Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1882-07-14
Revenue Tariff, Protective Tariff
and Free Trade Doctrines
Considered.

EDITORS Observation-Disclosures i'll this country is
not an amateur science, 10 lie taken up or laid
down according to the whim, the tastes, or am
billions of the few who undertake To defend or
refnte by argument the expedieney or inexpe
diency ut public measures. II is the practical
duty of every man III free community 10 inform
himself and take pains 10 form definite opinions
upon questions Of public policy 50 as L. be able
10 give influential efficiency 10 his sentiments
That We may not appear to any without warrant
for what we advance in our premises we will en-
deavor 10 bring before the minds Of all in II mat
ter-oftact and palrable manner, the subjects of
revenue, tariff, protection, and free trade as we
understand them, and as they appeal to the bust
ness or belongings of non politicians politicians
manufacturers, merchants farmers and lahorers
that compose the body polite, divided on ma
tional issues
We think it is obvious 10 all rejecting minds
that revenue founded on constitutional author
lily, and further wisely modified hy all the nee
eSSities Of the country 10 which il can apply
becomes II measure of tariff that cu...l.,t i.>
very easily successfully assaied for the reason
that itperfects the least objectionable system of
taxation that can be devised Tor the support of
government, or can be levied upon Il people bv
their own voluntary action 10 become as il were
an invisible and unfelt agency by them. Thus
there is II happy combination of possible conve-
mienct 10 the citizen under under such modi-
fed tariff system as TO place 1t, in my opinion,
beyond the reach of material objection.
But there Is an important pecuniary adyau-
tage derived through the operation OF what the
free-traher deSlsnates protection or prohibition
OF exchange, anu thls ADMITS oi easy Illustration
1t is this. foreign states are brought 10 contrib
ute no small portion of our national revenue Ii i
effected in this wise: suppose the revenue nee
eSSary for the support of the federal government
equal 10 S-b,HhAb. This sum must he Ial>ed III
one or other OF TWO ways; by direct taxation or
10y duties ON iorelgn commerce. II lay the first,
i Is certain that the government costs the people
The above sum. precisely. II the latter foreign
countries must, II they participate i'll the advan-
iages OF our trade equally with our citizens, pay
part Of the amount 91 taxation as an Indemni-
~ Tor conferred privileges, 70 lessen The burden
OF taxation upon me people. Ihls Is but Just
ana rational 10 do.
Again IN Hilstratloh' keePihg u hlnd mat
foreign goods are Drought INTO our markets ut
amy rate you are pleased To allow.
For The ilme being the people pSy The whole
revenue VI S-11Vou'"1, ~ dlrect taAdtion, ana
buy thelr SoodS al the rates mat may De: sup
pose now that II Is subsequently thought I'll by
government 70 levy larih OF - per cent on all
foreign goods sofa III our markets, would II not
ItiiSNe tiie pt"e, III tiiis cast nearly quarter
OF the entire revenue?
Ald DN me operation 81 4 settled law OF
liile the lulX leNlea on me foreign goods would
not be added 10 The price which the citizen
would have 10 pay, but he divided between the
seller ana purchaser OF the good>-the seller
losing about 10 per cent and the purchaser Is
per cent OF the twenty-five per cent levied by
government; which proves the gain made 10
the country by the transaction.
Perhaps the the anti-tarilf man will try 10 re
but the statement by quoting the restriction
placed on commerce. But well see if the objec-
ION he well founded. The facts are these: Duties
are laid on imported goods at p per cent To tile
amount of $50 900 GOO to obtain this revenue the
country pays l. per cent more on the price its
goods-an increase Of S37.000. 900 more.
This is truly thu restraint put ON commerce.
which the free trader, anti tariff man-CallS
protection, and oNerlooks the clear gain made
and the relief obtained ~ the people from direct
taxation: the government losing nothing; the