Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1882-06-15
The MOnstrosItIos OF Protection.

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The closer the existing tariff legis-
Iation is examined the more apparent
and horrible become its. mOnstrosities.
The unjust and outrageous discriminA-
ton against the poor in favor of the rich
is one Of the most-edious features, and
is illustrated BY D few examples of
articles of common consumption:
Plain bleached cotton, worth less
than 20 cents per yard, pays duty
of IS per cent, while the same article
OF greater value pays but IS per cent;
the cheapest woolen skirts and draw
ers pay Sc, while those of better quail
ity pay but 60 per cent; the cheapest
wool hat is taxed 80 per cent, while
the better quality is admitted for g.
Carpets valued at $2.42 per yard pay
bat so per cent. and Brussels worth
but Sl.3l is charged 6s, while that
worth only 6S cents per yard pays
1892 per cent. The very cheapest
blanket pays lO4 per cent, while the
soft and downy ones for the children
Of luxury pay only 76 per cent. The
farmer pays upon his trace chains a
tax of 1925 per cent. and wealth gets
its diamonds and canoes for 10; the
carpenter pays tariff of AZ to 63 per
cent. and the gentleman of leisure gets
his rubies, pearls and precious stones
at 10. II castor oil or epson salts is
needed duty of l52 per cent. must
be paiG, but the banquet table is sup
piled with champagne for 47; on win
dow glass So per cent. is exacted, but
silverware is admitted for As.
These few Instances show this one
feature Of protection and plainly
exhibits the discrimination made be-
tween the rich and the poor, between
necessities and Injuries, These inc.
qualities, this shameless injustice, are
not mere oversigHts. They are part
Of the system and will exist SO long as
duties are not collected for revenue
only, but for the protection Of some
mans factory or some mans furnace.
This unjust discrimination is not the
only obnoxious feature of the tariff.
Another abuse is in levying two kinds
of duties on the same article--ad va
loren and specific, and by uniting
these duties the tariff becomes pro-
hibitory and leaves the purchaser at
the absolute mercy of the home man
ufacturcr. Take, for instance, pair
of blankets, the duty on the raw ma
terial, the ad yalorem and specific on
the manufactured article, and you
have over 5000. Thus no blankets
are imported-last year there being
but $4,000 worth out of millions used
defeating revenue, taxing the con
sumer and beneftting no one but the
manufacturer. Plate glass also serves
to illustrate: there is but one factory
in the United States, located at New
Ind, yet a duty Of 100 per
cent. is charged'on this item-and who
is protected? The working of this
specific duty is also illustrated in the
item Of sugar, Of which $S5,O00,000
worth imported, the Government re-
ceived $45, 100000 in duties. In
Cuba, from which we get so per cent.
Of all the sugar there made, and which
is very fine quality, the cost is about
81 cents per pound. In Manila and
other ports of East India o lower
grade Of sugar is made at an expense
Of 8 cents per pound. by placing a.
specific instead of an ad valorem duty
On this item the East India sugar, the
least valuable, pays about rs per cent.
and the fine sugar from Cuba is ad-
mitted at 40.
But we weary in analyzing the in
equity. 1t conpels the producing
classes to pay for the luxuries Of the
rich, it requires them to pay out
-ageous prices for the absolute necess-
ties Of life; it robs the consumer to
build up the few. And all this for
,he benefit Of monopolists.
How can any man vote for person
'or Congress who in every way favors
protective robbery?
The Toledo Telegram complains OF
he South because it proposes to man