Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-02-14
PROTECTION ROBBERY.

1 Win the Idp1ulty Vi bAC ohONboAA NC
scending the Alps. Senator Coke, of Texas,
and Senator Williams, OF Kentucky, have
| recently made speeches in the Senate expos
| ing the injustice of the present tariff, which
taxes diamonds, the rich mans luxury, only
ten per cent. and taxes the poor mans neces-
! saries of lite fifteen and twenty per cent.
/ Hon David A. Wells, the greatest political
economist of America, made speech before
the Revenue Reform Club on Thursday last,
| in which ne ably discussed the effect Of the
high protective tariff upon our foreign COM
merce and particularly the effect which 1t
must have as the growth of our population,
| the development of our resources and the
extension of our manufactures make an
| outlet to foreign markets imperatively nee
essary. He pointed out the sitting repres-
sion which the tariff had already brought
about upon our exports of cottons, upon
those of refined sugar, upon such special in
terests as the export of condensed milk, upon
| our wooden trade, and generally upon ex-
changes between this country and its neigh
bors on the northern and southern borders.
He also demonstrated the fallacy of the idea
| that high import duties are necessary to pro-
| tect the American operative or to secure to
| him the wages which he now receives. Such
arguments, terse, practical, and based upon
explicit facts, cannot but have an influence
on public opinion and tend to promote the
emancipation of American industry from the
| trammels imposed by the so-called "pro-
tective" system. 1t is not at all surprising
| that the protectionists, the men who are
growing fat upon the sweat of the laboring
men and producers generally, are becoming
alarmed at the growing opposition to our
protective tariff. These men see the hand
writing on the wall; they know that if the
attention of the laboring and pro-
| ductive .classes is once turned in
| that direction, their days numbered.
Seeing the necessity of evading the subject
and deceiving the people, they propose the
abolition of internal revenue taxes, for the
purpose of lessening the annual revenue OF
the country and keeping it within due
| bounds. Why abolish the internal revenue
and retain the duty upon foreign imports?
intsIning tfe ts1 dpen soreiss q
| thus compelling the people to pour the
wealth OF the country into the Golfers of the
manufacturers. Not only will the protec-
tionists advocate the abolition of the internal
tax, but they will be found advocating large
subsidies, SO as 10 Use up the revenue to the
fullest extent, thereby creating necessity
for the retention of the tariff dues. And
while upon that point we ask the attention
OF our readers for the future, that they may
note the prophecy which we here put forth.
The protectionists will be found advo-
eating subsidies of all kinds and that, too,
for the sole purpose of creating a necessity
for continuation of the protective tariff
They must have some way of expanding the
revenue of the country, and this will be the
only possible plan. Nor should we be at all
surprised at any time to hear of the protec-
tionists advocating the policy of pensioning |
rebel soldiers and paying the rebel debt in
order TO create necessity for the collection
of large revenues, and thus holding an ex-
cuse to maintain a protective tariff. The |
sooner our people learn that the laws of |
trade, properly understood, suggest absolute |
and perfect freedom in the exchange of COM
modities, the better for the country. Buy in |
the market which will sell the cheapest and
ooAA ASAO thC hibASob pi4OC ID pau, dhN thCh
we shall have reached the normal condition of
man. There is no doubt that at the present
session OF Congress the subject OF
revenue will hold a high position in
the discussions which will arise, as it
never has before. The business men of the
country see that some change must take
place in the collection of the revenue. We
are collecting an amount OF revenue at the
present time far above the needs of the coun-
try. Every dollar of unnecessary revenue
collected is Just so much of an additional
burden laid upon the people. Our bank tax,
our tax upon tobacco and our import tax,
above the amount legitimately required, is
just so much of an additional burden laid
upon the people. Our manufacturers have
reached that position that they do not re-
quire that every man, woman and child in
the country should contribute to their sup
port. Then let US abolish our tariff in SO
far as it reaches one dollar beyond our needs
for revenue. The government must be sup
ported, and every dollar beyond that needed
support is robbery from the people. Let the
voters of the country once fully understand
that fact and the party which pro-
poses TO continue the system must
go to the wall. The iniquities of
he present tariff are so unjust
hat the people will rise in their majesty
and free themselves from the burdens i'm
posed upon them for the benefit of the capt.
Ialists. A tax of forty-fve per cent. is levied
upon piano cover, but the same amount of
flannel used to protect infancy and age is {
faxed ninety-fve per cent. The tariff must
be reformed, not to injure the rich but to
protect the poor, who are taxed from the
,radle to the grave, not to pour money into
he common treasury, but to pay bounties to
privileged classes in manufacturing inter-
,sts. Agriculture, the basis of all prosperity,
must be content with a return OF five per I
,ent., not always that, while the manufac-
urer, BY protective tariff, is enabled to :
make from twelve to forty per cent, which !
comes out Of the five per cent. profit OF the I
armer. The people demand freedom from t
.hese unjust and onerous exactions.