Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-04-14
MIR. Hemitt,s Tariff Measure.

York, on the subject of tariff reform.
Mr.. Hewitt, it will be remembered, de-
sires that all raw material for manufac-
turing purposes shall be placed on the
free list, while the present high duties
on manufactured articles shall be
maintained This doctrine, as MIR. Up
son SAYS, will not meet with the approval
of the Democratic party or of the coun-
try at large, for it is by no means advan-
tageous to the farmer class, who are
the principal sufferers through the
operations of high protective tariff. 1t
would not lessen in any respect the extor-
tionate taxation to which the farmers
and, in fact, all other nOn-protected con-
sumers and purchasers-are at present
subjected in the purchase OF clothing,
blankets and many other Of the manu-
featured necessaries of life, while, in
other respects, it would work to their
serious detriment For instance, many
of our farmers are engaged in sheep
raising, and wool, of course, is one
of their staple products. To place
wool upon the free list, therefore,
and, at the same time to allow the
present high tariff to stand upon wooden
blankets and cloths, would injure the
wool producer in every way. 1t would
force him to greater competition than
ever with the wool markets of the world,
but would not, in any appreciable degree.
relieve him from the tribute which is
at present levied upon him by protected
wooden manufacturers. This same
reasoning applies to various other spe-
cialties in which farmers are interested
in common with the outside world, and
indeed it would apply to cotton also
were our Southern planters not so fortu-
nately circumstanced by nature as to
fear no rivalry. at least at present, from
foreign competitors in the cultivation of
the great staple.
It is evident, then, that Mr.. Hewitt's
ideas are not likely to prove acceptable to
the agricultural portion of our popula-
ton, mainly because they do not go far
enough. At present the farmers derive
a minimum of the good while subjected
to the maximum of the evils which arise
from the protective system, and to i'm
prove their condition is one of the very
greatest objects to be gained by reform
in the tariff. As a general rule, the
lower the tariff the better for them,
but it should be a general reduction,
as well in manufactured articles as
on the raw material, so that while the
farmer may be forced, as he is at present,
generally to compete with the world in
his productions, he may also enjoy the
advantage of being able to purchase
what he needs for farm, personal and
household use as cheaply as possible.
We think further, that Mr.. Epson
states the case Alright, when he says that
what is wanted at this time is such re-
vision of the tariff as will furnish an
ample revenue to meet the wants and
obligations of government, and, at the
same time, afford fair protectiOn-such
as may incidentally result from reve-
nue. tariff-to American labor and indus
try. This, it seems to us. would be the
fairest possible solution of the tariff
problem of which present circumstances
will admit. While so large proportion
Of the public debt yet remains unpaid,
the government must need large reve-
nue.. The main reliance for this reve-
nue. now is from internal taxation
and that this is unjust is evident from
the fact that the agricultural and all
other non-protected classes are taxed
twice-frst, to pay the protected
manufacturers, who by protection have
control of the markets for their wares,
and second to make up to the govern.
men the revenue which it loses by the
large prohibition of imports through the
protective system. 1t is proper. there
fore, that so far as the necessaries of life
are concerned, internal taxation should
be abolished, and that the revenues Of
the government should be derived from
taxation of luxuries, such as liquors
and tobacco, and upon articles from
abroad imported upon as low a tariff as
possible.
This would be fair and just to ali
classes of the country. Since there must
be a tariff for revenue, such tariff should
be adjusted to furnish incidental protec-
ton to all American industries most in
need thereof And here we may remark,
parenthetically, is where the rice and
sugar interests of the South would be
benefited, since those lands, being almost
wholly untitled for other crops, their
protection, as far as 1t may be brought
about through the operations of a reve-
nue. tariff, would be one of the first mat
tiers to be considered IN a proper tariff
adjustment.
That reform of the present tariff sys-
TEN will be effected before the agitation
OF the question is permitted to die out
there can be no question, and upon a
calm review of the whole situation, we
believe that programme herein outlined
will finally be adopted. The great end
and aim to be sought for by tariff revi-
sion is to confer the greatest bene-
fit upon the greatest number.
A high protective tariff Expresses
the purchaser solely for the
benefit of the manufacturer Free trade
is theory, which, under existing cir
cumstances, cannot possibly be put into
practice. Internal taxation is unjust
unless abs )lutely necessary, and a tariff
for revenue only, therefore, is what we
must have. That such tariff should be
adjusted to the best advantage of the
whole country is proposition to which
all will yield a ready assent.