The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1883-12-20
An Inconstant Sun.

It was the sweet and yielding JULIET
who doubted the integrity and cOnsis-
tency of the moon in these words, al
most universally known: 80, swear
not by the moon, the incOnstant moon,
that monthly changes in her circled orb,
lest that thy love prove likewise varia-
ble." And of that Sun, the GLORIOUS
orb of day. which rises and sets in
New York City, but which ''ShineS for
all, we would say: Beware its cOnSis-
tency; swear not by it, lest it betray
your confidence.
The New York Sun was terribly cha
grined and disappointed at the defeat of
RANDALL for the SDeakership Of the
House, and has lugubriously labOred to
create the impression that the election
of CARLISLE je0pardiZes democratic
success in 1884. The great DANA isn't
certain that the East is prepared for the
democratic doctrine of a tariff for rev.
enue only. And if the Eastern manu-
facturers and mOnopOliSts are not ready
for the advent Of a just and equitable
economic system, it would be an act of
great presumption on the part of the
burden-bearing West to force the qUes-
ton on the country. But while Mr..
DANA is splitting hairs and trying to
create a ''distinctiOn without a differ
ence" between the two propositions, "a
tariff for revenue only" and "a tariff
for revenue, with incidental protection, $"
he shows remarkable lack of cOnsis-
tency by advocating free lumber. lie
says:
1.-The United States imposes duty of
two dollars upon every thousand feet of
pine and spruce lumber entering the
United States, and duty of one dollar
upon every thousand feet of various
other woods specially mentioned. These
last are rarely sent to the United States,
and the real object of this duty is to
prevent the sale of Canadian pine and
spruce in our markets and so enable do
nestle lumber men to escape foreign
competition.
A bounty of two dollars is thus paid
to our manufacturers upon every thOuS-
and feet of lumber they produce to in
duce them to destroy the forests with
all possible energy and dispatch, 0cbiie
this sum is actually taken from the pockets
OF the consumers of lumber and gireR to
the manufacturers. The people of the
United States desire the protection of
their forests; they believe that the flu
ture of the country depends upon their
careful and economical management,
and they are forced to pay out, whenev-
er they consume thousand feet of lum-
Der, two dollars to hasten this very de-
struction of the forests which they fear.
1t is perfectly prOpert to ask Mr.. DANA
why he discriminateS against the lum-
Der men, whose interests in high pro-
tective tariff are identical with the man.
ufacturers of the East. The present
high tariff gives to manufacturers of SUI
gar, wooden goods, iron, &C., large
bounty, (which is taken from the pock-
cts OF the consumers and given to the
manufacturers
The lumber industry is as much en-
titled to protection as any other. But
a forward movement should begin.
looking toward the final extinction of
the unjust determinations of the pres
emit tariff. We should have free lumber,
and we should also have free sugar, free
wooden goods and free tools for the ag-
riculturist and mechanic.