National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-05-20
PROJECTIONS VS.. FREE TRADE.

To the Editor Of THE REPUBLICAN;
One OF the most forcible, yet none the less fall
lacious, argume nts made by our quusi state smcn
the Democratic or free trade persuasion I'm the re.
cent debate on the tariff commission bill, and IN.
deed, the majority of them is based upon the false
assumption that the duty on imports IS incorpo.
rated with the price of the articles and ultimate,
paid by the consumer This argument is merely
ding. dong, wCarisome, and monotonous repeti-
ton OF the old and OF .eXplodcd doctrine enun-
cintcd bp Robert Walker, Secretary of the Treas.
ury under President Polk, aud popularity known
as the American apostle Of free trades who. in
his annual report for 1915, says; The merchant
advances in cash the duty on the import and
adds the duty, with profit upon 1t, aud other
charges to the price, which must, therefore be
hauced TO that extent unless the foreign producer
had first deducted the duty from the price; but
this Is impossible. The duty, therefore, must be
added to the price and paid by the consumer, the
duty constituting as much part Of tho price as
the cost OF production"
FATuoUs AND ABSURD
as is this doctrine or theory, our modern Demos
cratic statesman clngs to II for two reasons. II Is
fair to presninc-frs because IL is the doctrine of
u Democratic apostle of free trade, and, secondly,
II Is well adapted to impose upon the gnlliblu rs
one Of the greatest evils that can be inflicted on
he body polite aud one for which II II spcciOusly
claimed free rnde Is The only elixir or cure .nll.
II Is INSERTED md rcasserted, iterate and reiter
ate2 ~ WI us l9rins ana shades WIN me pntase
tariff odious aud hateful In the estimation OF the
people, especially the ,aSriculiursts. 1t seems
that these advocates Of free trade can see proeC.
tion In nothing but increased prices. They say IT
the duty is not added to the piicc Of the articles
II viii not give protection Now. " Democrat
would consent TO be lifted out OF the old nasllsan
ruts, in which he has ever stubbornly plodded.
iGnS enough 10 permit Tho exercise OF iiIie en-
self convinced that precisely the oppOslt position
is The true one.
HIGH PRICES WILL NOT GIVE
but prevent protection, because It would induce
tic importation OF more foreign and thus umIn,
isb the sales of domestic goods Foreign imports
are brought IN TO glut our markets, and the higher
the prices the more Will come In and the less
we will be able 10 buy and pay for Protection
IN cans TO keep them out to certain extent so that
our mechanics and manufacturers (who, us all
must admit constitute the best market for all do
nestle products-lhc home marEeO may be ena.
blcd 10 compete with the products of cheap for.
eign labor In our own markets II the DemUciatic
feetrado party is at all sucere In the be lief that
The people Of the United States have TO pa all the
duty laid upon foreign goods and II they have us
much regard for the poor consumers as they
spcciousy claim TO have, why do they not advance
the dgctrine to its logical sequence by. radically
changing the policy, by constitutional amend
ment and proper legislation 30 us 10 relieve US
from any tax burden entirely and compel Other
nations to pay 1t for us7 II seems to be easily
done.
Just TAKE OPP ALL DUTIES ON IMPORTS
and lay them on our exports, and then, accord.
ing TO Their doctrine, we will BIO free ofpayins
duties. and foreign nations who consume our
Government, war debt, Interest and ali, Instead Of
II tUC Dc Uuc, lllC prices OF
goods would fall and our expor,s would raise
abroad TO the extent Of the duty we laid upon
them, and thus we would enjoy to our hearts
content the Democratic millennium. Ridiculous
Ms this really Is, II is a true presentation Of the
doctrine as exemplified in the speeches of the nd
vocates of frcc.trade, and no sophisry can evadc
II. The constant repetition of this OFT exploded
doctrine by the Democratic party deserves TO and
should only be treated with r1iculc and coli
tempt With a seemingly hopeless dearih Of rea
soning powers among themselves, based upon
knowledce OF history, commerce, prices, &C., they
are impervOus to the logic of well established
facts and statistical figures The party having
nothing in fact to hold 1t together beyond the
tiquity of It's empty and false title must needs, in
its struggles TO rally its partisan hosts, go back aud
dig from the ashes of its political Ilerculaneun
so to speak, an ancient issue which, like Shuk
spenre's goodly apple, is rotten ut the core. Ven
Grafton for old attachments aud issues keeps them
forever lingering in the rear of enterprise and
national development and progress. w. SC