The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1882-04-04

apd also in bread, owing TO the import
duty on -four. Sugar and potatoes have
not been affected, as the duties on sugar
remain unchanged and potatoes enter
free of duty. Most of The bacon, and
of lard, was imported from
the United States" What is true in
GERMANY as to the effect of high tariff,
cannot be false in the United States.
A wise tariff system must note the
power and the opportunity of retaliatory
legislation by foreign nations. Our i'm
mense production of breadstuffs aud the
paucity of production abroad, so that
many countries do not support their
own population, make it very necessary
that prohibitory, or even repressive, leg
islation should not be invited against US.
And it will equally note the fact that, iu
some cases, just in proportion as our
import duties are diminished, export du
ties are levied in the home couutries.-
In some countries "beyond the Cape of
Good Hope" as they we're then called,
and as to some articles, as our import
duties are decreased their export duties
are laid, and it there be competition our
products are deprived of protection. as
the Government is deprived of revenue
The present tariff ought 10 be amen
ded at once 1t is irregular, unjust, un-
fairly laid. 1t is intricate, uncertain,
vexatlous, and greatly too high. / shall
not enter into details. / shall not spe.
city the changes which ought to be made
That discussion would lead too far to-
day. Preserve it till we shall have a
bill before US, and consider and compare
its provisions. 1t is enough now to id
dicate tue general principles on which
such changes should be made. | have
shown that the work of this reformation
is one of great difficulty. Nevertheless,
it ought to be commenced at once. 1t
could be accomplished even yet before
our adjournment. Our first duty Is to re-
duce this enormous taxation. Our next
duty is to replace this system with an
other, juster, better, more consistent
with itself. At best we shall have to
move deliberately. Time must be taken
to determine the changes which should
be made, and still further time to allow
the various interests to adjust themselves
to the proposed changes. The wrongs
Of the present tariff are very great, but
sudden. unexpected changes might create
greater evils than the wrongs themselves.
Our purpose should be to unfetter trade,
not to cripple any interest by abrupt,
il-imed changes in its conditions.
II had the power l would vote to
instruct the Committee of Ways and
Means Of the House to report bill. !
am sure we have members Of the Com
mittee en- Finance in the Senate who
could perfect II as we'll as any experts
in the country whom We are likely to
get.
The wonderful developments Of phys
ical science have changed the face of the
world, the relation of neoples, and the
duties of Craftsmanship The steam
engine, the postal system, the telegraph,
bave brought the world closer together !;
they have facilitated communication, end
have developed the interchange not only
of thought and sentiment but OF pro.
ductions also. Commerce has become
not only the means, but to great extent
the aim of international intercourse. Its
demands carry our productions 10 every
country 10 the world. and require tha,
the sails of our ships should whiten ev-
cry sea. 1t tempts our citizens to brave
every cline and enter every jurisdiction
We should protect them there 1t has
awakened into new life the countries Of
the American continent, and stimulated
passions which, after war and possible
conquest, will exhaust themselves in
marvellous industrial activity. Our di-
plomacr. should invite their confidence
in US as their friend. at once powerful
and disinterested. Our commercial reg.
ulations should command their trade,
hY a reciprocity of benefits.