San Fran
ciso Examiner:
SIT is often said that the tariff ques-
ton is not political, but, in point of
fact, no other proposition enters SO
largely into the politics of the time.
1t has been SO for many years; and even
when little is said about the matter In
the speeches and writings of the day,
its influence is suili great. The Con-
stitution of the United S states grants
TO Congress the power to lay tariff
for revenue. L. is plain that this
grant of power was never intended to-
deprive the people of their natural right
to carry on commerce. The utmost
stretch of this power could place the
tariff no higher than the point at which
it would yield the greatest amount of
revenue. It might be that a tariff Of
30 or 40 per cent on certain articles
would produce larger income to the
treasury than one either higher or low
er than that rate, and it would be sure
that tariff of 200 or 800 per cent
would yield little or nc money, from
the fact that no importation of goods so
taxed would occur. Excluding for
sign-made goods is very profitable to
the manufacturer here, because it gives
him TIE market to himself-th is, to
the class to which he belongs; and a
tariff of 40 cents on the dollar is very
Advantageous to him, also, as it enables
him to sell his productions for that
much more than he could if no tariff
existed, although his goods are not
worth any more to the purchaser, who
is injured by this advance in the price.
A moderate tariff, which permits large
lmportations from abroad, fills the
treasury, and at the same time gives
the American manufacturer a great
gain by raising the price of goods, the
government getting the duty OH the
imported articles, and the manufacture
or getting the same amount on the ar
ticles he produces This increase of
price is all paid by the consumer. Vol.
umes could be filled with discourses ON
this simple subject, and perhaps it will
not thereby be made and clearer, even
to the few who might read them. 1t
Is not likely that the government will
oe In condition to adopt anything
like free trade. A large revenue is
needed, and it can be had by import
duties. No party that may be in pow
or will be in a position to reduce to
low figure the duties to be collected.
linus, the manufacturers will have, in
any event, a liberal protection. But
they now have too much. Woolen
goods have two sets of charges-one
rated by the pound, and one by the
dellar-and both paid on the same ar
ticle. These two charges amount in
some cases to over 80 per cent. Forty
years ago such tariff would never
have been thought Of Daniel Web
ster and Henry Clay were considered
tariff statesmen, and they were salts
he'd with from Is to 40 per cent, and
declared that even that amount was
only needed for time, until American
manufacturers could get established
firmly. They have been long well es-
tablished, they have got rich and pow
erful, and they increase their demands.
1t must be kept in mind that this ex-
cessive taxation does not put one cent
into the treasury. On the contrary,
after certain figure is reached all the
benefit goes to private parties. This is
altogether wrong, because such pow
or, to rob the people at large to enrich
q small class, was never granted to Con-
gress. And, further, it is against the
genius and spirit of our institutions
which were founded to promote the
good OF the many-of the people-and
pet TO build up few hundred insolent
nabobs. The tariff needs revision in
the interest of the toiling millions, and
we hope to see men sent to Congress-
who will not forget to have it done. tt
will require men of p4ebity, of strict
integrity, to stand up for the rights and
interests of the people, because the de.
Tenders of extortion have two hundred
millions of dollars year to check on.